There for her...

... The girl could feel a tear starting to make its way down her cheek, but she quickly brushed it away before she allowed herself to notice.  As she readjusted her gaze on the scene, a hand pressed on her shoulder.

"I always get choked up at these things too,"  said an older woman next to her as she offered a tissue.  The girl gave a soft smile and politely accepted the tissue.  She dabbed the corners of her eyes and then laid her hand gently in her lap, holding the tissue as if it would break.  

The woman continued, "I'm telling you, even when I was just a little thing I would just start crying as soon as the doors to the church opened and that music started up!  Funniest thing.  Drove my mother crazy, though, considering I would use up all the tissues before we even got to the good part."  With this she gave a wink.  

The girl voluntarily listened, though her face showed minimal emotion.  She only smiled, turning up the edges of her mouth slightly, when it was appropriate.  The band was playing one of those tunes that everybody recognizes but can never remember the name.   

Not discouraged, the woman decided it was ok to proceed.  "I remember this one time my mom wanted me sit in the back so that my sniffling wouldn't distract other people, as it always did.  That would have been rather hard, though, since I was in the bridal party."  The woman stole a sideways glance at the girl who, mechanically, showed her almost smile.  "Yes ma'am I don't know what it is about weddings, but for some reason I always cry."  

The girls eyes wandered away from the woman and scanned the room.  It was clear that her mind was elsewhere.  Not offended, the woman proceeded.  "So tell me dear, which party do you belong to?  The man or the woman's?"  

Sensing that a question had been asked, the girl looked back at the woman.  "I'm so sorry, what did you say?"

"Which party are you here for?  Groom's side?"  The woman posed the question as if she already knew the answer. 

"Oh, the bride's side."  The girl looked as if she wanted to say more but stopped herself.  

"Oh yes, of course.  That does make sense.  And have you know the bride a long time..."

The girl looked down and shifted in her seat.  The band's rhythm was picking up. "Yes.  Yes, I have known her a very long time."  

The woman nodded and then allowed for some silence to fall between them.  Meanwhile, she studied the girl.  She was about the same age as the bride.  Her brown hair was swept back and pinned as curls softly fell over her shoulders.  Her eyes were bright and blue, though it was difficult to see that since they were usually either darting around the room or directed down into the girl's lap.  She was put together, a nice dress and simple make-up, nothing special, but still acceptable for a wedding.  Anyone would have thought she was just any other guest, but the woman could feel the tension in her smile and sense the way she seemed to hold her breath every time someone at the tables moved.  

The air was calmer now as the band's rhythm steadied and so the woman started talking again.  "The bride looks beautiful, much prettier than some of the brides I've seen."  The girl agreed.  She did make a beautiful bride.  She showed a hint of a smile.  The woman noticed.  "Does such beauty run in the family?"  

The girl started, "She- yes.  Many people find her parents very attractive." 

The air changed between them.  She mulled over changing the subject or pushing more.  Her eyes wandered up beyond the ceiling and she calmed.  "Are you familiar with her parents?"  

The girl's expression was indiscernible like smooth, grey concrete, but her eyes spoke dark as granite.  A trumpet in the band screamed from it's corner.  "You could say that."  She looked down to clear her throat and hide her face.  The woman didn't say anything.  She just let the girl find her thoughts.  "I- We have the same father."  The girl flashed a look at the woman.  Her tender eyes were encouraging.  The girl took a breath, "Our father was having an affair with her mother's sister.  Both got pregnant at the same time, her mother with her and her mother's sister with me."  As the band started playing a cool melody the girl's body relaxed. "Her mom, my aunt I guess, wasn't very happy, clearly, but it wasn't until-" The girl stopped and her mouth hung open.  The woman's strong hand rested on the girl's, providing just enough support.  "Well, her sister died giving birth to me.  There were a lot of complications and the doctors just didn't seem to know how to save her.  Well, anyway, my dad didn't know what to do, he was crushed and my aunt was heartbroken, and now there were two daughters.  His wife ended up taking care of me, but only with great disdain.  My sister, or my half sister I guess, never treated me like anything but family.  I swear she's the only reason I was able to bear any of it.  But that woman, her mother, she didn't blame my dad or her sister at that point, she didn't even blame the doctors, it was all me.  It was all my fault that her husband had cheated on her and her sister was dead."  A breath of relief left the girl for a moment and then her eyes sharpened, "She's never accepted me as her child, I wonder if she even looks at me as a human being."  

The woman could feel that she was losing the girl to another ripple of thoughts telling her to run.  "Why, then, are you here?"  

The question caught in the girl's mind like a pebble stopping gears from moving.  Her eyes blinked as she searched for an answer.  Then her eyes scanned up and found it.  

The scene once again became a blur of shapes and colors as her eyes swelled with tears.  The girl's eyes met her sisters and her sister's face lit up.  "Thank you."  her sister mouthed as her now husband assisted her out of her seat for a dance.  The woman had disappeared as if she was never there and the air filled with some celestial sound.  The girl's chest pounded with fulfillment, and yet, somehow, this time she could only barely feel the tear that was slipping down her cheek, slowly drawing closer to the corner of her grin...