May 23, 2008

And people wonder why I think the way I do.

"I'm so sorry," I said.

"Oh I'm not," she replied.

".......you're not?" I asked.

"No," she answered.

I could hear her voice start to whimper. She was slowly losing the fight to roll back her tears. Suddenly the water works started. I could hear pant as she tried to settle herself, but her pain was too much.

"He...he...he...fucked....he fucked...," she continued. "He....he fucked my best friend....my....my maid of honor."

"....oh....oh my God," I said. "I'm really very sorry."

I was struggling for things to say to offer some sort of condolences, but words were failing me.

As some of you know I used to be a wedding photographer. Often times I loved that job, but there were moments that made me question whether humanity had the right to exist. This was one of those times.

I remember the sitting for the couple's engagement photo. She was a striking beauty with long black hair, green eyes, and a shapely figure. Her fiance, a dopey looking gent who kind of resembles your author here, was very proud of the looks of his love and seemed very happy. My partner looked at me and I could tell we were thinking the same thing, this guy better have 10 inches to get a girl who looks like she does. They were a sweet couple though with good manners and great disposition. The shoot went so well the groom-to-be invited me to his bachelor party.

The bachelor party was unlike most I've been to. No naked ladies were present as we just hung around a bar and drank. When the subject of strippers came up the groom stated he wouldn't have anything to do with it as his lady wouldn't be happy with it. Groans came across the men in attendance and they attempted to change his mind promising to keep whatever happened that night to themselves, but he continued his protests against seeing someone without clothes on.

That night I thought to myself they would make a happy couple as he seems to love her dearly. Clearly I was mistaken.

"She....she...she...just..told me," the scorned bride continued.

I listened to the story of how he and her best friend were bumping uglies. After the fourth incident the best friend broke down and confessed to the bride about her man's infidelity.

Yes she was calling to cancel my services as a photographer, but as one in the profession is aware you're never just someone who simply takes pictures. You're often a psycho therapist and a single serving friend to many.

"I...I...I'm sorry," she said.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," I said. "I'm glad this happened before you got married."

"Yeah," she said.

"Actually, you could go ahead and marry him, then take him for everything in the divorce."

She started to laugh a bit at the idea, but then thanked me for listening to her for over an hour. I wished her the best and we said our goodbyes. She put down the phone and started sobbing uncontrollably. She didn't realize the phone was still off the hook and I could hear her scream in the background. The memory of those shouts still haunt me.

I think about her sometimes. I hope she has a good life, but the cynic in me believes she hates anything with a penis. For whatever reason I imagine numerous guys trying to convince her that loving them would be a good idea, but sadly her heart is still mending from that dumbass who couldn't get his emotional house in order. It's those people I weep for, the ones who have just given up on the idea that anything good can come to them. It only takes one person to wound someones romanticism and many never recover. Sadly there is no chemo for the cancer that is betrayal.

Thankfully for every disaster wedding story I have there are many more that are positive. This is the only thing that gives me hope that some of Earth's inhabitants are worthy of simply breathing.

"A broken heart is what makes life so wonderful five years later, when you see the guy in an elevator and he is fat and smoking a cigar and saying long-time-no-see." - Phyllis Battelle

8 comments:

SareBeth said...

Such a sin.. I feel for the poor young lady. Us women sould have better douche bag meters..

Grace said...

Wow, I wouldn't know how to react to that.

I never knew you used to be a wedding photographer... you must have seen loads of interesting situations.

Anonymous said...

See if that happened to me and I was the one calling you, it would be from jail, because I would maim both of them.
“Sadly there is no chemo for the cancer that is betrayal.” Awesome way to put it and oh so very true.
I too have a lot of trust issues due to that cancer. It’s part of why I am such a cynic and also why I love me some wiwille, because he’s one of the most trustworthy guys out there. Awwwww. Bite ass ;)

Anonymous said...

"single serving friend" sad but pertinent quote considering.

JLee said...

Love the quote. I had to deal w/some drama yesterday because my friend's douchebag boyfriend cheated a few months ago and someone brought the girl's name up and HE had the nerve to get mad at everyone else! It's hard when you want to tell someone to leave, but you fear it could backfire on you, so you try to listen and be supportive.

Anonymous said...

Second blog this morning I've read about wedding stuff. Must be something in the air. Let's just pray I don't wake up with a ring on my finger.

But more importantly, how come guys who would do that can almost get away with it? I mean, a guy who is willing to cheat on his fiancee will get the opportunity while guys who actually care about the women they see, can't even get date one.

This story makes me feel bad about the bride (obviously), but it makes me feel worse for all those single guys out there who can't even find a woman. Any ladies out there reading this, find a guy who actually cares about you. He's out there. He's probably right under your nose right now.

Miss Ash said...

Wow poor girl! That must have been a rather interesting job, I had no idea you were a wedding photographer.

I'm a bit cynical when it comes to men, you hear stories like this and how can you not be.

Jessica said...

You know I'm almost thankful for the time I was betrayed. The experience makes me that much more grateful for the wonderful man I'm dating now.