An Invitation to a Wedding by Topaz Hauyn

Author:Topaz Hauyn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Topaz Hauyn
Published: 2020-08-11T14:22:57+00:00

“Hello?”, asked Marius. “Anyone there?”

Frederick couldn't speak. He tried to say hello.

His voice failed him.

He felt cold, despite the heat being on. He stood right next to the heater. He should feel warm. He could feel the warmth of the heater against the fabric of his jeans. Despite he shivered. What could he tell Marius? Wasn't it a bit rude to only call for a rejection of the invitation? Shouldn't he better make some small talk first?

“Uhm. Frederick?”, whispered Marius.

Frederick stared at his reflection in the window in front of him. He looked pale and scared, like he had seen some kind of ghost. Or rather, heard a ghost.

“Yes.” Frederick was proud of himself although his yes sounded more like a choking sound from someone being strangled. It didn't sound intelligible in his own ears.

He jumped out of his chair. The wood was suddenly too hard to stay seated. The air was too thick to breath. He grabbed the white handle of the window and opened it.

The clouds covering the sky made it impossible to see a single star. Only pitch black darkness above him. Below sparkled the white dots of the streetlamps enlightening the pavement for the few pedestrians still outside. Mainly people with dogs, walking their evening round before getting to bed or in front of a movie.

“Thank you for calling”, said Marius.

Frederick grabbed the band of the shutters to close them. To keep the warmth in the room.

“Thank you for your invitation”, said Frederick.

His heart hurt. He couldn't make the words to congratulate Marius.

The shutters rattled shut with a bang.

“The wedding is canceled”, said Marius.

To Frederick, Marius didn't sound sad. He sounded like he was happy. Was that a chuckle he heard over the line? Or was his sister laughing in her room with her friends on loudspeakers as she often did?

“I am”, Frederick started, searching for the right words.

“Be happy for me”, said Marius, cutting him short. “I never loved her.”

Frederick brought the phone forward and stared at the black screen, automatically turned off for the call. There was no explanation for him why Marius would do such a stupid thing. Why agree to a wedding when you wasn't in love with the bride was beyond him.

“Well. Congratulations then”, said Frederick.

Those wishes were true. He was happy to hear Marius wouldn't be married soon. Maybe they would find some time to meet before Marius left for probably another round of traveling the world?

“Do you want to come over?”, said Frederick, much to his own surprise. “Talk, or read a book like in old days?”

Frederick bite his lower lip and grabbed the window sil. Wasn't that a too direct approach after years of silence? The stone of the window sil was hard and cold against his skin. Much like his heart felt, awaiting the unavoidable refusal.

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