Member-only story
When “Beautiful” Wasn’t Enough
Poetry
It was supposed to be the first day of the rest of forever,
but her pretty bouquet of pastel shades scattered to the ground
when she realized the groom had jumped ship for one last time.
The surprise should have hit her straight in the gut, through all
the layers of gauzy lace and beaded fabric and fine white glamour —
but she didn’t shed a tear despite the rage of her maid of honor
and all the whispers that were surely filtering through the guests.
What man had the gall to leave a woman waiting at the altar?
A man, she supposed, that felt he really and truly had nothing to lose.
*
The weeks after were the telling signs of a woman scorned,
where she drank too much wine and binged a lot of bad TV,
even as her friends sent her reassuring texts that reminded her
of how she was “such a catch” just waiting to be snatched up
by the next suitor in line, a blurred gentleman who used his eyes
just to measure up how much she fit his personal wish list.
