Anticipation
The paragon of the smooth operator, arriving guests would be hard pressed to find a hint of anxiety anywhere up David’s impeccably pressed sleeve or in his usual calm demeanor, despite the day’s implications. His endearing smile and warm welcome extended towards each attendee, assertive stride as he glided through the details of the night’s activities, flawless grooming exuded certainty. Yet, as masterfully as he combed over the fine details of the ceremony’s details with its appointed staff and officials, his closest acquaintances would know that beneath the cool surface dwelt a man more akin to a furnace than a freezer, ablaze with the notion that he would finally wed the love of his life before the already short night drew to a close.
With each passing moment, the Milan room trickled hints of the thunderous awakening for which it was later destined. The undertones of pure elation imbued within the conversations and mannerisms of the evening’s guests were fodder for its energy, nudging ever so slightly towards the final form of its boiling crescendo with every newly occupied seat.
The carefully conceived details, once malaprops, bore increasing semblance to passion of the bold reds of carefully selected table adornments. Pristine crystalware laid atop white tablecloths would dutifully accommodate generous pours, and the lectern would depart to reveal a dancefloor that would be the epicenter of seismic celebrations. Things for the time being remained relatively quiet, but the discerning eye would understand this to be the calm before the inevitable.
Nowhere within the building did passion burn outward as brightly as within the walls of its bridal suite. With intensities to match, David’s burned subtly in his heart, but Noellee’s fire consumed her entire form. Enveloped emotionally and physically by some of her closest confidants throughout the years, Noellee could have worn the visage of anticipation on her sleeve, if her celestially inspired wedding gown was so-adorned. Instead, its intricate lace patterns accented with brilliant silver linings hugged her torso and relinquished at the shoulder, giving way to warm hugs and empowering contact within her bridal party, down the length of her arm to the ends of her perfectly manicured finger tips.
Juxtaposed against her heaving deep breaths, pacing, detail fixing and sheer anticipation of the high caliber theatrical production to which the scene bore likeness, was the pure simplicity behind the sincerity of the vows that she would soon exchange.
With a knock on the door, the embrace and reassuring smile of her beloved brother tolled the bell that would herald the end of their chapter of parallel existences, and the beginning of her new union. In his charge laid the honor of presenting Noellee to her groom, and as with many a promise to his beloved sister kept throughout the years, Juan delivered.