Story inspired by ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’.
Jerks invite exes to their wedding; idiots ask them to sing. But what do you call people who say yes to the invitation? Mature or delusional? Neither, Carrie decides.
She’s not entirely sure how she ends up standing next to the dais at Stefano’s wedding, a guitar in hand (the same one she had used to write all those songs) and a gold-emblazoned mic in front of her. But she has plucked the first string, the lights have dimmed, and the groom is holding out his hand.
“Wise men say, only fools rush in…”
The bride takes it. Carrie remembers how Gwen had insisted on having her sing. But you have the most angelic voice, Gwen had said. Please? For old time’s sake?
They had been best friends, once upon a time. Carrie and Gwen. Gwen and Carrie. They promised to sing at each other’s wedding, although only Carrie has the golden voice. I don’t care, Carrie used to say, It’s the thought that counts.
But that was long before Stefano. Their friendship is, at best, ancient history.
“But I can’t help falling in love with you.”
Her hand on his shoulder. His hand around her waist. They had stood like that on his living room floor, not too long ago. A different song, of course, Carrie respects herself more than that. She was the one who taught him to dance, but he never looked as natural as he does now. Maybe that’s what happens when you waltz with the right person.
Carrie closes her eyes, trying to ignore the dull flutter in her stomach she hasn’t felt in a while.
She was the one who taught him to dance, but he never looked as natural as he does now. Maybe that’s what happens when you waltz with the right person.
“Shall I stay?”
Everyone said they moved too fast. Fell in love too soon. Both were too young and reckless. That it was bound to happen. Perhaps Stefano is the right person who came at the wrong time and neither of them was patient enough to wait.
“Would it be a sin, if I can’t help falling in love with you?”
Carrie looks at them again. She swears she has never seen any two people look more perfect together. Still, something inside her aches. He twirls her and they sway so gently in sync, so beautifully, their eyes never parting.
Is it possible to never stop loving someone?
“Like a river flows, surely to the sea.”
One might say they had been each other’s first. Carrie was his first real girlfriend. Stefano was her first kiss. Before her, he didn’t understand what all those love songs were raving about. Before him, she never wrote love songs.
“Darling, so it goes.”
And no matter what anyone says, your first love never truly leaves you.
“Some things are meant to be…”
Memories surface from the darkest trenches. Two high school lovers walking hand in hand every morning. A college student driving day and night across the country just to spend the weekend with his girlfriend. A young woman still in love, even after all those years. Her graduation, then his. All the while, a best friend harboring the worst possible secret.
And then? Then life happened.
“Take my hand.”
Gwen happened.
“Take my whole life too.”
It wasn’t supposed to turn out like this. This was supposed to be her wedding and Gwen was supposed to sing; fate had it the wrong way around. Six years of happiness should have meant something more than whatever this is. Anything but this.
But they ended their story. Whether it was his fault or hers, Carrie supposes it means nothing anymore.
“For I can’t help falling in love with you.”
He’s leading the dance and she shadows his every step, trusting his movements. As if proclaiming that even if death wrenches him away, she will follow him still.
Then in the briefest moment, so fleeting Carrie may have imagined it, Stefano’s gaze hovers to the empty dais. No, next to it, to meet her own.
Carrie smiles.
Whatever it is he’s trying to tell her, she understands.
He hasn’t stopped loving her. Not really.
Carrie’s fingers linger on the last strings as she lets the final tune reverberate.
“For I can’t help falling in love with you.”
The guests applaud.
Inspired by the wedding scene in Crazy Rich Asian. Kina Grannis’ voice is stunningly hypnotic, and her version of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ inspired this story.
Read more flash fiction here.