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Altar Emotions

September 24, 2023 13 Comments

By Chelsea Allen

“…in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”

I smile and you smile, but my thoughts race wildly through all the reasons you might say No, no, I do not. And so now I want to say it out loud, my darling, that I’ve never told you this but I fell in love with you the way meteoroids fall—remember how you loved watching those with me on summer nights?—absolutely and irretrievably. Twelve years we’ve been friends, Ted, doesn’t that mean anything?

“I do.”

Right. Of course it doesn’t. You kiss my colleague in white and everyone cheers.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kevin says

    September 24, 2023 at 7:37 am

    A well written piece that tugs at the heart strings. Kudos.

    Reply
    • Chelsea Allen says

      September 25, 2023 at 11:48 pm

      Thanks Kevin :?)

      Reply
      • Chelsea Allen says

        September 25, 2023 at 11:49 pm

        * 🙂 ?

        Reply
  2. Cathryn says

    September 24, 2023 at 4:36 pm

    Hello Chelsea,
    Great story with an ending that could segue into various reiterations.

    Reply
  3. Chelsea Allen says

    September 25, 2023 at 11:51 pm

    Thank you Cathryn

    Reply
  4. Lon Richardson says

    September 27, 2023 at 11:21 am

    Well done! Nice writing and a great O. Henry ending.

    Reply
    • Chelsea Allen says

      September 28, 2023 at 1:06 am

      Glad you liked it!

      Reply
  5. maria warner says

    September 27, 2023 at 3:01 pm

    Nice twist-

    Reply
    • Chelsea Allen says

      September 28, 2023 at 1:06 am

      Thanks Maria.

      Reply
  6. Pamela Cartlidge says

    September 30, 2023 at 11:57 am

    Loved it! Well done!

    Reply
  7. Chelsea Allen says

    October 4, 2023 at 9:16 am

    Merci!

    Reply
  8. Shreya Sur says

    October 7, 2023 at 11:32 am

    Beautifully written Chelsea!!!

    Reply
    • Chelsea Allen says

      October 8, 2023 at 7:56 am

      Thanks Shreya!

      Reply

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