Love demands perception

“I'm so scared.... I don't know why. Everyone says Richard is a good man... He has money.”

Elise rested Betsy's head on hers, her kettle bell clanging gingerly.

“You should've seen the look on Momma's face when he came 'round in one of them fancy new cars, with a whole trunk full of gifts for the whole family! He's real funny too. One time, Hunter got a whole cherry pit up his nose. He went runnin' 'round the house screamin', absolutely petrified that he was going to grow a whole cherry tree out his nose! When we finally popped the sucker out, Richard said, 'That's pit-i-ful!” Elise gave a soft chuckle, followed by a long sigh. “Anna-May, Dolly, Willow... Even Lawson! They all seem to love him. And Lawson don't love nobody!”

Elise looked deep into Betsy's cocoa brown eyes. “But you already know don't you? I'm sure I must've told you the stories a million and one times...”

Elise felt a hotness on her cheek and moved to wipe it away, realizing it was a tear. “I shouldn't be crying... This is supposed to be the happiest day of my life,” Elise said, letting her implied question hang mournfully in the air. It took everything she had to keep the cascade of tears at bay.

“Momma, Poppa, the whole family, they're dancing around with joy... and I wish I could be like that. I wish... I wish I could look at him the same way that Bobby looks at Anna-May, or how Momma looks at Poppa. I don't know why Betsy, I feel like there's just something wrong with me.”

Elise realized she was etching small circles into Betsy's midnight black fur. Betsy gave a worn moo. Outside, Elise could hear the chorus of bells ringing. She didn't know how she would face her bridesmaids after this, the hem of her pristine lace dress degraded with dirt. Especially if they found out she was hiding in some run-down barn.

The panels were rotting, the paint chipping, withering down to it's molecules. Streams of light permeated the structure, illuminating murky alcoves and crevices meant to stay hidden. Hay cluttered the dirt floor, gracefully dancing through the air as the wind slightly disturbed it's bales. Betsy was the only animal remaining; all the others were moved to the new, fancier one. Here was the last bulwark of simpler times.

“Well Betsy... I really should get going, I-”

The barn door flung open, causing Elise to jolt away from Betsy. Richard was in the barn's opening.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” He demanded, drawing closer to her. “The wedding is starting soon and nobody could find you!”

“Richard I- You shouldn't be here. It's bad luck to have the groom see the bride before-”

“No one gives a shit about that, that's an old superstition Elise. Everyone was looking for you, and I guess I was the one to find you.” Richard approached her and grabbed her by the wrist. “Come on, let's go.” He took a brief pause to look at Betsy. “This? This is what you wanted to postpone our wedding for? Some dumb cow?”

“B-Betsy's not 'some dumb cow' Richard, she's family.”

“Look Elise, the only thing cows are good for are meat, milk, and popping out babies for more meat and milk. Maybe this one we'll have as dinner for our first anniversary,” Richard said, guffawing at his own supposed comedic genius. Richard began to pull her toward the door.

“I don't...” Elise began to protest. He turned to look at her struggling, anger flared against the edges of his pupils.

“What the fuck are you doing?! We have to go, now.” Richard forcefully exclaimed.

Elise broke free of Richard's grip and ran back to Betsy. She only caught the gleam that lingered in Betsy's eyes for only a fragment of a second, but it was enough. She saw her answer.

“Get out,” Elise said, low enough for Richard to barely hear.

“What do you- What are you talking about?”

“I said get out, I don't want to marry you.”

“What do you mean, don't want to marry me? The wedd-”

“GET OUT!” Elise bellowed, expelling more air out of her lungs than she ever thought possible.

Richard stood silent for a moment lasting only as long as a breath. Then two. Then three.

“Elise... don't be foolish now... my Grandpappy's spent a whole lot of money on this wedding. Retrofitting your barn, buying new cattle!”

“Get the fuck out. I'm never marrying you, do you hear me? Never!”

Richard gawked at her, his mouth betraying his bewilderment. “I'm going to get your Daddy, maybe he'll be able to beat some sense into you.” Richard turned on his heel and left.

Elise cupped Betsy's cheekbones in her palms. “I've decided. I'm not going to marry him today. Not today, or ever.”