1. Katie #2
Erin’s eyes widen, innocent. An Oscar-worthy performance.
“Katie, that doesn’t even make sense. Why would I do that?”
“Because you’re a psychotic, jealous, backstabbing-”
“See?” Erin turns to the crowd, spreading her hands helplessly. “This is what she does. She makes things up. She twists everything. Remember prom, Mom? When she accused me of ruining her dress? And graduation, when she said I stole her speech?”
“You DID steal my speech!”
“I had similar ideas! That’s not stealing!”
“You went first and said EVERY SINGLE POINT I was going to make!”
“Because we’re sisters! We think alike!” Erin shakes her head sadly. “Katie’s always been like this. Paranoid. Jealous. Convinced everyone’s out to get her.”
My mother pushes through the crowd, and my heart lifts just for a second. Finally, someone is going to be on my side.
But she doesn’t come to me. She rushes straight to Erin.
“Sweetheart.” Mom cups Erin’s face, checking her over like she’s been in a car accident. “Are you okay? Did she hurt you?”
The words hit me.
“Mom?”
“Katie, look at yourself.” My mother gestures at me with pure disgust. “Covered in grape juice. Screaming obscenities at your own wedding. Accusing your sister of... of...”
“Fucking my husband? Yeah, Mom, I’m accusing her of that. Because I SAW it. With my EYES.”
“You saw what you wanted to see.” Kyle’s voice has gone smooth now. “You’ve been stressed for months, Katie. The wedding planning, the pressure, my family’s expectations... I’ve seen the signs. The mood swings. The paranoia. The way you lash out at people who love you.”
“People who LOVE me?”
“I think you need help, baby.” He reaches for my hand, and I slap him away. “Professional help. We can find you a good therapist-”
“I don’t need a THERAPIST! I need a DIVORCE!”
Kyle lets out a long, long-suffering sigh, acting as though I’m the one being completely unreasonable.
“Katie, you’re not thinking clearly. You’re in crisis. Let’s just calm down and talk about this privately-”
“There’s nothing to TALK about! I know what I saw!”
“In your... imagination?”
I spin toward Erin, and she stares back.
And there it is again. That tiny smile at the corner of her lips. That triumphant gleam in her eye that nobody else can see.
She knows I have nothing.
It’s her word against mine. And in this family, her word has always won.
“Katie.” My mother’s voice is pleading now. “Please. Let’s just go somewhere quiet and sort this out. You’ve already caused enough of a scene-”
“I’ve caused a scene? MOM. I just caught my husband with his pants down and my sister bent over like a-”
“ENOUGH.” My father’s voice booms across the room.
I spin around. He’s finally emerged from wherever he’s been hiding, probably the bar, and his face is red with anger.
He’s looking at me.
“You’ve done enough damage for one night, Katie. I don’t know what you think you saw, but this is NOT how we handle things in this family. Now apologize to your sister-”
“APOLOGIZE?”
“-apologize to Kyle, and let’s salvage what’s left of this evening.”
I can’t even catch my breath right now because my own father is actually standing here asking me to apologize to the man who just cheated on me at my own wedding with my sister.
“No.”
“Katie-”
“I said NO.” My voice comes out strangled. “I’m not apologizing. I’m not ‘calming down.’ And I’m sure as HELL not staying married to this piece of garbage.”
“You don’t mean that.” Kyle reaches for me again. “You’re upset. I understand. But once you’ve had time to think-”
“Don’t. Touch. Me.”
“Katie-”
“I SAID DON’T TOUCH ME!”
I shove him hard. He stumbles backward, shock on his face, and I feel a vicious satisfaction at finally seeing him off-balance.
“Security.” Kyle’s voice goes cold. “Please escort my wife outside. She needs air.”
Two men in black suits appear from nowhere. Of course Kyle has security on standby. Of course he planned for every contingency. Even the contingency of getting caught.
“Don’t you dare.” I back away from them. “Don’t you DARE touch me.”
“Katie, just go quietly.” My mother again, wringing her hands. “You’ve embarrassed yourself enough.”
I look at her. The woman who was supposed to love me unconditionally has chosen Erin over me every single time since we were children.
She won’t even meet my eyes.
“You know I’m telling the truth.” My voice cracks for the first time. “Deep down, you KNOW. But you’re going to pretend I’m crazy anyway, aren’t you? Because that’s easier than admitting your precious Erin is a monster.”
“Katie, stop-”
“And you.” I turn to Kyle. “I hope you’re happy with her. I hope she gives you exactly what you deserve.”
He opens his mouth to respond, but I’m already walking away.
The security guards don’t stop me. Nobody stops me. They all just watch as the bride walks out of her own reception, grape juice staining her dress like blood, mascara streaming down her face.
The last thing I see before the doors close is Erin. She’s standing next to my mother, one hand on her arm, the picture of innocent concern.
But she catches my eye and she mouths two words.
I win.
The doors swing shut.
The muffled sounds of the reception continue behind me. Music starting back up. Kyle’s charming voice on the microphone, “I’m so sorry, everyone. My wife has been under a lot of stress. We’ll talk this through at home. Please, enjoy the rest of the evening. The bar is still open.”
Applause. They’re actually applauding him.
I stand in the hallway of the exit, completely and utterly alone.
Two hours ago, I was the happiest woman in the world.
Now I’m a punchline. The crazy bride who ruined her own wedding with paranoid delusions.
But I know what I saw.