AN ART TO REMEMBER

Candy WestGreen was hyperactive, making sure that the wedding preparation was nothing short of perfection.

She checked the kitchen and smiled in approval as she saw the chefs were busy doing what they were paid for.

The two families had agreed to have a small family wedding in the presence of the priest. So, even though they were extremely wealthy, it was just a few people that were in attendance… just a few people that mattered.

“Where's your sister?” Tony WestGreen, her father, asked. “She's supposed to be beautifying herself right now. I checked her room, but she wasn't there. The make-up artist arrived a couple minutes ago, and he's been waiting for her. He's beginning to get irritated.”

Danny stepped out to walk her dog. It was something she was used to and insisted on carrying out her usual routine, even though it was a special day for her.

Before Candy could answer her father, two men ran in, panting.

“Candy, Candy…” One of them called as he tried to steady himself by holding his chest. With his hands on his knees, he looked up at them, fear and worry written all over his face.

Tony held the young man by the shoulder and helped him to stand properly, “What's the matter?”

“It's Danny!” He declared and fell on his knees.

Candy's eyes widened at the mention of her twin's name. 'Didn't Danny go to walk Robin?’ She thought aloud. Robin was the name of the dog.

Robin was especially fond of Danny and wouldn't let any other person walk him. So even though Candy had offered, Danny turned down the request.

“What about Danny?” Candy retorted with a shaky voice. She said a silent prayer and hoped that Danny returned safely. The truth was that Danny was already hours late, but father and daughter tried to appear less worried, so as not to alert anybody.

“Danny is dead!” The other young man said. He was panting and shivering and anybody could tell that he was panicking.

Candy's first reaction was to laugh out loud until tears began to form in her eyes.

“This joke you're trying to crack is very expensive. Please, don't say such things on my sister's wedding day. She isn't dead, she just went to walk Robin.” Candy shrugged and stared at her father who looked at her like she had lost it.

“I said Danny's dead! She's dead! We saw her dead body at first, but when we went to seek help, we came back and couldn't find her body anymore.”

There was silence for a minute or two. This was when realization dawned on Candy.

Candy screamed and fell to the floor. She began to roll and pull on her clothes as though she wanted to undress in everyone's presence. Tony grabbed her and took her to her room. He closed the door behind them, to shield off any noise.

“What's happening, father?” Candy asked in between sobs. “This can't be true, right? I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming,” she repeated. She pinched herself and felt the pain. It was obviously not a dream. Her twin was no more.

Tony invited the men into Candy's room.

“You mustn't tell anyone about what has happened,” he said with a faraway look. It seemed as though his soul left his body. “Take this morning, and take this information to your grave.” He said with finality in his voice.

The two young men exchanged confused glances, but they still took the money.

“But, sir…?” One of them began but was cut short by Tony.

“Where's her body?”

“Her body was nowhere to be found, which is strange. We checked the site ourselves, but only saw traces of blood…”

“You two can go,” Tony waved his hands and gestured towards the door. Without a word, they left.

Meanwhile, Candy was no longer crying. She stared into the thin air without blinking, as though she were in an eye contest with an invincible person. She began to smile slowly and mutter incomprehensible words.

Tony got scared and shook her violently, calling her name at intervals.

“Come to your senses, Candy! Snap out of it!”

He took Candy into a tight embrace, stroking her hair and rubbing her back, “I don't believe those men,” he said.

Candy withdrew from the hug and looked up at him, wiping the tears off her face with the hem of her dress. There was a flicker of hope on her face.

With raised eyebrows, she said, “What will you do, father? Ray's family will soon be here.”