PRINCESS

"Why? does she treat me this way, doesn't she realise how much I'm hurting. She's denying me the one thing I've always dreamed of"

"I know Peter, but it is her decision, it's her day not yours"
"But Lisa, I can't understand it. I have never been bad to her. Doesn't she realise my heart is breaking here"
"Oh Peter I hate to see you upset like this, she's not worth your tears. In all the time I've knowing you, this is the first time I've seen you like this. The drinking won't help. The situation is not going to change, just because you're drinking "

Lisa had been a friend to Peter for five years; they stayed next door to each other and were always in and out of each others houses. Lisa was thirty-nine years old slim build with long black hair. Lisa moved from Italy and was lucky when she got the flat in Glasgow next door to Peter who had helped her through a lot of bad times. Now it was her turn to try and help her friend come to terms with this latest incident.

Peter didn't deserve this, he was such a lovely person nothing bothered him; he took everything in his stride, until now.

Peter looked at his friend with tears in his eyes and thought he lucky that she was here; he did not think he would have coped otherwise.

"Oh Lisa what am I to do, I did phone her to try and talk it through, but she slammed the phone down on me. I don't know what else to do. Do you thing it's because I look to old and he looks much younger than me?"
"Don't be silly Peter your not old, your only fifty years old and he's four years younger and does look older"
"Thanks Lisa, but you would say that, being my friend. It doesn't alter the fact I should be the one going down that aisle, not him"
"But Peter how many times do I have to say it, its out of your hands there's nothing you can do. Are you going to go to the reception? You'd be a fool if you did, but that's your choice".
"I know, but how could I go it would be to painful. She deliberately waited until the last minute to let me know"

The next day was the big event. Peter went into his car and drove away unaware that Lisa was following behind in his car. She knew where he was heading...

Sure enough Peter stopped his car a bit away from the church so he would not be seen. Sitting in the car with the tears streaming down his face. He looked over at the doors of the church enough of a view to see them going into the church but still able enough to sit unnoticed.

He sat in the car for ten minutes just going over the events of the past twelve months. Then he seen her, she looked like a princess in her long white wedding dress and veil, he wanted to get out of the car and plead beg anything to just be able to walk his princess down the aisle. His only daughter and it was her step-father that was walking her down the aisle, it was so unfair. Putting his hands on his face he cried like he had never cried before. He was unaware that Lisa came into the car and had put her arms around her dear friend. The tears were not far behind her. As she looked, at Peter with pity in her eyes.



Peter realising that Lisa was in the car with him looked at her gratefully and said in a voice full of emotion.

"Lisa what are you doing here? How did you know that this is where I'd be?"
"I just knew Peter I know you so well. Did you see her?"
"Yes she was like a princess. Why does she blame me after all this time? It was her Mother that left me ten years ago is that not a long time to hold a grudge. I did try to see her as much as I could, but it wasn't easy, it was a four hour drive just to get there. And when I did she would go with her pals and I would be left sitting in the car. It's not my fault, she much preferred her pals than spending time with her Father"

"Never mind Peter, Do you think she still blames you for Susan's death? Its just you never talk about it"
Peter looked at Lisa; he was choked up at the memory of that terrible day a year ago. That was the day that he killed his youngest daughter. She was only fourteen years old. He was taking her back home after spending the day together at the beach. On the way home in the car on the motorway, a lorry drove straight at him. There was nothing he could do, she died instantly and he walked away with a few scratches and how many times he had wished it had been him.

Now his oldest daughter Kim was being married and someone else had stepped into his shoes and gave her away.


"Lets just go home Peter I'll drive and get my car tomorrow ok"
Peter nodded it was all he could do,