There was a bus shelter beside a pharmacy.
Someone was sitting alone on the bench.
At first, I thought it couldn’t be Tina.
Then I saw her face.
I pulled over so fast the car behind me honked.
And in both hands, she was holding a single black dress shoe.
Tina was wearing a white wedding dress.
Her hair was pinned up.
Her makeup had run under both eyes.
Rain had darkened the bottom of the dress.
And in both hands, she was holding a single black dress shoe.
It was the little smile she used when she was trying not to fall apart.
I got out.
“What happened?”
She looked up at me.
For one awful second, she smiled.
Not because anything was funny.
“I got married.”
It was the little smile she used when she was trying not to fall apart.
“I got married.”
I stared at her.
“You what?”
She looked back at the road.
The bench was wet, but I didn’t care.
“I got married.”
“Today?”
She nodded.
I sat beside her.
The bench was wet, but I didn’t care.
“Nobody knew?”
She looked at me like I was being difficult.
“I wanted to tell you.”
