"Sing for the laughter and sing for the tears" ~ MTW

~ Aerosmith/Dream On
 
I know I always say this, but this time I suppose I actually mean it, but yeah, so this story isn't that interesting, but I'm hoping that it'll lead on to a better storyline, as what I've been previously writing is pretty rubbish. Well, I hope you enjoy it anyways!!
 
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The sound of people quietly sobbing filled the air. It seemed quite a bizarre choice of emotion, if you asked me. I was happy and I definitely hoped everyone else was happy, otherwise, why would we all be here? The relentless tears were broken with one booming laugh, breaking through the atmosphere like a bulldozer taking down a building.
 
“Dad, be quiet, please! This is not the time to be making a fool of yourself,” I whispered to my father, who was still laughing, although quieter now, after my words of warning.
 
He chuckled and said, “Sorry, Liz, but it’s just so ridiculous! You come to a wedding expecting it to be a celebration of happiness, and then you arrive and see this-” he gestured towards the pews in front of us, filled with guests with tears streaming down their faces, “-so how do expect me /not/ to find this hilarious?”
 
I sighed melodramatically, but inside, I knew he was right. How could you expect anyone to keep a straight face in this situation? But I insisted on his surrender so I added, “Ooh, look dad… They’re about to say the vows!”
 
At this, he stopped laughing, but continued to shake manically in his seat, as though he was having a seizure. I sighed again, this time less audible, but I knew he could hear it.
 
At the front of the church, I could see my childhood best friend, Jennie, next to her almost husband. It was such a happy experience for me, to see her with the man she loved, making a lifelong commitment to him. I almost began to feel a longing for just that, something I’d never felt before, but I realised that I was probably just being heavily engulfed into the wedding atmosphere.
 
The vows were said, rings exchanged and a passionate first kiss as a married couple shared. This was the second wedding I’d ever attended, yet the whole experience seemed new to me. The way the newlywed couple smiled, as though they had never been happier in their lives, the way Jennie glowed in the dim church light, how all the guests were so happy to be there.
 
I felt like I was intruding on a private event. I hadn’t seen anyone since we left high school, when we’d separated, finding our different paths, whatever they may be, yet somehow, I liked that. I liked the personal touches which decorated the church; I liked how everyone hugged the bride, no matter how well they knew her.
 
And now it was my turn. Jennie moved in my direction, her eyes brightening as they met mine, shining with familiarity.
 
Now it was my turn to cry. I could feel the water welling up, although I was determined not to let a drop escape, for I would not be sad on my friend’s wedding day.
 
“Eliza, I am so glad you could make it,” Jennie squeaked as she approached me, a big grin spreading across her face.
 
“It’s been so long… How’ve you been?” I asked timidly, afraid of those tears, awaiting the chance to escape.
 
“I’m well, so very well!” she beamed, as she held out her left hand for me to inspect. “How could I not be well, when I’ve got this on my finger, and the perfect man to give it to me!”
 
The way she talked about her husband, reminded me of Georgie. As I thought about her, I felt a surge of guilt, rippling down my spine, reminding me of the way I’d avoided her the last few weeks. She was fake. And she knew it. She knew exactly what she was doing, playing innocent, and I just couldn’t stand it much longer. Whatever could motivate her to hate me so much, I have no idea, but for me, I wanted real friends, not those who cling onto you, just because there’s no one else around. And her husband? He was just like her. I couldn’t trust either of them. They were fake.
 
I knew Jennie wasn’t like that, and I regretted making the comparison, but it was just so hard, to hear her talking like that, and not sense déjà vu.
 
I smiled, as she reached out to hug me, and I embraced her, as though we’d never been apart.
 
“You know what? I miss those days, when we were children, playing out in your garden. I used to love that place, where we felt like we were the only people in the world. You, Harry and me. No stress, no regrets… I’m so pleased Harry could make it today, it’ll be like our own little reunion,” she giggled, a single tear threatening to escape from her deep brown eye.
 
We stood there for what seemed like hours, just so happy to be together, and it wasn’t until Harry came over with a box of tissues that we realised we were both crying.
 
“Seriously… Girls these days! Can they not be civilised for even one minute?” Harry asked in a serious voice, although his face told a different story. He had the same expression on his face as Jennie had when she was talking about times from the past, and in that single moment, we were together, as though nothing had changed.
 
As though we hadn’t grown up, we were still children, oblivious to the outside world.
 
But I still am a child; a child who has been dunked into the real world, without a sense of what it is really like.
 
But at that moment, it didn’t matter.
 
Eliza,xo
 
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