The Wedding

The Wedding.

Carien smiled as she looked through the window, the sun slowly drifting lower and lower in the sky. “Today is the day.” She smiled as her white wedding dress hung loosely against the ground. “Today is the day I have been waiting for.”

Carien never thought she would be the one for an extravagant wedding. In fact, when she was a kid, the thought of a big, flashy wedding seemed foolish. Why would anyone in their right mind go through such things? People who love each other should just tie the knot and live together. Flashy shows such as weddings seemed unnecessary and foolish.

But those thoughts changed when she met Sarah. In fact, a lot of things changed the day she met Sarah. It took her a long time to work up the courage to even talk to her. She had seemed so beautiful, so imposing. The way she had spoken with the other co-workers, the beauty of her voice drifting from her lips.

The day Carien had finally managed to talk, she had found out they had much in common, but to her dread, Sarah was already dating someone. Once again, she had gotten her hopes up, only for them to be dashed. But at least they seemed to become fast friends. And she had latched onto that friendship. Even when Sarah’s relationship with the person she had been dating went sour.

Carien realized later that she had done the right thing by not rushing into things. They took their time getting to know each other in the good times and the bad. Despite Carien’s tendency to lash out at anyone who had hurt Sarah. Like the time she had used a Fredrick’s Fancy potion to grow and almost destroy the home of Sarah’s ex-boyfriend. All because of the things he had done to her.

She sighed as she spun around in her room. Sarah was a gentle soul; sometimes, Carien didn’t think she deserved her. It took so much to make Sarah angry. Even when Carien’s deadbeat brother Maxwell had stolen something from Carien right out from under Sarah’s nose, she didn’t become outraged like Carien had. Sarah kept her cool even though Carien was frustrated. Sarah was more concerned about how Carien had felt than anything else.

Reasons why that is why Carien would do anything for Sarah. When they first discovered that Sarah would never be able to shrink back down and would have to spend the rest of her life as a giantess, it hurt Carien to her core watching Sarah break down in tears. How could the person who had been her rock start to cry? It became her job that day to make sure Sarah knew she was valued. Loved.

The door suddenly opened, and Ashely walked into the room. “Well, don’t you look adorable, darling?” She noticed Carien’s look. “Everything alright? You look like someone who has seen the secrets of the universe.”

Carien smiled. “I am just. . .” She smiled. “I am just thinking about how lucky I am to marry the most wonderful woman on the planet.”

Ashely smiled. “Well, I would have to say Sarah is lucky to have you.” She ran her hand along Carien’s cheek. “Now, don’t get too lost in thought, darling. Today is going to be magical, and you two need to experience every moment.”

Carien smiled. “I know.” She smiled. She had been surprised at just how much her boss decided to help with the wedding. When she went to ask about Sarah’s dress, Ashely not only said yes, saying it would be an honor to work on a dress specially fitting for a giantess.

Or not only a giantess but someone who has done so much for the community. When Carien had asked, she was astonished to hear what other people had thought of her wife to be. Carien had always thought other people despised Sarah, but it was the opposite. The people of Galsensburg seemed to be happy that she was around. Ashely even told her a tale of Sarah helping to save a young child from over a year ago.

The exchange had made tears well up in her eyes. She had always known Sarah was a good person, but she had never thought other people had known it. For the past few years, it seemed that the entire world was out to get them. From Fredrick’s Fancy to giantess hunters. From family to crazy stalkers. She had broken down in Ashely’s arms; the thought of the support of people she didn’t know was just too much for her.

Ashely smiled. “It is almost time, honey. Are you ready?”

Carien smiled. “I am.”

***

Sarah stood outside as she waited patiently at the altar for Carien. She tried her best to keep her composure, but her thoughts were adrift. Sarah had never thought she would get to this moment. She looked down at the gathering and forced herself to smile. The guests talked to each other while snacking on food. Some smiled up at her as well and took pictures of her dress.

She took a moment to gaze down at the sparking blue dress that covered her body. She had no idea how Ashely had done it, but it made her feel like a princess. A gigantic princess, but one, nonetheless. Intricate patterns danced across the fabric, those of fairies and flowers. Everyone gasped when they had first seen her. In fact, Sarah had been a bit stunned herself. Even if she wasn’t fifty feet tall, this dress would have been something out of a fever dream for her. It was perfect.

She smiled as she looked at the sky. She thought how lucky she was to have someone like Carien in her life. So often did she feel that she was someone who wasn’t deserving of happiness, that the struggles and the pain of her life were her burden to bear. When she found out that she could never shrink back down, Sarah couldn’t help but despair but feel that it was something that she deserved. But Carien was there to help remind her that she was a wonderful person and that being who she was should be celebrated. Even if she was fifty feet tall.

Sarah looked out over the crowd. She had been surprised at just how many people had decided to attend the wedding. They had wanted to keep it small, but as word got out, so many people demanded they needed to come. Sarah could spot her boss, Jeffery Telsmark, in the crowd. Tess and Patrick sat together; their hands intertwined. Her brother Tommy sat with his wife and kids. Even her sister and her kid had come. As she looked around, she spotted even more people. Gregory shouted at one of the young men hosting the party. How he had gotten an invitation, Sarah had no idea. Callen stood off to the side. She wasn’t the happiest to see him, but he had helped her out the last time they had seen each other. Their gazes met, and he winked at her before vanishing into the crowd.

Then there were people she didn’t even know. People from all over Galensburg and even beyond. Sarah had met with Ashely, Carien’s boss and the woman who had made Sarah’s dress, and she had explained so many people wanted to see this event. Somehow, Sarah had touched their lives, and they wouldn’t have it if they missed this. But that didn’t fully explain some peculiar-looking people like a woman in vibrant multicolored clothing. Sarah also saw a pair of blueberry ladies, but Ashely had explained that Carien had invited them. The two ladies were Christen and Linda, and Carien was going to introduce them to her after the wedding ceremony. But if they were friends of Carien, that was good enough for her.

Then, all at once, the chatter stopped as music started to play, and time seemed to come to a halt.

***

Carien walked down the aisle with Ashely at her side. This had been the moment she had been waiting for since she had met Sarah. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as she gazed upon her wife-to-be, towering over her in the most beautiful dress. “I don’t deserve her.” She wiped the tears away with the sleeve of her dress, not caring what it did to her outfit. Ashely looked at her and smiled. Fighting to keep her composure, Carien lifted her head and pressed forward. Her friends smiled as she walked past. Never in her life did she think so many people would come to see this. But now that it had happened, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

As Carien came closer and closer, she felt her heart race. A smile formed as Sarah knelt down and extended out her hand to allow Carien to step on it. “Even now, you are being so gentle and kind.”

She pulled up her dress and stepped onto the giant hand, a smile on her face as she was lifted into the air. Sarah smiled at her as Carien reached her head. “You look wonderful.”

“Me? You look amazing in that dress.”

Sarah blushed. “I never thought I would be able to look like this again.

“Like what?”

“Just. . . never mind.”

Carien smiled. Even now, Sarah fumbled with her words. But it didn’t matter. It was something she loved about her. The cute way she thought about things.

A gruff voice filled the air over a loudspeaker. “We are here today to join together Sarah Collinsworth and Carien Livingston. I understand that the young couple has written their own vows?”

Carien took a deep breath and looked deep into Sarah’s gigantic blue eyes. “Sarah.

I knew from the day I met you that you were special.” She laughed. “I may not be the best at talking about my feelings. I am rash and sometimes can make poor decisions. I mean, if it wasn’t for me, you. . .” She sighed. “You might not of had to risk going to jail that one time. But if there is anything I will be able to promise, it is I will love you no matter what. When you feel down, I will be there to pick you up. I will be there to remind you that you matter. That no matter what, you have a shoulder to lean on even if you might crush it a little.” She laughed. “Because if there is anything I can do, it’s fiercely protect my big giantess. No matter what.”

Sarah smiled. “Carien. Before I met you, I felt lost. Adrift.

It was hard for me to really feel like I. . .” She seemed to consider her words. “Like I didn’t deserve happiness. Friendship. People would tell me that I would cause them pain and I should be ashamed of it. I should be ashamed of who I am.” She took a deep breath. “But because of you, I was able to learn they were wrong. I was wrong. I was able to learn how to be strong. And I will spend every waking day of my life returning the gift you gave me. I will be happy just to spend every day of my life with you.”

Tears welled in Carien’s cheeks. “I love you so much. I—”

Her heart skipped a beat as the shouts filled the air, and Sarah cried out in pain.

***

Sarah fell to her knees, doing her best to clutch Carien safely in her palm as pain wracked her legs. She cried out as chaos erupted from the gathering. Despite the pain coursing through her body, her only thoughts were on Carien. She lowered her hand to the ground as her body shuttered, uncurling her hand. “Go! GO!”

Carien looked up at Sarah, her body shaking in shock. “What is going on?”

Sarah shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. “Get out of her. I don’t want to see you hurt!”

“But.”

Sarah wasn’t asking. She twisted her hand and dropped Carien onto the ground before turning onto her back as a rage, unlike anything she had ever felt before filled her breast. Who would dare attack her on her wedding day? Who would dare try and harm Carien? She looked down at the wire wrapped around her legs, electricity coursing through it. Despite the pain, she reached down to try and untangle it. “Whoever did this, I am going to make you pay! I almost hurt Carien. I almost crushed her!” She cried out as her hands wrapped around the wire. “How could they do this!”

She slowly untwisted the wire, the skin underneath black from the electricity. But before she could fully unwrap it, another cable was shot out of the crowd, this one wrapping her right arm around her waist. “Ahhhh!” Sarah cried out as she fell onto the ground, her entire body shaking and blood dripping from her nose.

Carien suddenly ran up to her. “Whoever is doing this, stop it! Now!”

Suddenly, multiple armored vehicles and helicopters seemed to materialize out of nowhere. People who had attended the wedding then shoved other guests aside as they surrounded Sarah. “Everyone getaway. This giantess is dangerous.” Sarah narrowed her eyes as she recognized the speaker. Ben. Leader of the giantess hunters.

Carien rushed up to him as well. “You! What are you doing here? This is my wedding, you freak.”

He backhanded her. “We are arresting a dangerous giantess. Now get out of our way.”

Ashely appeared at Carien’s side, pulling Carien to her feet. “Sarah isn’t dangerous. She has helped this town out over and over again.”

Ben snorted. “Giantesses are nothing but a bane on society. Didn’t you people see the news.” He turned his head as his people used more electrified cables to pull Sarah to the ground. “A town in the upper peninsula of this very state was taken by force by giantesses. People could have very well been murdered by these despicable monsters.” He pointed at Sarah. “People like this only have one place in society. Locked behind bars where they will never see the sun again!”

Carien tried to rush at him, only for Ashely to stop her. “You despicable man! Sarah would never hurt anyone! Why don’t you go after the people who did this instead of picking on someone who has never once hurt anyone!” Tears poured down her cheeks. “You can’t do this! You can’t take her from me!”

Ashely snorted. “I am in agreement here. From what I was told, you are nothing more than a terrorist, preying on giantesses.”

Ben smiled before showing them his badge. “All in the past. After the recent attack on Martinsville, I am a full-fledged special agent again and can do whatever I want. Including locking anyone in this giantess-loving town that gets in my way.”

Sarah moaned. “Carien. . . don’t. . .”

“But. . .”

“I. . .” She cried out. “I don’t want them to hurt you. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

“Quiet, you giant freak!”

Ben crossed his arms and laughed as the helicopters flew overhead and lowered cables. Once Sarah had passed out, the electricity in her bonds stopped, and they attached the cables to her restraints before lifting her into the air. “Now then, you all should thank us for ridding you of this menace.” He snorted as Ashely spit at his feet. “Whatever.” As he walked away, he noticed Christen and Linda. “But I guess one day we could look into this cesspool other problems.

***

Carien sat there for hours, unmoving. She ignored everyone’s attempts to talk to her, to console her. She hadn’t felt this alone for years. She kept replaying the day’s events over in her mind. What could she have done to change the outcome? Maybe if she had fought, if she had. . .

“Carien?”

She could feel Ashley staring at her. Even still, she couldn’t work up the courage to say anything. The woman she loved was gone.

Ashely sat down next to Carien. “Carien.” She rubbed to Carien’s leg. “I know you are feeling a torrent of emotions right now, but withdrawing into yourself isn’t what Sarah wants you to do.” Remember what you said in your vows? Remember what she said in hers? Carien, she needs you right now. Are you going to be there to pick her up, or are you going to sit here wondering what happened?” She stood up. “I hope you don’t lose yourself because it isn’t what Sarah would want.”

Tears drifted down her cheeks. “What can I even do?”