I had not demanded that anyone choose sides.
I had put my hands on my wheels and prepared to move.
Margaret had stood up.
Daniel had asked questions.
My parents had finally answered some of them.
Emily had supplied the rest herself.
Guests began leaving quietly after the officiant announced that the ceremony would not continue that afternoon.
There was no scene at the doors.
No one surrounded me to call me brave.
I was grateful for that.
Margaret approached while I waited for the aisle to clear.
“I hope I didn’t make things worse for you,” she said.
“You made them louder,” I replied.
Her eyebrows lifted slightly.
Then I added, “But they were already bad.”
She nodded.
“That is fair.”
Daniel remained near the altar speaking quietly with Emily.
I did not listen.
Whatever happened between them next belonged to them.
My mother approached me near the church hallway.
Her eyes were red.
“I should have said something.”
“Yes.”
She seemed surprised by how quickly I answered.
