At the Altar

Ricardo Cole, Contributor

Carmen and Charmaine wanted to assist Jessica in her room by getting her dressed for the moment of her life. A day the union of man and woman shall become one.

She didn't want any of her sisters in the room. Being the independent person she was, Jessica wanted to dress herself on this special day. Her sisters left the room with Charmaine saying,

"You can call when you need some help, OK?"

Jessica sighed.

"Ok, I will call when I am ready."

She sat on her bed looking in the mirror and pondered.

What a man wants is a caring woman, good sex, and one that will give him space at times or else he'll go crazy.

Jessica didn't seem to understand that at first. She has been stood up at the altar once before. She called, texted and emailed her first fiancé Gary umpteen times a day till her support became suffocating, especially when he didn't come home on time.

"I knew this was going to happen."

Carmen, her sister, whispered at the altar.

Her other sister Charmaine nudged Carmen.

"You think this one Marlon is coming, after all she put Gary through? From secret admiration to stalking, wrecking his car because he said 'Hi' to a woman in her presence, more so, signing a prenup?"

Carmen sighed.

high school days

She looked at Jessica and reminisced on her high school days. She always picked the soft boys, the ones that she could control. Jessica demanded that her first boyfriend waited on her every evening to carry her books to Half-Way Tree. One day, one of the books fell and Jessica said, "Aren't you going to pick it up?"

Carmen looked to see if the boy was going to pick it up. He put all the books in one hand and struggled to pick up the one when all the other books fell to the ground.

Jessica cursed him about how clumsy he was.

When he finally picked up all the books, they went on a bus. He had to stand and wait for her to sit at the window seat before he could.

She looked at him.

"Could you get me a drink until the bus is ready?"

The boy smiled.

"Sure Jess, anything for you."

He got up and placed the books on the seat. The boy left the bus and never returned.

Jessica cried profusely. From that day onwards, she had never had a stable relationship because of her ways.

It was odd that Jessica had to be waiting for her second fiancé on their wedding day. She apologised to Marlon endlessly the day before, for her controlling ways. She looked out for and wanted to be with Marlon every step of the way. Even if it meant being around him 24/7.

She was on him like a leech.

No bar, no party nor function he could attend without her. Hoping that she would not make the same mistake twice. It was just a matter of insecurity and wanting a man to call her own.

Moments before they came to the church, Carmen said to Jessica.

"No man wants a woman that reassuringly texts, calls or visits every five minutes. Give him his games night with the boys. Let him go out on a weekend. Learn to give him space or he may break up with you to get it.

Jess, I had to learn that the hard way."

The congregation looked to the rear of the church. It was Marlon.

He walked slowly up the aisle in a white suit with a red rose affixed to his top jacket pocket.

Jessica took a deep breath and smiled. He came up to her and everyone anticipated the moment they were about to kiss.

Carmen burst into Jessica's room.

"Jess, wake up!" she said breathlessly.

Jessica arose from her sleep.

Charmaine also rushed into the room to see Jessica rouse from her slumber.

"Oh lawd! All you own wedding you going late for. Marlon muss left yuh today, him alreddy at the church waiting enuh! Stop daydream, put on yuh dress an come on!"