Vows
-ANONYMOUS





“I, Tiffany Hwang Mi Young, take thee, Kwon Yuri, to be my wedded Wife,”

Weren’t you always the one I imagined to be vowing my love to?

“and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer,”

We used to barely make it through a day with what little salary you had.

“in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish,”

You would always get so sick and cough non-stop for days whenever you overworked yourself. Do you still fall sick? Are you still taking care of yourself like I told you to?

“till death us do part,”

Oh how ironic Fate is.

“according to God’s holy ordinance;”

Really now?

“and thereto, I plight thee my throth.”

Do I?

“You have declared your consent before the Church. May the Lord in his goodness strengthen your consent and fill you both with his blessings. That God has joined, men must not divide. Amen” The priest concluded and gently closed his bible.

“With this Ring I thee wed,” You repeat like you had rehearsed so many times, stoically in front of the mirror.

Wasn’t this ring meant for you instead?

“with my body I thee worship,”

Indeed, I do worship you.

“and with all my worldly goods I thee endow:”

You refused every single cent I offered, insisting that you could provide for us.

“In the name of the Father,”

Daddy? Will you approve of what I’m doing?

“and of the Son,”

I’ve not been the daughter you wanted me to be have I?

“and of the Holy Ghost.”

Please, have mercy on me.

“Am-I can’t. I can’t do this.”

Lord, forgive me.

A collective gasp echoes throughout the beautiful little church, hands raised to mouths. Some people on the pews even go to the extent of standing.

“I can’t” You echo again.

Opposite you, Yuri looks a little puzzled by your sudden distraught.

“Baby? Anything wrong?”

In your hands, the white gold ring glows. Your fingers tremble and your eyes hurt.

This isn’t right.

“I’m….” You whisper.

Yuri raises her hand to your face and her fingers gently tilt your chin up. She looks you in the eye.

“Baby?”

The gaze she gives you is b with confusion, hurt, worry and tenderness.

You used to look at me with so much more tenderness.

“I… can’t. This, this doesn’t feel right.”

“Marriage? Baby, you agreed when I asked you a few months back remember?”

“N…No. Not marriage. Us. We. That’s what doesn’t feel right.”

“Why doesn’t it feel right? I love you and you love me. That’s all that matters, doesn’t it?”

“I…. I don’t….. I don’t lo… I don’t know.”

“You don’t know? You don’t know if you love me?”

You take a deep breath, fighting hard to hold back your tears and your confusion.

“No. I love you.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

The understanding gaze which doesn’t falter gives you a nudge. Encouraging you.

“I love you, but I love her more.”

“Her?”

Yuri looks positively bewildered now. Her hand tightens a little around your wrist and she pulls you in closer.

“Who’s the her?” She asks quietly.

The whole sanctuary is in utter silence, not a single sound penetrating the bubble enclosing the both of you.

“I…. I don’t know how to explain it to you.” You reply as honestly as you could.

It is then you catch sight of the stained glass window. The pictures depicted in the colourful glazing a heart wrenchin