Leighton and Emily watched as the newly-weds laughed and cried and embraced members of their families. Emily laughed and cried with them and tried in vain to hug Leighton. After her fourth attempt was met with yet another look of utter disapproval, Emily decided to focus her emotions on Regina instead, who was standing nearby. Paisley and Derek were finally united in matrimony and Leighton suspected that this day was probably the happiest day of their life. She felt happy for them, in that she was happy that they were happy but she couldn't quite wrap her head around the idea of marriage and how that could possibly be a source of happiness, for as long as one lived. It wasn't as though she was a bitter cynic who was against the sacred institution nor was she a stranger to love. She knew, better than most, what it felt like to want to be with someone every minute of every day. But marriage was different. Apart from the more obvious reasons of it being an overall costlier affair and that it came with much uglier consequences upon failure, it was different because it required two separate individuals to commit to making something last forever. Because anything short of forever would be deemed a failure! As if that wasn't daunting enough, a successful run would also involve making, hopefully, one or more new people and raising them to be happy and wholesome contributing members of society. "Hmm.. ", pondered Leighton as Emily and Regina cried themselves a minor water body. "I guess that could be the Dead Sea Part Two", remarked Leighton to herself.. "To commemorate the death of the individual identities of Paisley and Derek as they merge into one unit - The Roberts". She wouldn't dare share any of her thoughts with anyone around, lest she be butchered by all the wannabe Paisleys around. She let her eyes wander around the Church as she did a quick mental survey. "Too many.. I wouldn't stand a chance", she concluded.
The girls found themselves at the elaborate luncheon next where pretty much everyone was drunk before the appetizers were served. Emily had helped Paisley plan every detail of this auspicious day to the very last detail and she was beaming in triumphant glory. "Why aren't you eating, Ley?", she enquired as she placed three fish fingers on Leighton's plate. Leighton smiled politely and helped herself to another glass of wine. "Fried food!!", shrieked a little voice in her head but Leighton ignored it. She was definitely not going to eat all three but one would do her no harm, she decided as she stuck her fork in. A teeny smidge of oil oozed out and the voice went ballistic. It was the voice of anorexia. This time it got her. Leighton wanted to wince in horror but realized that this was neither the place nor time so she sneakily dropped or rather tried to drop her fork onto the floor. "Why did you fling your cutlery, Leighton?", asked Regina in her exceptionally high-pitched voice. The alarm on her face was obvious. "Is there something wrong snookums.. are you sad and mad because you're single?", she went on. The alarm quickly transferred to Leighton's face but she bit her tongue and smiled her most fake smile ever. "It just fell", she mumbled inaudibly. As they all waited for Leighton's fork to be replaced, Leighton drifted back into her thoughts.
Here they were, the Roberts ready to embark on a new life together - one of shared joys and sorrows, of love and companionship and one in which they hoped to grow and evolve together. She looked over at them - Derek's tie was tied around his head and he was hopping around Paisley on one foot while she tried to feed him the entire wedding cake, or at least significant chunks of it. "Scratch that - in which they hoped to stagnate together forever..", continued Leighton's thoughts. But what if after three years, she met someone else - someone even more 'perfect' for her, someone who understood her better and had more to give and share.. or what if six years and two kids later, Derek realizes that he s really a painter and that all he ever wants to do in life is to paint? "Derek painting.. hmm..", mused Leighton. She wondered what he would paint and what it would look like but then, concluded that the nature of his artwork was definitely beyond the scope of her imagination. So what would they do then? Nothing; stay committed to their marriage anyway because that would be the 'right' thing to do? But is that even natural? Being with one person forever and finding happiness, come what may? What if as the years go by, Paisley becomes more of who she really is while Derek doesn't, or what if down the line, Derek stops living the lies he believes about himself thanks to pop culture and the unwritten rules of society while Paisley opts to stick to the ways of the tribe - would they and could they, then, still be able to find 'true happiness' together or would there always be a sort of compromise? So if marriage is a compromise, then that begs the question - why was today one of the happiest days of their lives?!! How was their mutual love and subsequent union in front of God and the Law of the Land, a cause for joy and celebration??
Leighton knew that though she was seriously contemplating all of this, there was a sweet little lovebird inside her that sang to her sleep with its songs of romance and love every night. That music wasn't just about candle night dinners, heart-shaped candy and nights of passionate love-making; it was about everlasting love and togetherness and being there for one another through thick and thin. "Isn't that also something that marriage has to offer?", said a little chirpy voice that came from somewhere inside her. "You're right little birdie!", exclaimed Leighton. There was a sudden sparkle in her eye. The sun finally peeked through the gray-black clouds with the promise of sunshine and good cheer. "Aww.. you think so too, Ley?", laughed Emily as she put her arm around Leighton. "Huh.. what? yeah sure..", hesitated Leighton. "I said that true love is as much about the sparks and the sparkle as it is about the stability, security and sincerity... and you agree. I'm so happy today Ley!! I am your birdie as you are mine.. I love you", she announced as she squeezed her, lovingly, with her arms for a whole minute.
"Sayyy CHEEESE !!!!", yelled Regina from across table as she snapped a picture... *FLASH !!!!*
