Antun's**

I remember her wedding
was held in the dark reception room
of this German restaurant
she was four months pregnant
sneaking sips of brandy
while the groom roamed around
if he caught her
he’d have beaten her
my chicken semi-defrosted
I sent it back
worried that the waiter and chef
defiled my replacement dish
didn’t eat

The bride had dark circles tattooed under her eyes
she smiled
with a droop to the right corner
of her lips
that posed as an eternal lapse
of that pure bliss on a wedding day

The balloons launched onto the dance floor
we cheered
she was already collecting the cards
in a basket
the groom her body guard
eyeing the basket as his real bride