The Walk

The big day is here. John, a bear of a man, and his wife, Linda, are getting ready for their daughter's wedding. He struggles with the formal garb but with the help of his wife, he accomplishes his task. The love between John and Linda is plain to see. Meanwhile, Katie and her bridesmaids prepare for the wedding with the usual mix of giggles and nerves. Katie's phone chimes and she looks. It's a text from John. She shakes her head and says she doesn't have time for his many jokes and memes sent by text. John and Linda hop in the car and head for the church. On the way, John stops to put direction signs by the side of the road. After a few, he stops for another. As he plants the sign into the ground. A truck runs off the road and critically injures him. An hour later, John and Linda have not arrived at the church and the wedding party is getting worried. Almost another hour passes and Linda is escorted into the dressing room. She is disheveled and has been crying. Katie is alarmed and Linda recounts what happened including John dying and John's last words. The sit and cry, trying not to be zombies. Katie gathers strength and ponders how she is going to tell the guests. She remembers the text. She guilts herself for blowing off his last text. She opens it. It's a video. Katie and Linda watch. It's music from John. (We can't hear the words.) They blow up in tears and Katie declares the wedding is going on. Linda tries to reason with her; the guests will understand John just died. Katie counters "But what did he say?" The wedding is going on. In the church, Katie is ready to walk up the aisle. Her eyes are red but she is beautiful. Her groom waits at the alter. There is no one to escort her. On the church's video screen a video is projected. It's John and it's the video text he sent to Katie. He begins by telling her how happy he is that she is his daughter, how happy he is that she found the right guy and he approves of him. And then he lays down the law, "This wedding is going off!" No matter if there are broken legs, dogs running through the church or a flood, this wedding is going off. Marriage is about overcoming the worst. This wedding will happen. Then music begins to play and John makes his musical debut singing WALK WITH YOU by Edwin McCain. Katie moves up the aisle.