Fantasy

November 21-22, 2021 (Double the word count)

Words: Declaration, Relinquish, Endure, easy

My "soon to be wife" beamed at me, deeply staring into my eyes. 

"...Let no one put under those that have been joined together today in the presence of almighty God. You may now kiss the bride." 

She came in quickly, passionately pressing her lips to mine. Reluctantly closing my eyes, a round of applause echoed throughout the church. As my wife relished every single moment, my attention was on a different sphere. 

Thus, my hellish life began. 

My daughter nagged me to buy her favorite toy as I pulled my youngest son away from the shelves of action figures. My wife, who was absent, was browsing the woman's fashion section downstairs.

"Don't worry," I thought to myself. "Endure it"

The clacking of keyboards fills the office as I focus on my work, when all the sudden the design manager stomped to my seat, yelling slurs and cursing at my work. I stiffed and quickly stood up, lowering my head to apologize. Slamming my worktable, he walked out of the office. Darting around the room, everyone stared at me with mischievous looks

"It would be easier if you endure it," I thought.

A stranger came to our house. It was my daughter's boyfriend. The couple had their heads down, as If they were about to confess. I gulped down my saliva, preparing for the worse. My wife finally came downstairs with a glare. 

Involuntarily sitting on the couch, crossing her arms, my wife demanded an explanation for their sudden visit. My daughter broke up in tears as her boyfriend revealed her pregnancy. My wife roared at the two, cursing them with hurtful words. The young man stood his ground and took the beating, staying silent as curses overflowed the living room.

I stood and defended them, trying to reason with my wife. She cursed at me as well.

"Endure it," I thought

"You may now kiss the bride," the priest proclaimed.

The couple, my daughter and the man I entrusted, are now adults. It felt like yesterday when we fought. 

Beside me was an empty chair. My wife did not attend her own daughter's wedding.

"Endure it"

Retiring my position at the company, I live the rest of my life with my aging wife. Spending years on the confines of our home. Our children would often visit us from time to time together with our grandchild. It was bliss.

"I endured it," I congratulated myself.

Each passing day, I always thought of the responsibilities I had to fulfill because of my mistakes. Conceiving a child while underaged Is a dangerous predicament. Marrying the person I fell out of love with, I found love once again as years passed by. Our children experienced the same challenge as us. However, the young fellow who married my daughter fulfilled his responsibilities. 

I endured the burden of responsibilities, I fulfilled the wishes of my wife's parents. It was not an easy feat. Staring into the huge family our children bore is the only fantasy I envisioned as I grew older and older. 

Laying in my death bed, holding the ashes of my wife, I closed my eyes as I relinquished my responsibility.