“The Proxy Marriage”

Mr. Taylor began reading from a piece of paper. “We are gathered here today to join this couple, who have applied for and received a marriage license from the state, in holy matrimony. Do you, Bridey, take this man by proxy to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold by the laws of God and of this state?”

There was a silence. Then Bridey said, “Oh! Sorry. I do.”

Short fiction from Maile Meloy this week in The New Yorker. It’s kind of the ultimate crushes-get-cast-as-leads-in-the-school-play-so-they-get-to-kiss story, only with more war, higher stakes and an enchanting main character who someone should’ve given up on much sooner, not that it’s any of our business.