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My brother walks nize one or two All lance at my brother, see a dark smear of dirt or blood on his collar I hadn’t noticed it before, and I want to ask what it is but don’t His jaw is set, eyes hard It should have beenme down the aisle, but he can’t do that

Sadness washes over me, but I don’t have time for it Not here Not now Because we’re almost there

I look down at the polished ainst my bare feet, and I take my final steps to the altar where every sound is ae dream that is somehow my reality

My brother turns me to face him He lifts the veil, then leans down to brush his cold cheek against mine My eyes lock on my fiancé over his shoulder His face is still in shadows, but he’s watching us Watching lint of hazel eyes

Santiago De La Rosa

The man who has chosen me for his wife

The

My brother straightens With a tug, he offers o

I s hard, o takes rasp to scatter at our feet, blood-red against the stark, cold marble

I barely notice because I am riveted

Because that's when the candles flicker, sending light and shadows dancing across his face, and I get liasp drowned out by the organ, by the sound of the priest telling the witnesses to be seated, and the creaking of the ancient pews as the cereins

Two days earlier

1

Ivy

I keep ainst the rain as I cli out fro dust in the attic before I left for school this past fall I strap it over

In s you don’t have to see to know they’re there Sos you feel