Page 34 of Pity Parade

“People can love more than once in their lifetime,” she tells me. “I don’t doubt Heath’s devotion to me, but I’m telling you that I’m not the one he’s destined to spend his life with.”

I point at Heath and tell her, “He’s here to marry you, not me.”

With that, Jessica starts to become transparent before she disappears into thin air. The crowd takes this as their cue to stand up and start filing out of the church. Meanwhile, Heath stands there like he’s been turned to stone.

I uncertainly stumble up the aisle to join him. When I reach his side, all I can think to say is, “Heath.”

He turns and looks at me with great confusion. When he finally speaks, he asks, “Trina?”

“Yes.”

“Where’s Jess?”

“She left.”

“Why?” His confusion causes a pang in my heart.

“She died.”

“Huh.” It’s a weird response, but honestly, it’s no stranger than anything else in this dream.

“Do you want to go get a cup of coffee?” I ask him.

He looks me up and down before saying, “You’re wearing a wedding dress.”

Inexplicably, I tell him, “It’s the only clean dress I had in my closet.”

“I’m not sure coffee is a good idea.”

When I turn to leave the church, I notice the pews have filled up with new people. All of them are men and for some reason I know they’re all single and they’re here to date me. I even recognize a few faces.

I’m about to call out to Daniel when Heath shouts, “Don’t talk to them!”

“Why not?”

“Because they aren’t right for you.”

He steps down the three short stairs toward me, so I tell him, “But you’re not right for me either.”

He shakes his head. “No, I’m not.”

“Then why can’t I date any of these men?” I want to know. I’m fully aware how absurd this is, but I’m equally cognizant of the fact that there’s some meaning I’m supposed to take from it.

“Because I can’t let you.”

“You can’t stop me, Heath.”

“Of course I can.”

Before he can tell me how he’s going to do this, Jessica shows up again. She tells Heath, “You need to get out of your own way.”

He looks at her with pain in his eyes and asks, “Why won’t you marry me?”

“I love you, Heath,” she tells him. “But every life has a plan and mine has me leaving you early.”

“I don’t want you to go.”

I long to reach out to comfort him, but I don’t move. Instead, I ask Jess, “Why don’t you just marry him and leave when you have to?”

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