The Bigamist

My heart feels like a ship sinking in the sea. There’s no way to survive. It was my wedding day; I was so happy to become your wife. As I walked with my father to you in church down that red carpet, I was so happy I couldn’t breathe. The family looked so proud of me. My mother was crying tears of happiness. I stood there with you as the ceremony started. You looked proud of me. I looked at you, so handsome. We were the best couple ever.

Then the church doors opened, the loud creaking of the hinges was scary; everyone turned to see who was coming in late. I was looking at you and saw the color drain from your face. I thought you were going to faint. She was tall, well-dressed, and headed towards us. “What the hell?” you shouted out loud. You looked so mad. She looked at me and said, “My dear, Paul can’t marry you today; there is a little glitch.” “ME?” she said.

“Please stop, don’t do this, Rebecca,” he begged. “Shut up!” she shouted. “Who are you?” I begged. “What do you want? How do you know Paul?” “Well,” she said, “I am his wife; that’s how.” There was a deadly silence. I looked at him as he turned and ran out of the church; she stood there laughing.

Suddenly.I felt faint. I could feel my head hit the floor; everyone came running over to me. Then it was like a light being switched off; darkness took over; I was gone, taken by this darkness to where God only knows. I had never fainted before.

I became aware of someone calling my name over and over again. My eyes opened, and there was my mum with a cup of tea and a slice of toast. She smiled, saying, “Wow, Gillian, you were out for the count there. Sit up, drink this; it’s your wedding day; you don’t want to be late, do you?” Dad popped his head round the door. “Hi, sweetheart,” he said, “you look rough. We told you not to drink too much wine last night.” He was laughing. Then it hit me; it was all a dream, or should I say a nightmare. “Phew! Thank you, God,” I said.

I couldn’t shake it off; it felt so real. My smile returned; I jumped up, ran to the bathroom, and got in the shower. “I am getting married,” I am! I laughed. There was no Rebecca; she was a silly, too-much-wine dream.

Dad and I walked into church, and as I got to where Paul was standing at the altar, I was the happiest girl in the world. It was just a silly dream. There were no doors opening or disturbances; we said “I do,” and later that night I told him how real my dream of him being a bigamist was. He laughed so much.

He teased me about his other wife for 45 years. That’s how long we were happily married until he died of COVID in 2022. We had a good life, and Rebecca was always there in my head, making me realize how lucky I was that it was just a dream. Rest in peace, Paul; we had a happy marriage and two wonderful sons who, like me, loved you so very much. Rest In Peace my darling till we meet again ❤️❤️❤️