Lockdown! 31 - END

6 months later, 2.56 PM

On what was supposedly the happiest day of any young woman’s life, Paul carefully minced down the aisle of the old church feeling thoroughly miserable. But then again, he wasn’t a woman, not yet anyway!

Smiling at the handful of guests in attendance, his flowing white gown was causing him all sorts of trouble. He desperately wanted to tug up the strapless bustier-style top, feeling as though it was about to slip at any moment to reveal the girls. And if that wasn’t bad enough, he had to contend with the masses of petticoats and heavy layers of silky material, flapping around his pantyhosed legs, threatening to throw him off the six-inch platform pumps strapped tightly to his aching feet.

So with Paul living through his own worst nightmare, watched by his oldest friends as he tottered painstakingly slowly down the aisle, about to become the bimbo bride of a woman he loathed, you might be wondering, why was he smiling. The answer is simple, he had promised to! Not because he wanted to, but because of a compromise he’d made with Gwen.

Avoiding the marriage seemed to be out of the question unless he wanted to spend the next few years in prison being passed about and abused by the male inmates. But If he pretended to be happy on the day, smiling throughout the ceremony, Gwen wouldn’t invite Veronica. The last person Paul, wanted to see him dressed up as a blushing bride on his wedding day.

Sat on one of the uncomfortable wooden benches, Kamsi shook his head. He had imagined many times what Paul’s wedding would be like having agreed to be his best man after he proposed to Veronica. Sat next to his boyfriend, wearing a silky bridesmaid’s dress was not one of the scenarios he’d pictured.

3.58 PM

Sensing someone staring at him, Kamsi turned to catch his fellow bridesmaid gazing at him once again. It had been a few months since he and Tim last spoke but with feeling really uncomfortable now, Kamsi needed to say something.

Gliding over on his sparkly high-heeled pumps, the attractive bridesmaid stopped in front of his old friend and placed his hands on his hips. “You could have just come over and said hi, rather than just stare at me all day, you know?” he announced in a slightly irritated tone.

“I’m sorry,” Tim answered, “I didn’t mean to stare. You just look... so different.”

“Yeah, I had a little work done on my face and body,” Kamsi declared. “I'm not ashamed to admit it. And by the looks of things. You’ve had some work done too.”

Tim smiled awkwardly. “Me? No! Well, no surgery, but I have filled in a few creases around my eyes.” he said before giggling nervously.

Looking unconvinced by his answer, Kamsi smiled back. “So, does that mean you’ve decided to stay as a woman? I mean, last time we spoke, you were adamant that you were going to get your old life back.”

“I am!” Tim shot back. “This is all just a means to an end. A temporary measure while Kim and I get the new business off the ground. I'll be back to my old self soon, you'll see!”

Smiling and nodding, Kamsi changed the subject. “Do you think he’s really happy?” he questioned while glancing over at a photographer snapping pictures of the two brides, smiling away in matching white gowns.

“I don’t know,” Tim answered solemnly. “It’s impossible to have a real conversation with him these days with that overbearing woman about.”

“Yeah, it’s not right,” Kamsi added. “With how thin he's gotten and all that plastic surgery he keeps having, something's definitely very wrong there. Lorenzo thinks we should call the police!”

Nodding in agreement, Tim turned back to face Kamsi. “So, is Lorenzo your boyfriend now?” he asked sheepishly.

“Yes,” Kamsi replied proudly. “I know it might come as a bit of a shock to you, knowing how I used to be, but Lorenzo supports and excepts me for who I am.”

“That’s great, Karmen," Tim stated, a little surprised by the honest answer. "I’m happy for you. I really hope things work out for the two of you.”

“Thanks, Kylie. That means a lot,” Kamsi replied, stepping forward on his elevated feet to give his friend a light hug. “Hey, let’s grab some dinner one evening? I can get to know Kim a little better, and you can meet Lorenzo properly.”

“Listen up, everyone," Gwendoline Morris cried out, startling the chatting bridesmaids. "We need everyone over here for the pictures.”

“I’d like that, I’ll call you, ok?” Tim responded before tutting and shaking his head. “Come on, we better get over there. Bridezilla has summoned us, and who knows what she’ll do if we keep her waiting!”

(See image 45)

6.40 PM

Placing down her glass of Prosecco on the small coffee table in front of her, Veronica Miller looked up at the clock, and as Adam Levine’s voice bellowed out from across the room, she reached into her handbag to retrieve her phone.

There were no messages! Staring at the screen for a second, she considered calling someone but quickly changed her mind and tossed the mobile device down onto the coffee table.

"I’m happy,” she told herself. “I’ve got what I wanted. With those three clowns gone, I've got my life back".

It was true, her plan to force the annoying freeloaders out of her home had worked like a charm. Granted she’d had to resort to some extreme measures to achieve it, and it had taken a lot longer than she’d originally hoped, but the plan had worked! They were finally gone!

Tim was the first to go after moving in with his sister a few months back. And he didn’t stop to say goodbye. One day he just went to work and never came back.

Kamsi moved out next, having announced just a few weeks back that he moving into Lizzy from work's spare room. This had only left Paul, but now shacked up with Gwen, he was gone now too.

chuckling to herself, she still couldn’t quite believe it was her ex-fiancés’ wedding day. She would have loved to have seen him all dolled up in his wedding gown, but alas, it wasn't to be. A deal was a deal, and the deal she had agreed to meant she was to have no further contact with Paul.

When Gwen had first approached her with the offer, she had outright refused, wanting Paul around to help her in the salon. After all, he was great at his job these days and who could refuse free labour. The problem was, as Gwen informed her, she had committed a crime! By not reporting the identity fraud, she had become an accessory to it. This left her with little choice but to bow to Gwen’s demands. Although it wasn’t all bad, she was given sole ownership of the apartment. Paul, now a kept woman, wouldn't be needing it anymore.

“Yes, things have worked out perfectly. I’ve finally got my little sanctuary back and the peace and quiet that comes with it,” she thought, trying to convince herself.

The problem was something somehow felt off. And while looking around the room, she couldn't quite put her finger on it. The place just seemed... lifeless! Pausing, Veronica was suddenly struck with a terrible thought, one that she found almost impossible to comprehend. She actually missed those three idiots!

(See image 46)

THE END