Lovesick Little

by Leslie Phelan

  She ran until the contrast between bright moon and dark sky began to fade, then she turned around and ran back. She pushed herself so hard, running so fast on her bare little feet, leaping swiftly over the pieces of driftwood and rock that dotted the coastline.

  When she finally returned to the point from where she’d begun, her sleepiness had finally caught up to her and exhaustion took over as she allowed herself to slump down into the sand and take the nap her body was begging for. It was the best warm, dry, wonderful sleep she had had, since she arrived.

  She woke up to the sun’s warm kisses upon her cheeks, the last morning kisses she would ever feel, at least in this life. She kept her eyes closed as the warmth penetrated through her lids and went deep into her, clearing out her guilt and regret, and making room for acceptance. A fire was lit inside her, telling her to enjoy this last day like it was a gift, the beauty of which made even clearer by the nature of its very near expiry. To her own surprise, she felt a smile creep over her face. It was sad to think about her own untimely ending, but the feeling of warmth on her chilly, sandy toes was enough to make her grateful for all the time she was given and had spent. She basked in it for a few precious moments, expressing gratitude to the universe for all the paradisiacal things she had been lucky enough to see in her short lifetime.

  She stood up and shook the sand from her hair. Everyone would be rising soon, and they’d be wondering why she wasn’t up and getting ready for the wedding. So she scampered inside to have one last bath before slipping into the orange dress.

  At the hour of noon when the sun was high and hot, congregations of people clad in ties and cocktail dresses lined the O’Faolains’ lawn and beach. They stood upon yards and yards of running carpet, an amenity Lucia had insisted on so that women’s heels wouldn’t aerate the lawn while they walked themselves down to the tender boats.

  Cameras and camera phones were in everyone’s hands as people shot rolls upon rolls of the marvelously refurbished relic. The Alexandria was riddled with richly carved accents but the most beautiful thing about her was her giant bow ornament, a pretty lady whose body charmingly ended in a fish’s tail. The ship’s proud white sails billowed with the stiff breeze as the seasoned vessel nudged at the waves, eager to set sail for the open water.

  Once all were aboard, they took their seats on deck among the rows of white chairs that lined the shiny hardwood aisle. All around were huge flower arrangements in all colors. Arielle played the harp for everyone while they mingled and exchanged niceties, commented on the tasteful boat decor and on how last-minute yet utterly fabulous the wedding plans were turning out to be. Erica and Gabriel didn’t expect that everyone could make it on such short notice, but there was not one invitation sent out that didn’t net them an enthusiastic yes. Seated at her instrument, Arielle could see everyone as they poured in, full of smiles and all gawking at the talented little thing who could play the harp as angelically as she danced. And even though inside her heart she was mournful and almost numb, it pleased her to know that her efforts were helping to make Gabriel’s big day extra lovely.

  When she was given the signal to cut the harp and take her place among the wedding party, it struck her that she was simply a supernumerary in the production of her love’s big day. His leading lady was already cast, but there was a nice, tertiary place for her among the extras. Indeed, hers was a modest role, but she had come that day to play her heart out and so she did.

  Everyone went silent, and the string quartet began to play. Demetra came out first, sashaying and covering the aisle with a basket full of petals, followed by Arielle, swaying delicately with the rings on the pillow. Next came the bridesmaids, gliding in proud support of their dear friend, and looking forward to partying that night with the groomsmen, who were two of Gabriel’s most dashing cousins. All the girls had flowers in their hair, and the breeze seemed to be having fun flicking them out.

  When the whole party was in position at the front and the bride still had yet to emerge, everyone strained to look back through the curtains for any sign of her. The music kept playing, but still she didn’t show . . .

  Until out she came! She was positively glowing in her mother’s dress, surrounded by all four of her short, portly aunts. With no brothers or close uncles to call upon, she had been expecting a solo aisle walk and had made peace with the idea long ago. It was her aunts who would not hear of it.

  “You can’t just give yourself away, where’s the faith in that?” they asked as they tightened her corset and spritzed finishing spray on her hair before pinning in her veil. “You don’t want people to think you don’t have any family!”

  They insisted that one of them should accompany her down the aisle and even though she resisted and told them she was fine walking alone, they all just kept on squabbling over who should have the honors. When go-time was upon them and they hadn’t yet decided, they concluded that they should all share in the honor of walking her down, together. Erica was speechless. Their outfits didn’t exactly go with her dress the way a handsome, middle-aged dad in a three-piece suit would have, if hers was still around.

  But, crowded aisle or not, everyone was spellbound and gasped in amazement when Erica stepped out looking stunning in her mother’s dress. Lucia and Cliff remembered the dress’s original cut and couldn’t believe how modern the off-the-shoulder lace looked after its frilly taffeta layers had been torn out and white ribbons had been added to lace up the back, making the dress fit her like a glove. She even wore white elbow gloves to add the perfect, elegant accent, and they served well to give the aunts something to grip with their long, colorful fingernails while they led her to the altar.

  It wasn’t how she’d always pictured it, gliding in her gown of white with four short European-born spinsters in tow. It wasn’t ideal as far as aesthetics went, but the family support proved priceless and as each in turn took a seat in the front row and tearfully waved her hankie, Erica couldn’t imagine a sweeter way to have been given away.

  The ceremony was quick and lovely, non-denominational and concise. They chose not to hear any readings from bibles or subject their dear guests to any sort of rituals that require lots of standing up and sitting down. Their wedding was simply a celebration of love; twenty-five minutes of blessings and vows in front of their nearest and dearest, presided over by a woman in a lavendercolored robe. Also, there was a short performance art piece on ‘Love as a Creative Life Force’ performed by some of Gabriel’s home-schooled cousins Saskatchewan. When the ceremony was over, everyone cheered and stood to follow the newly-weds to the dance floor as up-tempo beats were heard starting over the loudspeaker. Everyone was having the time of their life, and the only person who had the chance to get antsy and uptight was a sixmonth-old baby who was suddenly struck with a serious hankering for breast milk and a nap, in that order.

  After a straight hour of spinning and grooving wildly surrounded by everyone they loved on Earth, the guests of honor took to the podium hand-in-hand and out of breath to say a few words to their people. As the ship they reveled upon sailed slowly along the coast, a myriad of fish followed them, swimming strangely close and unafraid as if they knew they were safe around a wedding ship, which carried no nets or lines. Gulls flew in circles above the boat but weren’t dive-bombing the shallow-swimming fish like they normally would. No, it was a day off for everyone, for even they had come simply to enjoy the wedding and watch for glimpses of their princess, the fish who was now so famously outof-water.

  “Beloved family and honored guests,” began Gabriel, “I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for coming and joining us on this gorgeous, perfect day. I still can’t believe we just got married!” The crowd cheered as the young married couple leaned in for a kiss, and then another. “We can’t wait to party into the night with all of you but before things get outta hand, my beautiful bride has something to say to everyone here.” Then he passed the mic to Erica and she took it in the hand that wasn’t holding a champagne flut
e. Everyone fell into silent anticipation for what she was about to say.

  Erica smiled huge for everyone there, for already they all felt like her extended family. “So far, this has been the greatest day of my life and it’s only just begun!” she said. “Like my wonderful *husband* just said, thank you all for coming! And thanks especially to my astoundingly lovely new in-laws, for welcoming me in with open arms. I want you guys to know that literally every wish I’ve ever made in the last decade have all come true for me here today.

  “Now, this next thing I have to say may come off a little harsh, but still, I feel it deserves the attention of every person here. The O’Faolains have sprung for an open bar this evening!” The crowd erupted into a cheer, and Erica paused to allow it before continuing. “. . .and I am certain that everyone here will drink to their hearts content and have a merry old time with us. Please, enjoy yourselves; that was the whole point of inviting all our favorite players.

  “However, should any one of you choose to drink and then get behind a wheel of any kind tonight, be it that of a boat, auto, golf cart or float plane, then you had better pray that whatever ‘accident’ you get into kills you instantly because if it does not, I will come looking for you. And when I find you, I will kill you myself. With my bare hands. In this dress.”

  The crowd remained completely silent as they digested her violent yet understandable promise. Most everyone there already knew about her parents’ tragic accident.

  “There are taxi stubs with the valet at the harbor,” she continued, “and there will be shuttles waiting when we dock to take you anywhere on the island, including all of the ferry docks and every hotel. Please, for the love of all things bright and wonderful about this life, please, I implore you all: make sure every bad decision made here tonight . . . is on the dance floor. Salut!” said the bride.

  “Salut!” repeated everyone, and then the party re-commenced and they sailed out into the late afternoon. The wedding would go down in the history of their family as the prettiest Tofino had ever seen.

  After docking and saying what felt like a thousand good-nights and thank-yous, the last of the guests departed while the newlyweds, their wedding party and The Alexandria’s crew pushed off to set sail for Kauai’i. As soon as they were back out on the water, they bid their best friends goodnight and excitedly retired to the master cabin to enjoy their first night as husband and wife.

  Once back in their room, Erica locked the door behind them, dimmed the lights and lit the handful of candles she had brought in with her travel bag. She’d packed vanilla incense too, and some chocolates and some oils - everything had to be perfect when she made love to her husband for the first time. After all, she’d been dreaming about this moment since the moment he proposed.

  Actually, the truth was, she’d been dreaming of this moment for far longer than that. Coincidentally, the very first moment she realized she liked boys was the same moment she realized she liked Gabriel. She still vividly remembered the day the ins and outs of intercourse were explained to her in her Sex Ed, and even though at the time it grossed her out, she remembered wondering how Gabriel’s penis compared to the one being shown through the projector.

  In this moment, standing in front of the only one she ever loved, she felt proud of herself for having had the restraint to hold out on giving herself to him until now. There had been so many times they could’ve but they didn’t, because the wait was too sweet to squander and they knew they’d have the rest of their lives to succumb to it.

  With the mood now nicely set, Erica stepped out of her dress to reveal a lacy white bustier. She had never really worn lingerie before, but then again, she’d never had someone she wanted to wear it for. But it was fun, and she felt like a vixen, uninhibited. She was ready now; she had never been so ready.

  Gabriel’s eyes widened at the sight of her, the pageantry of her sexy ensemble noted and appreciated. He stood in disbelief that it was all for him, like a kid discovering Santa got him everything on his list.

  Following suit, he loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt ‘til she could see the little black trail of hair that led down inside his boxers. This excited her now more than ever, because even though she’d seen it enough times before, she’d never seen it as his wife and with a delicious new sense of pride of ownership. Everything about him seemed more perfect now that he belonged to her.

  He stepped closer, reached his arms around her, and pressed his fingertips into the small of her back until she gently fell forward into him. Her warm, lace-covered stomach pressed into his warm, bare stomach and she kissed him sweetly, dangling her arms around his neck and running her hands through his hair. Their kiss heated up, growing in passion as they held one another, letting the intensity of their love climb to new heights and swallow them. He reached his hands under her bum and picked her up by the thighs, squeezing her healthy muscles and flesh between his fingers. He was aroused by her health; his new wife was the very picture of it, and her body demonstrated its vitality with the damp warmth she pressed into his lap. He could feel her moisten more with every kiss, nibble, and nuzzle, this lusty, lovely partner of his. She was strong, and they would be strong together.

  He held her up like a prize, leaning back and cradling her on his lap. He tasted her from her lips, to her neck, to her breasts. “Are you my new Missus?” he asked with a tone of disbelief, whispering in her ear as he brought her down on top of him.

  “Closer than sharing last names!” she answered, gently pushing the crisp white shirt off his dark shoulders. She hugged him close, reaching under his arms to rub the back that daily surf sessions had made muscular and firm.

  He smiled and took his bride by the back of her head to kiss her hard on the mouth. She closed her eyes and gave in to him, allowing all of her other senses to take over while she melted, overwhelmed with joy. Now that they were alone, there was no one else left in the world, and nowhere else in the universe either one would rather be.

  The little mermaid lay alone in her bed, sleepy but awake, staring out to sea. She watched the moon and the trail of glitter it left upon the ripples, stretching from the edge of the horizon to the foot of her bed. She was afraid to fall asleep because she knew that once she closed her eyes, her time on earth would be up. So she kept them open, even though she was tired, and tried to hold onto every precious moment she had left.

  Through her sad, blurry eyes, she noticed a formation swimming towards her, cutting through the glittery surface and headed straight for her window. When she sat up and squinted to see, she discovered it was all five of her sisters. She jumped up and ran out to the deck, climbing down the ladder to see them. It was so good to see their pretty white faces glimmering under the silver moon, but when she took the cold, wet hand of her eldest sister, she noticed right away that something was different. Then she looked around at all of them and saw that each one had had all of her beautiful hair chopped off.

  “We sold our hair to the sea witch,” said her sister. “In return, she gave us this dagger.” The dagger she held was a thing of dark, intricate beauty, made of pure silver and with a handle of stacked ivory skulls. “You are to kill the human prince and cut out his heart,” she said, passing the knife. “. . .and carry it, still beating, down to the sea witch. Only then will she give you back your beautiful tail so you can come back and live with us again.”

  The little mermaid held the dagger up to get a better look at it. Moonlight shone against the blade, and the pointed tip looked sharp enough to cut through hard stone as if it was warm butter.

  She climbed back up the ladder, holding the dagger carefully in her hand and away from her body. She was afraid of it; it was indeed the last key to her salvation, yet it represented something monstrous and almost unfathomable. She stopped for a moment and looked back at her sisters. Her beautiful siren sisters loved her so fully, they had given up the gorgeous locks they loved so much just to bring her this dagger and a chance to live past the dawn. They thought it so eas
y; kill him and come back. He was just another human, after all. They would never understand how this would be the hardest trade she’d ever have to make.

  All was quiet on the old ship. Everyone aboard was either sleeping soundly in their cabins, or passed out drunk from the festivities. In the still, calm darkness of the early morning, Arielle was sure she would not be seen. Creeping ever so lightly on her delicate feet and concealing the dagger among the folds of her nightgown, no one ever would have known that she carried the heaviest of burdens.

  As she reached the grand wooden doors of the master suite, she stopped to listen before turning the knob. Nothing could be heard from inside except the slow, comfortable breathing of the sleeping newlyweds, and the bit of breeze that whistled in through the window and under the doors. Carefully, she pushed them open and stepped inside.

  As soon as she entered and shut the door behind her, her nose and throat filled with the sweet and dewy scent of them. Her prince and his bride held each other in a warm, tangled embrace, the big canopy over their bed like a white cloud. How lovely he looked while he slept; how lovingly he held the one in his arms. As she crossed the room towards them, she couldn’t take her eyes off his thick black eyelashes that fluttered so softly while he dreamt.

  Watching him sleep, she wanted him more strongly than she’d ever wanted him before. In the daytime, he was tall and proud and everything a man should be but here in bed, asleep with his love as they lay clinging, his face conveyed a precious innocence she’d never noticed in him before. Even the day-old stubble that darkened his jaw seemed somehow childish, like he was just a boy in the body of a man, playing house with a girl for the very first time. With his bride at his side, his set appeared complete.