The hazy image slowly came into focus. Jennifer was standing at the edge of a balcony looking down at the center aisle of a church. The pews on either side were filled, but the faces of the those present were hidden in shadow. In fact, the whole church was dark except for a single shaft of light that fell from a round ceiling skylight. The light illuminated a long low table that stood at the head of the central aisle, directly in front of the altar. The table was covered with a lavender satin cloth and was surrounded with large fragrant bouquets of lilacs, lilies and roses.
The quiet background music changed to a somber processional march. The congregation rose quietly and turned toward the center aisle. The procession was lead by a priest in full ceremonial vestments. The only unusual item was the stole. The usual brightly colored stole was replaced by one of black velvet, which contrasted sharply with the flowing, white robes. The priest was followed by two acolytes. One carried polished brass cross on a tall pole. The other carried a folded satin cloth.
Six young women, dressed in long gowns of black silk, followed the acolytes. Their faces were hidden by black veils which hung from circlets of black silk flowers. They carried an open casket lined with pleated white satin. Within it lay a young woman dressed in a bridal gown. Long golden hair much like her own was draped over her shoulders and spread across the satin pillow. Her face was hidden by a white veil. A bouquet of white lilies and fragrant lilacs rested in her arms.
The black gowned pallbearers carried the casket with slow measured steps to the head of the aisle and gently laid it on the lavender draped bier. The satin gowned body of the young woman that lay within seemed to glow as the shaft of sunlight fell upon the open casket.
As Jennifer watched, the glowing image became an amorphous blur that seemed to swirl closer and closer until she was immersed in its radiant light. She felt herself lifting, spinning and floating, as if through a glowing white cloud. When the images around her again came into focus, she was lying on her back, bathed in sunlight that streamed in from a round window in the ceiling high above. The image was clouded by a fine white veil which lay softly over her face. All around her floated a musical chant. The Latin text seemed at once strange and familiar, like a distant memory.
As the chant concluded, a dark shadow blocked the sunlight. A rectangular shape was being lowered, slowly, by unseen hands. Jennifer strained to discern any identifying details as the shadow grew darker and darker. In the final moment, she could make out the pleated satin lining of the casket lid. Then she was plunged into total blackness.
For a moment all was still. Then she heard the muffled stains of a march beginning from the organ. She was lifted, then a gentle rocking began, a slow swaying, in perfect time to the music.
Suddenly all the pieces fit together and she realized what was happening. The Latin chant was the Requiem Nuptialis, the wedding for the dead! The rocking sensation was caused by the slow measured steps of the six black gowned pallbearers who were carrying her in her casket out of the church and then to the cemetery for burial! She wanted to cry out, but no sound came. She struggled to raise her arms, to push open the casket, but they remained folded on her chest like lead weights. The music was fading to silence. The air in the casket was becoming hot and pungent with the odor of lilac. The gentle rocking went on and on. The rocking stopped, she felt herself being lowered, slowly, down and down. Then she heard a rattle and heavy thud as the first shovels of earth began to fill her grave.
From far off she heard a voice calling her name: "Jenny, Wake Up!"
The voice was faint, yet resonant, as if being called through a long tunnel. The dream faded and the voice became clear and close.
"Jenny wake up! It's time to get up!"
Jennifer awoke to the bright sunlight streaming through the skylight of her bedroom. Her sister was gently rocking her shoulder.
"Jenny, it's time to get up. The mortician and priest are already here. It's time to get dressed"
Her sister was already dressed in a long black gown of softly glowing silk. On her head was a small wreath of black silk flowers from which a black veil hung nearly to her waist.
Jennifer sat up and looked around the room. The ivory satin gown and silk illusion veil hung on a dress form near the wall. A bouquet of white lilac and lilies, tied with satin ribbon had been placed on a small table beside the dress.
She rose and walked to the window. The warm spring breeze was heavy with the aroma of lilac. The garden was a pastel of spring lilies, tulips and a host of other flowers set against the fresh green gold of new spring leaves. Several black limousines were parked in the drive. Directly in front of the door was parked a white hearse. From its back, the mortician and his assistant were unloading an open casket. The satin lining glowed in the morning sunlight.
The black gowned pallbearers carried the casket with slow measured steps to the head of the aisle and gently laid it on the lavender draped bier. The satin gowned body of the young woman that lay within seemed to glow as the shaft of sunlight fell upon the open casket.
As Jennifer watched, the glowing image became an amorphous blur that seemed to swirl closer and closer until she was immersed in its radiant light. She felt herself lifting, spinning and floating, as if through a glowing white cloud. When the images around her again came into focus, she was lying on her back, bathed in sunlight that streamed in from a round window in the ceiling high above. The image was clouded by a fine white veil which lay softly over her face. All around her floated a musical chant. The Latin text seemed at once strange and familiar, like a distant memory.
As the chant concluded, a dark shadow blocked the sunlight. A rectangular shape was being lowered, slowly, by unseen hands. Jennifer strained to discern any identifying details as the shadow grew darker and darker. In the final moment, she could make out the pleated satin lining of the casket lid. Then she was plunged into total blackness.For a moment all was still. Then she heard the muffled stains of a march beginning from the organ. She was lifted, then a gentle rocking began, a slow swaying, in perfect time to the music.
Suddenly all the pieces fit together and she realized what was happening. The Latin chant was the Requiem Nuptialis, the wedding for the dead! The rocking sensation was caused by the slow measured steps of the six black gowned pallbearers who were carrying her in her casket out of the church and then to the cemetery for burial! She wanted to cry out, but no sound came. She struggled to raise her arms, to push open the casket, but they remained folded on her chest like lead weights. The music was fading to silence. The air in the casket was becoming hot and pungent with the odor of lilac. The gentle rocking went on and on. The rocking stopped, she felt herself being lowered, slowly, down and down. Then she heard a rattle and heavy thud as the first shovels of earth began to fill her grave.
From far off she heard a voice calling her name: "Jenny, Wake Up!"
The voice was faint, yet resonant, as if being called through a long tunnel. The dream faded and the voice became clear and close.
"Jenny wake up! It's time to get up!"
Jennifer awoke to the bright sunlight streaming through the skylight of her bedroom. Her sister was gently rocking her shoulder.
"Jenny, it's time to get up. The mortician and priest are already here. It's time to get dressed"
Her sister was already dressed in a long black gown of softly glowing silk. On her head was a small wreath of black silk flowers from which a black veil hung nearly to her waist.
Jennifer sat up and looked around the room. The ivory satin gown and silk illusion veil hung on a dress form near the wall. A bouquet of white lilac and lilies, tied with satin ribbon had been placed on a small table beside the dress.
She rose and walked to the window. The warm spring breeze was heavy with the aroma of lilac. The garden was a pastel of spring lilies, tulips and a host of other flowers set against the fresh green gold of new spring leaves. Several black limousines were parked in the drive. Directly in front of the door was parked a white hearse. From its back, the mortician and his assistant were unloading an open casket. The satin lining glowed in the morning sunlight.
