Weddings are meant to be happy events that celebrate new beginnings and love. But something in the pit of my stomach twisted as I watched Shanize walk toward the altar, and I couldn’t get rid of the uneasy sense that something was seriously amiss. My heart was racing not because of the typical pre-wedding anxiety, but rather because of a strong, uneasy feeling that something wasn’t right. I attempted to ignore it, supposing I was merely dreaming, but when Shanize continued to take tiny steps, it became evident. The manner in which she walked was peculiar.
Dave and I have been friends for more than 30 years; we have shared secrets and giggled together since we were young. We supported one another.
Since Dave was the type of guy who had a carefree, adventurous spirit that made it difficult to see him getting married, I honestly didn’t think anyone could ever tie him down. At his wedding, however, we witnessed him walk down the aisle with the lady he intended to live out the rest of his days with. Shanize looked lovely in her white gown and was the epitome of the ideal bride, so the ceremony appeared to be faultless. She exuded elegance and grace as she walked down the aisle, looking as though she had just stepped out of a bridal magazine. Her eyes were fixed on Dave’s.
But even though everything appeared to be ideal, I had a bad feeling.
I thought it was simply wedding jitters at first. After all, weddings are nerve-racking for everyone, and these situations can be overwhelming. But then I observed something odd as Shanize kept walking down the aisle. Her strides were tentative and little, almost as if she were tripping, rather than confident or fluid. It didn’t feel quite right. I turned to whisper in the ear of Heather, Dave’s sister, who was seated next to me.
“You see that?” I whispered, attempting to speak quietly so that no one would hear my mounting anxiety.
Heather looked at the aisle and scowled. “See what?” she inquired, her expression perplexed.
With a subtle chin gesture toward the bride, I said, “Shanize.” She’s walking in a strange way. It nearly seems as though something is amiss.
Heather squinted, and then shrugged. It’s probably nothing, I see. She’s simply anxious. Janice, it’s a big day for her. Avoid overanalyzing it. She smiled briefly and comfortingly at me, but it didn’t stop the uneasy sensation from growing inside of me.
Perhaps Heather was correct. Perhaps it was nerves. However, there was something about Shanize’s dress movement that made my stomach turn. Was her outfit too tight? Did her shoes have a problem? I had the unshakeable impression that there was more to it. And Shanize’s feet became even more difficult and slower as she approached the altar.
I bent over once again to whisper to Heather because I could no longer ignore it. “Heather, there’s a serious problem.”
Dave was standing at the altar, his eyes gleaming with excitement and love, and I turned to face him. He muttered, “Can you believe it?” and gave me a thumbs-up as our eyes locked.
In an attempt to match his enthusiasm, I faked a smile and nodded, but I couldn’t get rid of the nagging suspicion that things weren’t quite as ideal as they appeared.
My anxiousness increased as Shanize approached the altar. I couldn’t be the only one who saw that something wasn’t quite right.
“She’s gliding!” Behind me, I heard a man whisper, and for some reason, the word “gliding” made me feel really cold. It resembled the puzzle’s missing component.
Heather’s face became stern. “Janice, please, just stop! You’re going to embarrass Dave. Please just quit.
However, I was unable to. I was unable to get rid of the persistent feeling. I stared at Shanize’s feet as she approached. It was all wrong, the way she walked, the way her gown flowed strangely around her legs. I was at my breaking point. I ignored Heather’s sudden gasp and got to my feet without giving it any thought.
“Janice!” Heather’s voice broke in fear. “What are you doing?”
The whole church fell silent as I looked down and saw that beneath the lovely white gown, there was something completely out of place. I blinked, trying to make sense of what I was seeing, but no one moved or breathed. Shanize—no, this person—stood motionless, frozen, as if waiting for something, but it wasn’t Shanize at all; it was a man. My stomach churned, so I knelt down even further, my hands shaking as I looked closer. Beneath the dress, I saw the tailored fabric of a suit. The pants were the tailored fabric that should never have been underneath a bride’s gown. Finally, my gaze shot upward to the face.
With my heart pounding, I got to my feet and looked directly at Dave, who was waiting for his bride at the altar.
“Janice…?” Dave faltered in his voice. His formerly joyful visage was now filled with bewilderment. His voice was shaking as he said, “What’s going on?”
I was unsure of how to respond to him.
No one moved for what felt like forever. The air was heavy with shock, and the whole church was motionless. Dave’s body tensed as he attempted to process what had just transpired, and I could see his face going pale and his eyes wide with shock.
“What the devil is this?” His voice broke as he demanded, a mix of dread and bewilderment coursing through him.