This is written for Anna Meade and the Dark Fairy Queen Writerly Bridal Shower. Congratulations Anna! I wish you and your future husband all the best.
Some Things Are Meant To Be
By Lisa McCourt Hollar
Ruth stared into Norman’s eyes, her knees buckling at the
love she saw there. It had been a long road for them. On more than one occasion
she despaired they would never marry. But now here they stood, in front of friends
and family, ready to commit their lives to each other. Her father had even
walked her down the aisle. Ruth had never thought that would happen, not after
the explosive reaction he’d had when Norman first asked for her hand in
marriage.
“Over my dead body,” Her father yelled, chasing Norman off their
property, with the aid of his shotgun and a generous helping of rock salt.
“Daddy! He’ll never come back now.”
“That’s the idea.”
“Harold,” her mother interjected, “our daughter is in love.
Remember how my father felt about you?”
“Yeah. He chased me off with buckshot, that rat’s lucky I
only used rock salt.”
Ruth fell at her father’s knees. “He wants to marry me, daddy. Please give your
blessing. Otherwise, I’ll run away and we’ll get married without your say so.”
Harold brushed her off and Ruth ran to her room, tears
filling her eyes. Huddling on her bed, she listened to her parent’s argue.
“She’s nearly twenty-one, what are you going to do, keep her
locked up for the rest of her life?”
“If I have too.”
“Harold…”
“You seem to forget, Carol, Norman aint right in the head.
Just because he’s the only one courting our daughter at the moment…”
“He wasn’t the only one, until you drove off all the others.
Don’t do this, Harold. He can protect her. He’s good with that arrow and you
know it.”
“Arrow,” Harold scoffed. “The damn Walkers surround them and
Ruth is a gonner.”
“Harold…” Carol’s sounded frightened, “I saw something
moving outside.”
“Stand back.”
There was a loud crash. Ruth went running to the door to go
help her parents, but the door was locked. She pounded on it, screaming for
someone to let her out, but the only answer she got was her mother’s screams
and the sound of her father’s shotgun.
***
“They might not be dead,” Anna offered. Ruth smiled at her
friend. She knew the girl was only trying to help, but the facts were, if the
Walkers had taken her parents, they were dead. She was grateful for Anna
though. She had shown up the next morning and let Ruth out of the room. She
told Ruth that most of the survivor camps had been run over. An organized
attack by the Walkers.
“There he is!” Ruth pointed towards Norman, relief washing
through her. “Come on, Anna.” Ruth took off for the tree line, not
understanding why Norman was screaming for her to run. She was running, wasn’t
she?
***
“What are you waiting for?” Ruth looked at the pastor.
“Ruth, you don’t want to do this.”
“Now you sound like Anna.” Next to her, Anna, her Maid of
Honor, sniffled.
“They’re dead. This isn’t a wedding, it’s a funeral. Yours
too, if you go through with this.”
“Mine too, if I go through with this,” Ruth mimicked,
pointing her shotgun at the preacher. “I’ve lost everything, I’m not losing
Norman too. Now get on with it.”
“Ruth, please…”
“Anna, shut up. He got bit saving you. Next time someone
yells run, try running.”
She looked around, most of her friends were there except for
Tanya. She’d struggled against the collar and decapitated herself. Ruth had
never liked her much anyway. She’d dated Norman once.
Looking over the scenery, Ruth only saw the decorations she
had painstakingly put up. Pictures she had collected over the year and stored
in her hope chest were tacked to the trees. Her father moaned, pulling against
the chain that kept him in place. Ruth smiled at him, tears in her eyes. She
knew that he was in there somewhere, probably angry that she was defying him.
Repeating after the pastor, she said her vows, placing a
ring on Norman’s finger and then again on her own.
“Until death do us part,” she said. Ruth knew later, after
she unchained Norman, he would eat her, but for now they were together, as they
should be.
Word Count: 700
Brilliant, that is all x
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff, nicely done.
ReplyDeleteI'm stuck between being horrified that she's gonna let him eat her and laughter cause HE'S GOING TO EAT HER!
ReplyDeleteGood times!
Wow enjoyed that, thanks
ReplyDelete#atozchallenge
maggie at expat brazil
Is she crazy or in love? Both? Loved it.
ReplyDeleteGreat names used there! They say love affects you in strange ways...so we see!
ReplyDelete