L. Miller - Gilded Wings

A tear escaped and ran down my cheek. His thumb brushed it away. So gentle. Our eyes never parting. His face lowered, just inches from me. His breath against mine, so perfect. My heart melted as his lips pressed against mine. They felt as if they had been created just for me. So full and attentive.

“Don’t” I whispered, breaking the connection of our lips.

“You can’t marry him Evie, you’re better than this, you deserve the world and more. I want to give that to you. Let me… Please don’t do this.” His voice was sensually soft, he spoke as if it were a plea.

“You hardly know me Connor. You want me because I am the forbidden fruit. I am the chase that you want at the moment. Not the woman you want for your future”.

“Yes you are. I will protect you. I will take you way from him. He will never hurt you again”.

“I’m Sorry Connor, I have to do this”.

“I am not letting you marry him Evie, over my dead body”.

“Then you are no better than him.”

A knock at the door interrupted us. Greta stood in the doorway looking uncomfortable at the close proximity that Connor and I were standing in.

“We are ready for you Everline”.

“Thank you”.

As I went to step past Connor his arm reached out and took hold of my hand.

“You can’t do this Evie”.

“I’m pregnant”. I whispered.

His eyes glanced up at me. The shock on his face was confirmation enough that what Connor had seen in me was nothing more than a physical attraction. My heart yearned for him, but I could not be the woman Connor wanted. I was carrying a baby, another man’s baby. I had known all along what Connor wanted from me but the realisation of his reaction felt like a knife through my heart.

He dropped my hand and ran his fingers through his hair. I couldn’t speak. He may have wanted me, but he didn’t want a family. How could he? I had never expected that of him. I was utterly desolate. I had no capacity for any more emotional pain.

I stalked out of the room, knowing that Connor would not stop me now, this was it. Henry was my reality.

Lex stood in the great hall holding two beautiful bouquets. They were exquisitely filled with soft ivory roses, sweet peas and peonies.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t find anything to eat.” she whispered to me as we stood hand in hand. “The evil witch Greta confiscated the sausage rolls.”

The pianist began to play, allowing the sweet sound of music to fill the ceremony room. I inhaled deeply. Dragging air into my lungs. This was it. I slowly stepped into the ceremony room. It was filled with hundreds of people. Very few of whom I knew. Henry was standing at the altar, he looked handsome and charming in his dark slate grey suit. His eyes highlighted by the warm sage green cravat. I edged towards to alter, step by step. Trying not to stumble.

How I wish my mum was here.

“You’re not going to marry him Evie”

Synchronised gasps filled the room. I turned to see Connor standing behind me. His eyes bloodshot with rage.

“Connor go”, I said through clenched teeth. “Please don’t do this”.

“I’m not going anywhere Evie. I am doing this for you and the baby growing inside of you. You’re not going to be his punch bag anymore.”

Henry came stalking down the aisle towards us. His face was seething.

“You better fucking explain this now Evie,” he hissed.

“I, I, I”. Before I could speak the back of his hand collided with my still tenderly bruised jaw. I couldn’t react in time to stop myself as I twisted and fell against the floor. Connor was instantly by my side. In one swift movement he picked me up and placed me behind him. He raced towards Henry. Fists clenched.

“So you’ve been fucking him have you” Henry spat out. His eyes glaring at me.

Connor’s tone remained calm as he stood face to face with him. Henry was quite tall at 5ft11 but Connor consumed him standing at least two inches taller and far broader.

“She hasn’t been fucking me you ignorant prick.” Connors voice pauses as he looks directly into Henry’s eyes to speak again. “I am a friend who happens to appreciate every delicate bone in her body. I am the person who will break down walls with my bare hands to ensure she is protected. I am the man who one day wants to be something more to her than just a friend.” He looked at me as he said the last sentence, ensuring I would believe that every word was aimed directly at me. My mouth naturally parted rendering me speechless at Connor’s declaration.

Connor turned sharply back to Henry, as if he had realised his real motive for this conversation.

“I think perhaps you might want to explain to your family and friends who has actually been fucking around as you put it so eloquently.” Connor announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, please let me introduce you to the real Henry Webber. The man who enjoys beating his fiancée and sleeping around with other women. The man who has belittled and abused her so dramatically that she was still prepared to marry him out of fear.”

My skin shuddered at the term abused, I had never once thought of myself as that person.

“You wanker” Henry hissed. He raised his arm and hit Connor straight in the face. Connor was a brilliant fighter and had blocked far more discreet punches than the lame attempt Henry had laid on him. Connor barely moved at Henry’s attempt to hit him. I couldn’t understand. Connor wanted Henry to hit him first.

A warm damp sensation flooded between my legs. I glanced down to see claret blood covering the lower half of my dress, increasing in size as every second passed. Panic set in.

“Big Mistake Henry.” Connor said while wiping the blood from his lip.

“Lex” barely a whisper left my mouth. Alexis turned to look at me. I saw the colour drain from her complexion as she noticed the pool of claret blood which grew across the marbled floor. She leant my head against her chest “It’s ok Evie, don’t worry.” I could feel the increased race of her heart against my cheek.

“CONNOR!” Alexis screamed, nothing but sheer panic emanated from her. He looked towards me and his eyes were murderous. Fear swept over me when I saw his reaction change as he looked down and saw the pool of blood. He ran towards me scooping me up into his encasing embrace. His chest felt so warm against my cool cheek. Connor made me safe.

My eyelids were weighing down; each time they met it became harder to open them again.

“Someone call an ambulance, NOW”. The fear in his voice was petrifying.

Dizzyness consumed me.

Hazy… Sleepy…

Darkness.

CONNOR

“Hey Trav”

“Hey dude”, Travie opened up his apartment door to let me in.

I had sat in doors all morning praying that for one moment I might have heard that Evie wasn’t getting married. As each minute passed I knew that my opportunity of being with her was grinding closer to an impossible halt. Nothing could take my mind away from her. He beautiful blue eyes, flecked with silver, glittered every time she looked at me. Her face was so pure, like an angel that was put on this earth just for me. This is who I was waiting for, this was my reason for life. But she didn’t want me. Not the way I wanted her.

I collapsed into Travie’s sofa feeling deflated and a little bit sorry for myself.

“Beer?” Travie called over.

“Yup, think I’m gonna need it”.

“Still pining after her then?” Travie smirked.

“Shut up and pass me the beer”. I could feel every muscle in my face tense. I was pissed off; pissed off for falling for a woman that I couldn’t have. Pissed off for letting her get to me the way she did. I should have stayed away. My life was good, chasing tail, getting fucked when I needed it with none of the commitment. But she made me want more. Want her.

Banging came from Travie’s bedroom, I glanced up at him “What’s that?”

He shrugged, “Just Luce, she’s a bit pissed off today.”

“But she is still going to the wedding?”

“Nah mate, something about an argument.”

“She is missing her best friend’s wedding over an argument?”

Lucy came bellowing out of the bedroom slamming the door against the wall.

“She’s been like this all week, worse today though.” Travie rolling his eyes, finding nothing about Lucy’s behaviour unusual.

“It’s not just a fucking argument Travie, you dick,” Lucy practically screamed at him. She rushed past us and grabbed a bottle of wine slugging it straight from the bottle.

“Stupid, stupid girl” she muttered as she walked towards the bedroom, bottle in hand.

I interjected, something didn’t feel right. “What do you mean stupid girl Lucy?”

She froze on the spot. As she turned to face me you could see her eyes fill with tears. She was desperate to speak but something was holding her back. Her free hand pinched the bridge of her nose. As her eyes squeezed together, tears spilled to the floor.

“Lucy, talk to me, please”. I begged. All she did was shake her head.

“I can’t,” she whispered. “I promised her”.

Travie stood up in the realisation that something much bigger was going on. He charged over to her and scooped her up into a hug. “Come on Luce, tell me what’s going on”.

She glanced down at her watch, “suppose it doesn’t matter now anyway, it will all be over in an hour”.

The pause in between her words seemed to last an eternity. My heart was raging against my chest. Suspense killing me every minute I didn’t know what was wrong.