Chapter 21
Blake couldn’t make out the girl’s face. He sat up, frustrated, grabbing his clothes and heading to the bathroom.
It felt like Blake’s memory had pieces missing, like a puzzle with holes.
But every time he tried to remember, his head would explode with pain.
Eventually, he stopped trying.
Probably not important memories anyway, he figured.
Six months later.
Blake finished his shift and headed to the Grand View Hotel.
Vanessa clung to his arm, resting her head on his chest, looking adorably shy. “Blake, my parents are already here. They’re from a small town, so they might be i bit rough around the edges. Don’t take it personally.”
The Blake of today wore a tailored suit that made him look like he had his shit together.
He playfully squeezed Vanessa’s cheek: “Don’t sweat it.”
I’m more worried your folks might have issues with my situation, since I’m basically an orphan.”
The meeting went great.
Wedding date: January 10th.
Same hotel.
While Blake was greeting guests at the entrance, he noticed a girl he didn’t recognize.
ler wrists were covered in healed self-harm scars. She just dropped off a cash gift and was leaving.
No card, no name, nothing.
Blake stared at the stranger, feeling like he’d seen her somewhere before.
le caught up to her: “Do I know you from somewhere?”
Wiley looked at him in his wedding suit and suddenly a tear fell onto the back of her hand.
the remembered back in college, Stella would drag her to bridal shops. She always said they should take wedding photos in their prime, even before getting narried.
But Riley would tell her: “A girl only gets to wear a wedding dress once in her life. Save it for when you marry your Blake.”
Stella would ask: “You’re right. But what do you think Blake would look like in a tuxedo?”
What would Blake look like in wedding attire?
Now she was seeing it.
Blake’s memory wipe had been thorough-he’d forgotten Riley too.
Danny had explained that the cleaner the erasure, the more painful those memories must have been.
Maybe forgetting was for the best.
It’s what Stella had wanted.
Riley dodged around him: “Sorry, I’m friends with the bride. Just dropping off my gift before I bounce.”
16-32
Stella had made her swear that when Blake got married, she’d give him a fat check on her behalf.
At the ceremony.
Blake stood at the altar holding a bouquet, crystal chandeliers overhead, flowers covering every surface.
As the music swelled, the lights dimmed, and the double doors slowly opened.
His bride appeared in her white gown, walking toward him.
The officiant smiled: “Blake, you may go meet your bride.”
Blake completely froze. Something flashed in his brain like a glitch. Everyone in the room was getting awkward.
He finally snapped out of it and walked up to take his bride’s hand.
standing at the altar, the officiant asked: “Blake Morrison, do you take Vanessa to be your wife? For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you
part?”
The room went so quiet you could hear Blake breathing through the mic.
After what felt like forever, Blake suddenly said: “I forgot what today is…”
veryone looked confused as hell.
But he kept going: “I forgot it’s the anniversary of her death. I think I forgot her completely…”
tight there at the altar, it all came flooding back-Stella.
He looked at Vanessa, devastated: “I’m so sorry, but I can’t do this.”
le handed her a card: “Vanessa, this should cover everything. I’m really sorry.”
