Chapter 11: The Dock

Mina sat down to applause.

Actual applause, scattered and confused, because people clap when a bride sits down.

Her fiancé kissed her cheek.

I pushed my chair back.

I didn't know what I was going to say.

I only knew I was going to stand up on something and say it.

My mother's hand closed around my wrist under the table.

Hard.

"Not tonight, Hana-ya," she whispered. "Not at her dinner."

"Umma, she just..."

"I know what she did. Sit down. Please."

Her eyes were still wet from Eli's toast.

They were begging me.

I sat.

Next to me, Eli set his glass down very carefully.

He folded his napkin and put it beside his plate.

Then he stood up and buttoned his jacket.

"Excuse me," he said, to the whole table, perfectly politely.

He walked out of the tent.

He didn't walk fast.

He didn't look back.

Every head turned to watch him go down the lawn toward the dark water.

Mina picked up her fork.

"Well," she said brightly. "Somebody's sensitive."

A couple of the bridesmaids laughed.

Jae didn't.

He was staring at Mina.

I pulled my wrist out of my mother's hand.

"Hana," she said.

"I'm going."

I didn't run.

I wanted to run, but I walked, the way he had.

Halfway across the lawn I took off my heels and carried them.

The grass was already cold and wet.

The music started up again behind me, a little too loud.

He was at the very end of the dock.

He'd taken off his jacket and laid it folded on the boards.

He was standing with his hands in his pockets, looking out at the lake.