A salty tear

     He stared at the drop of water on his hand. He didn’t need to look up and check for rain, there hadn’t been any in a while now. The metal folding chair was beginning to stick to his trousers, the ones he only wore to funerals and weddings. Music played softly as guests chatted silently among themselves each here for their own reasons. He liked the man she chose to give her heart to, he was kind and soft-spoken, a farmer by trade just like he had been for so long now.

      He stood as she entered the back of the church where he waited to walk her down the aisle. Her beauty was so much more than skin deep. She kissed his cheek and wrapped her arm around his as they made the slow walk to the front and her beloved. He softly told her that although she had dreamed of this day since being a child, that he had too. He told her he realized someday another man would keep her safe and love her unconditionally just as he had done all these years that passed by so quickly. He told her how proud of her he had always been and that she had her mothers’ heart who at this very moment was watching over her as she said her vows of forever.

     They reached the altar, and he gave her away, something he always knew would happen, but he had a difficult time in doing so. His memories of her childhood and sometimes out of control teenage years filled his heart with such emotion, he had to drop his head and compose himself, for her. It was a beautiful ceremony filled with love and promises of eternity together. He remembered his own vows when the only woman in his life agreed to be his forever. He lingered a few minutes to speak to his beloved sharing a moment with her and promising to be by her side when his journey here was over.

     The music played on, and the celebration went well into the evening hours. He danced with her one time feeling her happiness that made her glow just like her mother did on their wedding day. Now its over. The band is packing up, and the happy couple is off on their honeymoon. He sits on a metal chair looking at the drop of water on his hand knowing full well it wasn't a raindrop but a tear of joy and sorrow all wrapped up in a salty drop from heaven. 

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