2828. Don’t do it © Bruce Goodman 28 August 2023

When Olive first brought Rodney home to introduce him to the family, Olive’s sister Lynley got on with him like a house on fire. “It was as if I’d known him for years,” she said. Maybe she had met him during the covid pandemic when everyone wore masks. Perhaps deep down in the recesses of her brain, his eyes triggered some memory or other. Anyway, she dismissed such thoughts. Before long Olive and Rodney were engaged to be married. Lynley was to be the bridesmaid. It was a bit of sunshine in Lynley’s life; something to look forward to. She’d had a terrible year. In fact the five years leading up to her terrible year had been terrible as well. She had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease. She was determined not to fulfil the function of bridesmaid from her wheelchair. She would walk. It would be her gift to her sister and sister’s husband. All went well. The wedding guests were perhaps more moved by the effort Lynley made walking down the aisle than they were moved by the beauty of the bride. It was during the exchange of vows that Lynley remembered where she had seen the groom’s eyes. Something triggered her memory. It was the twitch in his eyelid. “Don’t do it, Olive,” she pleaded in silence. “Oh my goodness! Don’t do it.” Contact Author Back to Index Next Story Previous Story