RaelynLooking into his deep dark and muddy brown eyes, I knew my future was sealed. My heart was trembling, toes were curling, and my throat tight like I was put in a choke hold as I struggled for my body to remain strong.
I couldn't hide from him, I couldn't run away from him. To know that all my plans and actions were futile and brought me into the hands of a made man was painful and embarrassing. I imagined my wedding as a happy and joyful day. I imagined my husband being a man I wanted to spend eternity with, someone that I loved and couldn't imagine being without.
There is nothing to this Union. This ceremony is meaningless and only being done to rub it in my face that no matter I do, I can't and will not win. Sometimes I feel like I am cursed. Cursed to never achieve my end goal and cursed to never find true love.
As the priest continued to talk, I quickly glanced at the guests sitting in their seats. It was hard to swallow. I closed my eyes as I caught side of my mother and father, and I turned away. I knew Gigi was here somewhere but I couldn't spot her.
She was probably constructing some plan to get me out of this marriage. I hoped she'd finish it fast.
Stefano was nice enough to take my request on at least inviting my best friend to the wedding. I knew he wasn't fond of Gigi when I had to beg numerous times. I felt like I was thrown into the wolves, everyone waiting for me to break down and take advantage of my weakness.
"We shall begin the presentation of the oaths." The priest said. I closed my eyes once again, my blood chilling. I was given an overview of what this oath would be. It was a twisted tradition in our society and made every newly wedded woman afraid of her husband, even more deathly afraid to think about getting out of their hell of a marriage.
I've never been to a wedding between the higher ranks of my community, but Gigi has and told me many stories. I thought they were all myths until it was my turn to go through the process like every woman betrothed to a made man, before me.
A young boy around fifteen years of age or so who's most likely been straightened out-a term used for men who've gone or is undergoing initiation- presented us a small knife that was laid on a small, red, pillow-like object.
I bit my lip in nervousness as Stefano took hold of the knife and brought my right hand closer to him. I opened my hand, and struggled to keep my eyes open as he brought the knife closer to the pudgy area below the underside of my thumb. There was a scary flicker in his eyes that made me question what I had just gotten myself into.
"Let this presentation be a promise of my loyalty and devotion to you. I enter alive and I will have to get out dead." Stefano spoke lowly, careful gliding the knife over my flesh, a small cut of my flesh slicing open. I winced and but my bottom lip hard enough to draw blood.
He raised my hand to his lips and began to suck the blood from my wound. I didn't get to savor this horrific moment as he handed me the small knife.
I took his large and crooked hand and contemplated on whether I wanted to jab this knife into his side, or go through the oath. I went with the submissive side of me and nervously copied his actions. I slid the knife across the same area he performed on me and hesitantly raised his palm to my lips and sucked the blood from his wound.
"Let this presentation be a promise of my loyalty and devotion to you. I enter alive and I will have to get out dead." I said in the most confident voice I could muster.
The ring bearer then followed suit and presented the rings. After Stefano slid the beautiful ring on my finger and I did the same to him, he kissed me.
YOU ARE READING
Of Mobsters and Men
RomanceStefano Vanzetti. You'd have to be living under a rock if you grew up in northern Boston and didn't know who he is. He's the heartthrob of every Italian girl in my neighborhood, the man who's probably had your daughter roll through his sheets at le...