The ceremony itself lasted thirteen minutes, including the time spentwaiting for the clerk to gauge if we were truly serious. When we’d finallyconvinced her, we exchanged rapid “I do’s” and then walked to the nearestcorner and bought churros and ice cream. I’ve never felt farther from that day than I do right now. The orchestral music crescendos and then the bridal march starts up. Iglance towards the harpists congregated in the far right of the hall, alldressed in white like overgrown cupids. My heartbeat rises. Why the f**k do I feel as though I want to jump rightout of my skin? I’ve known for years that marrying Bee was the only realway to protect her. Hell, marrying her was my idea in the first place. So why are my palms sweating? Why do my eyes keep

