I felt sick.
Actually, physically sick.
My family was hoping for my marriage to fail? They wanted me to be hurt and humiliated?
“You’re lying!” Tony suddenly shouted, jumping to his feet. “I never said that!
You’re making this up!”
But his voice was shaking, and everyone could see the guilt written all over his face.
“Tony,” Mom whispered, her hand over her mouth in shock.
“Please tell me this isn’t true.”
“Of course, it’s not true!” Aunt Molly finally spoke up. “This priest is obviously confused.
We would never say such things.”
But nobody believed them. You could see it in everyone’s faces.
“Get out,” Dad said quietly.
“Both of you.
Get out of here right now.”
“This is ridiculous!” Tony yelled. “You all choose to believe some priest over your own family?”
“Tony, just go,” I said, tears streaming down my face. “Please just leave.”
Instead of apologizing or trying to explain, Tony completely lost it.
“Fine!
You all go to hell!” he screamed.
“I’ll prove to all of you what I’m really capable of!”
He stormed out of the chapel with Aunt Molly hurrying behind him.
Once they left, I could feel all eyes on me. I felt so ashamed yet heartbroken.
“Do you want to postpone?” Mark asked softly.
I looked around at all our friends and family.
At that point, I decided I wouldn’t let Tony’s bitterness ruin the most important day of my life.
“No,” I said, wiping my tears. “Let’s get married.”
And we did.
Despite everything, our wedding was beautiful.
The next morning, I woke up as a newlywed, expecting to feel nothing but happiness.
Instead, my phone was ringing at 7 a.m. with a call from Mom.
“Rebecca, honey, I have some terrible news,” she said, her voice shaking. “Tony went to the bar after the wedding yesterday.
He got completely drunk and picked a fight with some guy in the parking lot.
The other man was a drunk driver who’d just gotten out of his car.”
My heart sank. “Is Tony okay?”
“He’s okay, but he’s in jail.
The police say he’ll probably go to prison for assault.”
I hung up the phone and sat there in stunned silence. In less than 24 hours, I’d gotten married and lost my brother.
I didn’t lose him to death, but to his own anger and resentment.
I’ll always remember this day as the most beautiful yet heartbreaking day of my life.
I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that my brother wanted to ruin my marriage.
I’d always wished nothing but the best for him, but he didn’t feel the same.
I guess it’ll take time to understand why he did what he did.
