Chapter 1
One. Two. Three. Four… five. Fuck. Okay, breathe, relax it’s okay. You can do this. You are here to support your best friend. Just breathe, smile, and clap like everyone else.
Thea Finley’s leg had not stopped bouncing anxiously since she took her seat on the wooden benches. It was a beautiful Saturday in May, and the warm breeze made the summer air feel nice and cool. The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks of the cliff was lightly heard behind the orchestra. Friends and family were filling up the seats in the Minack Theatre. Thea tugged on the collar of her uniform as she glanced around, spotting some familiar faces. She looks down at the paper in her hand that reads in cursive, ‘A Day to Remember: The Wedding of Luna Cortes & Samantha Reed.’
Flashback - 8th Grade Year
“If you ever got married, where would you have the wedding?”
Light patterns were being drawn on Thea’s palm by her best friend. They were lying on the grass, enjoying the first day of summer break. Thea looked over to her friend, who was lying on her stomach, tracing the patterns.
“Minack Theatre for sure. It’s beautiful there, the grass on the benches, the waves, the sky, just everything. How about you?”
Thea shrugs with a smile, “Wherever you want to get married is fine by me.”
Luna giggles and smacks her palm lightly, “Shut up. Why are you so certain I’m going to marry you, huh?”
“'Cause you love me.” Luna smiles, looking down at Thea, and leans a bit closer.
“Just because we are best friends and you want to kiss me all the damn time doesn’t mean we will get together or get married.”
Thea smiles as she looks back up to the sky, “Keep denying how you feel, but I know how our story ends. You and I are the same; we are like soulmates. One person. Ever since you moved here to Kinsale and sat next to me with your Sex Pistols notebook, I knew. I knew you were the one for me.”
“We are one? So I’m Thea?”
Thea nods as she looks at her, “And I am Luna. One in the same.”
End of Flashback
“Thea? Is that you?”
Thea turns to see Nellie, her ex and Luna’s childhood friend. She smiles as she stands and hugs her when greeted, “Nel, hey, how are you?”
“I’m good, and you?”
“I’m alright, you’re still living in London?”
Nellie shook her head with a warm smile, “No, I moved to the States for work.”
“Oh wow, big move then. And the fam, they good?”
“Yeah, mum and dad are still in London. I ended up adopting, as I wanted to by the way. So the little one is with them now while I’m out here for Luna’s wedding.”
“No way! Oh, Nels, congratulations!” Thea gives her another hug with a large smile. Nellie always wanted a child, and Thea always knew she would be an amazing mother. “How old?”
“3 now. His name is Nathaniel.” Nellie shows her a photo on her phone. “He’s a little rascal just like his mum.”
Thea chuckles lightly, remembering how wild and adventurous they all were when they were younger, “That’s amazing, Nellie, congrats again.”
“Thanks, T. How are you… like truly. Being here and all, you sure you okay?”
Thea nods with a tight-lipped smile, “Yeah yeah, I’m alright. She wanted me here, I wanna support her and her future, ya know. All good though, trust me. If I can survive the battle, I can handle this.”
Nellie rubs her back lightly with a nod, “Okay, love. You look dashing in the uniform, by the way. Thank you for your service, soldier.” The orchestra starts to play music, signaling that the bridal party is about to enter. The first couple enters, with the beautiful shade of sky blue on their dresses and tuxes.
Flashback - Senior Year
“Come on, Luna, I don’t want to be a secret anymore. It’s killing me,” Thea whined as she sat up on her bed.
Luna ran a hand through her hair as she turned in the computer chair to face her girlfriend. “Baby, once we are in college, we can be open, but until then, no one can know about us. If my parents find out-”
“Luna, so what if they find out! What are they gonna do? Force us to break up? They can’t stop us from seeing each other.”
“You don’t understand how my mom is. Please just drop it.”
“No,” Thea shakes her head and pulls Luna closer to look at her, “I don’t want to be your dirty secret. I want the world to know I have the most beautiful woman by my side. That I am with you, that you are mine.”
“T… I would love nothing more than to be able to hold your hand everywhere we go, kiss you wherever I want. But we can’t. My mom would never approve of-”
“Of me, right. Cause I’m just some poor Irish woman who’s not good enough for her daughter.”
Luna sighs, placing a hand on her cheek, “Baby, please don’t talk like that.”
“It’s true, and you know it. From the day your mom came to the docks and saw me working there, cleaning up the boats, she put me in the category of beneath her. Beneath you.”
“But I know the real you, I see the real you. I see your heart. My love, I see all your flaws and the greatest things about you. I love it all. I love you. I just need you to be patient; we can make this work, just don’t act rashly, please.”
Thea rests her head against Luna’s as she stares down at the sky-blue bracelet she gave Luna when they admitted how they felt about each other and made it official. She lightly ran her fingers over it, “I promise…. Now open that damn acceptance letter and tell me you got in.” Luna smiles widely and kisses her lips quickly before rolling back to the computer to check her emails. Her hand hovered over the mouse as she saw the letter from Oxford, with a deep breath, she clicked on it and lets out a loud squeal.
“I GOT IN!!!”
End of Flashback
The bridal party took their places, and the last one to enter was Samantha, dressed in a nice black tuxedo. She takes her place at the altar as everyone waits for the cue. When the orchestra started to play the classic Here Comes The Bride song, everyone stood back up and faced the steps of the stairs. There she was holding onto her father’s arm. Luna. Thea was sure all the air had left her lungs, and she felt a tight grasp on her hand. When she looks down, she sees Nellie’s hand in hers. The tight squeeze centers her, and she puts on her military face as she braces for the rest of the service. She could handle this. She had survived worse.
Flashback - 2nd Year of College
Thea nervously bounced her leg as she sat in the passenger seat of the car. Luna had been silent the entire car ride from the police station. They pulled into Luna’s driveway and exited the car. Once inside, Thea watched as Luna made herself busy with different things before speaking up.
“Luna, babe, let me explain, please.”
Luna stops holding up her hand, “Don’t… you… Thea, you got fucking locked up. What’s wrong with you?!”
“What’s wrong with me? It wasn’t my fault, Luna! They started it!”
Luna raises a brow, looking at Thea like she had the nerve to raise her voice, “They started it? What are you fucking twelve!? It’s called walking away before things get worse. They insulted me! They insulted who I fucking am cause they think they are so high and fucking mighty.”
Luna runs a hand through her hair, shaking her head, “I can’t keep doing this with you, Thea. This fucking rage you have inside of you to get back at anyone who may think you are lesser than is ridiculous; you give these people so much damn power over you! And it’s like ever since I started going to school, you’ve gotten worse, and now we are at the point of prison?!”
“I have every right to defend myself! They should respect me. And if they don’t, then I’ll fucking make them respect me. You have no clue what they do to my head, Luna, god, even after 4 fucking years, your parents don’t respect!”
“BUT I DO!” Luna shouts. “I respect you! I have always seen you as my fucking equal. I have never once cared how much you make, where you work, who your family is, or where you came from! I always respected you and treated you equally, but it’s not enough for you…”
“Luna-”
“No, it’s never going to be enough for you. Your revenge for those who have hurt you is far greater than what I can ever give you.” Luna’s voice cracks as she speaks and shakes her head like she just had a realization.
“It is enough. Baby, you are my everything, okay. I wouldn’t be half of what I am without you. Please just breathe, and we can talk, okay?” Panic flooded Thea. Luna’s eyes were beginning to fill up with tears like she was about to make a decision that would wreck them both. “Please…”
“It’s not enough… your love for me does not surpass your anger, your want for vengeance, your need for validation from society. Thea-”
“Please… don’t,”
Luna shakes her head as tears start to fall, “Since I first met you, you have been my other half. The only person I can be my true self with, free, wild, just me. You showed me all of you, and I showed you all of me. But as I try to grow, become an adult, learn this new version of me, you’ve been stuck in the past. You’ve shown so many resentments for me growing… saying I’m becoming like “them,” like if it's you versus other people. When it’s just you versus you. I can’t keep allowing myself this hurt, this agony as I long for the Thea I know. God Thea, I love you so much I have to remind myself to breathe, to remind my heart to beat! But every time it beats, I’m realizing more and more pieces of stone are appearing.”
Tears fall from Thea’s eyes as she places her hands on her knees, trying to breathe. “Baby… please don’t. I can’t - you are breaking my heart…”
“No, I haven’t broken your heart… You have broken it, and in breaking it, you have broken mine. You caused this. I… can’t. You have to change, not for me. For you.”
Thea felt like she couldn’t breathe, she stood straight, running her hands over her face as she took short gasps. Luna tries to reach out to her to calm her, but Thea stumbles back quickly, “No. Don’t. Don’t. I- no.” Thea rushes out the door, ignoring Luna’s calls for her.
End of Flashback
Luna makes her way slowly down the aisle, smiling at Samantha and the guests she passes. When she got to the row, Thea glanced down the row and spotted her. Their eyes locked, and it felt as though time froze; no noise was heard, just the sound of their soft breaths. Her eyes stayed locked on hers until she had to turn away. Thea knew that look; she still felt it. She still felt the same as she did. Their love.. It felt as though it surpassed realms. Thea watched as Luna stood in front of Samantha. She hugged her father and kiss on the cheek before taking Samantha’s hands.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of family and friends to join together these two beautiful women in matrimony.”
Thea’s eyes were on Luna; she was radiant as always. As her eyes looked over every aspect of her, they landed on her wrists. The sky blue bracelet… the one she gave her all those years ago. It was still there. Thea’s breath was getting heavy as her mind started to race. Could she… could Luna still be in love with her? The last time they spoke... There were signs.
Flashback - A Year Ago
Thea looked down at the paper she had in her hand with the address Nellie had provided her. She looked up at the door number and tried to calm her breathing. After she left that night from Luna’s apartment 5 years ago, she ignored all her texts and calls. No contact. When she was spiraling, she turned to alcohol to try to drown herself. She got with Nellie, but it quickly failed because Nellie knew where her heart lay. It wasn’t until one day in a bar, a retired Vet spoke to her and told her maybe the military could help her as it helped him in finding herself. And so she took the chance; she had nothing left to lose. She joined the Irish Naval Service and was then asked to train soldiers for the British Royal Navy. She did find herself, anger gone, reflecting a lot on her relationship with Luna and where she went wrong. She changed, for herself, as Luna said. But now she wanted to give this new version to Luna, if she would allow her to. She knocks on the door and hears footsteps approaching. She takes a step back and stands straight in her uniform, waiting to see the eyes she thought about every night for five years.
Luna swings the door open with a smile, and it slowly fades into a shocked expression. “T-Thea…”
Thea clears her throat and nods, “Yeah… hey. Uh. I’m sorry, I should have called-uh. I wanted to see you and Nel, well, she gave me your address and I- I can go, I’m gonna go.”
Luna quickly reaches for her hand and pulls her in for a strong, tight hug. Thea’s arms instantly wrap around Luna and bury her face in the crook of her neck. “I’ve missed you so much…”
“I’ve missed you too… every day. I never stopped missing you, never stopped thinking about you.”
Luna pulls back, wiping the tears from her face, “Why didn’t you contact me?”
“I’m sorry, I had to, though. I needed that time to find myself... I didn’t want to keep hurting you or myself.”
Luna nods, tears still falling as she starts passing her hands over the uniform, “The navy T?” She chuckles softly, “You look so handsome, love.”
“Thanks, yeah, Navy.” She smiles with a shrug. “Luna, I’m sorry for just showing up, but listen, I-”
“Babe! Who is it?” A body appears behind Luna, and Thea smiles up at the stranger. “Oh, hello.”
“Hey.”
Luna smiles, adjusting her body position so she can face them both, “Sam, this is Thea. Thea, this is Samantha, my…”
“Fiance. Pleasure to meet you,” Samantha says, extending her hand out, “Heard a lot about you.”
Thea glances to Luna and back to Samantha with a smile, “Pleasure. Yeah, I just got back, so I thought I’d see an old friend. Sorry to interrupt your evening, I’ll leave you to it, yeah?”
“Thea wait-”
“I really gotta go, cars waiting for me out front, but Nellie gave me your number. I'll text you, ya? See you soon, Luna.” Thea smiles with a nod and heads out.
End of Flashback
“.... and if anyone objects, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
Thea’s eyes go wide as she looks at Nellie, looks over at her, and covers her mouth. “Oh shit…” Nellie bites her lips and shrugs, “Go for it, love. No or never.”
Thea shoots up from her seat, “I object.” Loud gasps are heard all around as everyone turns to Thea. Luna lets go of Sam’s hands as she turns to face Thea fully.
“T…”
“I object. You can’t marry her, Luna. Not here, not at our place. Not wearing my bracelet, not when I still love you, and you love me.” Thea moves to stand in the center aisle, eyes never leaving Luna’s. “It’s you and me. It’s always been you and me. Whatever our souls are made of, yours and mine are the same. My love for you never faltered once. It’s what kept me warm those nights I didn’t have you beside me. It’s what helped me find who I truly am, and now I know who I am, and I know he is worthy of you. Do you remember that quote we love so much? Be with me always - take any form - drive me mad! Only do not leave me in the abyss, where I cannot find you. Oh, god, it is unutterable. I can not live without my life!”
“I can not live without my soul…” Luna speaks as she steps towards Thea.
“You told me 5 years ago stone was starting to appear… let me break it away. Let me remind you to breathe, for your heart to beat again.”
“...Thea…”
The End
