Ficlets

The Longer Aisle

“What did you just say?” Eric asked as he stared down at Ashley with eyes squinted in disbelief. “Did you say that you love me?”

She stared back at him, licked her lips, and held her head up high. Her usual wall of sass erected around her, sweeping away the brief moment of vulnerability that could have changed everything.

“Honey,” she said to him while poking a button on his silk shirt, “you only wish I said it.”

Ashley laughed as Eric sputtered with complete uncertainty. She smiled brightly, placed her hands on his broad shoulders, and turned him towards the door.

“Go on, get out of here. A girl has to get married today.”

She shoved him out of the dressing room and closed the heavy wooden door on his face. Finally alone, Ashley placed her forehead on the door while her face fell along with quiet tears.

“Yes,” she whispered with a horrible ache, “I did. I do. Always.”

She closed her eyes as her hand moved across the rough wood. The aisle before her would be longer without Eric at the end.

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