Runaway Bride

Tatiana Magghio

I see Darío standing in front of me. He looks tired. It is incredible how the human body can reflect so many feelings in a matter of hours. I wasn’t gone for long, but long enough to be able to understand and accept what I have to do. My hands sweat, nervous. I am scared and anxious. The situation I am facing is not ideal. His words sank into my brain, driving it crazy, as I listened to each of his accusations. The only one that got to me was the fact that he compared his ex-wife to me.

I am not like her and never will be.

“Tatiana...” he calls out to me. I can see he intends to approach.

I can’t help but feel awful about the way I am right now. I want to hit him. I want him to understand that he offended me. With his words, he questioned my honesty and made a dent in my heart.

“No, you will listen. You will listen to everything I have to say. But, then, if you feel you must tell me something, you will.”

“I accept that. You are hurt, and believe me when I tell you that...”

“Didn’t you hear?” I stroll, approach him, and try to control my nerves. “Don’t say anything, don’t say anything because I’m weak, because you haven’t given me a chance to know you and get to know me yet. You don’t know that when I’m sad or hurt, if you interrupt me, I break down and start crying.”

“I don’t want you to cry. I don’t mean to hurt you. If you would just listen to me for a second...”

“Sit down.” It’s not a request. I position myself behind his chair and put my hands on his shoulders. “I got you. Just sit down and listen to me.”

I step out from behind the chair. My footsteps, though slow and precise, echo over the floor. The sandals that were not even supposed to sound, with every step, every tap of my heel, of my toes on the tile, clang as if they were a drum. Apparently, my heart beat so fast, all the sounds intensified. It was the feeling of being haunted, perhaps by my own demons, because I didn’t want him to misinterpret my words, or maybe because it depended on whether our relationship could work. I sit down across from him, pull up a chair, and arrange my legs. Our knees almost touch softly. His warmth tickles me. Knowing he can’t see me and having knowledge about how destroyed I am by how the special moment we were finally going to have after we were married was all ruined by his mistrust.

“I didn’t sleep with Dawson. I didn’t, and I won’t. I have no other way to tell you and for you to understand, nor do I intend to sound innocent or weak. I know I’m not versed in these relationship issues, but I want you to know that I would never betray you.” I take a breath. I see that he has his hands clasped and that his eyes focus on me even though he can’t see me.

His blindness doesn’t make me uncomfortable or bother me. I don’t feel sorry for him. I really don’t. From what little he let me notice and what others talk about him, I know that he is not a wimp, and he is tough. He is brave. The simple fact that he decided to take care of his son after his wife’s death says more about him than any resume. He is strong and will have my admiration forever.

“You were with me the night before our wedding,” I continue, but this time my voice betrays me, and my eyes water. Finally, I throat clear to regain control, but in vain. “You called me dragonfly. Your dragonfly. You loved me and made love to me. I came virgin to your arms.”

Darío purses his lips. For an instant, I come to believe he’s going to interrupt me to tell me it’s not true, but he stays still and doesn’t blink. He is there, in front of me, listening to me without objecting. He doesn’t look like the same man who, shirtless, in the middle of the bed, told me I had a sibling mix-up that night at the lake.

“It was you. I know it, I feel it, and I feel it when I listen to you. I would never mistake you for Dawson!” I make as much emphasis as I am capable of and as much as my sentimentality allows. I feel myself on the verge of an emotional breakdown. I fear to sob.

minutes without uttering anything because the

decided to change the decoration of the matrimonial room, the one I unconsciously wanted. I

slept with his wife. But, I don’t want to judge anyone, especially not at this point in our

sarcastic voice

I can’t be one

shouldn’t rush. I know it may sound false to you, juvenile, but it’s the truth. Without seeing you, without knowing who you were, what you were like physically, my heart told

has been hidden between beards and dark circles under his eyes, sad and droopy eyes, that hatred and resentment with the world. He let himself be

Dawson has that carefree look. That calm and serene face. He also has that liveliness and impulsiveness that reminds me so much of my sister Teresa. Both brothers are the same age, but Darío seems to be years ahead of Dawson, all thanks to Arianna’s betrayal and death.

that? That’s my heart wanting to burst out of my chest just having you in front of

on my chest and his eyes

back to that event on the lake in the moonlight. “I didn’t want to be like the other men in these towns; that sexist retrogrades who think they have the power to play and do with women as they wish. Fathers who sell their daughters as if they were property or real estate. Husbands

hand slowly moved up and closed with the chair. Now both hands are on my neck. I close my eyes and enjoy his longed-for

who, however obvious

know myself. I ended up at lake di Tenno, then I saw you. Just your silhouette. You mumbled something, and I loved your voice.

came closer...”

I never approached any woman. Yet that night,

what he told me that night.

at the

in shock. But, then, hearing your voice again, my mystery man had a face, and coincidentally he was going to be my husband

had no idea that my dream was real, that it

was,” I reply,

I know.” He nods and strokes my cheeks with both hands. “David, my surgeon, confirmed that it’s possible to have forgotten something like

Well, we can see

to continue. But, instead, he surprises me when

is addictive. His presence

Arianna died,” he moves a little closer, and I feel his breath on my lips, “but my heart always knew I

“You...”

being able to see you right now. I’m sorry, Tatiana, I’m truly sorry. I never meant to hurt you. It’s just that there