Earlier, at the salon

When Cindy, Marcia and you arrived at the salon you were met by an exotic woman named Antonia. She appeared to be Eastern European with hints of Asian ancestry also. Marcia introduced you to Antonia saying, "This is Erin. Give her the treatment we discussed." As you looked on a silent message seemed to pass between Marcia and Antonia. Antonia replied, "Are you certain?" Marcia nodded and said, "Absolutely!" Antonia nodded, smiled at you and invited you deeper into the salon. Nervously you looked back to Cindy and Marcia for support. Cindy smiled and said, "Have fun." Marcia said, "Go on Aaron and let Antonia work her magic and make a new woman out of you." The way Marcia said your name sounded strange but you felt Antonia's soft hands on your shoulders ushering you into what she called her "magic studio" and so you turned and allowed yourself to be guided to a private suite in the back of the salon.

Inside the surprisingly spacious suite you could smell incense burning and hear the soft sounds of traditional middle eastern or oriental music. Antonia had you sit down in a typical hair salon chair as she poured you a steaming hot cup of her special blend tea. She told you it would help you relax and be more pliable to her magical treatments. You accepted the tea and tentatively took a sip. It tasted good and felt warm going down your throat. The soft music, incense and tea were all very calming and you found yourself relaxing as Antonia got her supplies together for your magical treatment.

By the time Antonia was ready she found you laying back in the chair with your eyes almost completely closed and mouth agape. She took the cup from your hand and straightened you up in the chair. She spoke softly into your ear, "Well Aaron, ready or not, here comes my magic."

You could hear her chanting quietly in a foreign language as the smell of the incense seemed to get stronger. You seemed to be in a sort of trance as dreamlike images started to play inside your mind. You saw Paul in a tuxedo, standing under an arbor adorned with flowers. You saw chairs arrayed on the well-manicured lawn with guests sitting in them. Paul's Dad and Mom were there dressed in formal attire. You thought you must be at Cindy's wedding. But then you saw Cindy sitting with her parents and her husband. You were feeling a fluttering in your tummy as you heard the familiar sound of the wedding march begin to play. You hear a male voice speak and you look to your left and see your brother looking back at you and saying, "They're playing your song." You and he start walking forward slowly as you try to clear the cobwebs from your brain and figure out what is wrong with this scene.

Next thing you know you hear the preacher say, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Paul is lifting your veil and leaning in with his lips puckered and eyes closed.

The scene changes and you are sitting in a wheel chair, at the hospital admitting station and Paul is talking to the nurse saying, "My wife is having a baby, now." You look down to see your swollen belly just as you feel a powerful contraction hit. Next thing you hear is the doctor saying, "One more push Erin." As you bear down you feel a searing, unrelenting pain and then, relief as your baby is born. The doctor smiles at you as you hear the sputtering first cry of your baby and the doctor says, "It's a boy." You're crying as you look at Paul with a goofy look of wonderment on his face. You think 'I love him' while also thinking 'This is wrong.'

Your thoughts get very cloudy after this and you feel yourself on an emotional rollercoaster. Slowly you come around to the sounds of the soft music and light scent of the incense. Antonia is there smiling at you and telling you to look in the mirror at the new you. When you look you see that your hair has been styled to perfectly frame your face while your make-up accentuates and enhances your beauty without going overboard. You also notice a soft glow about you but think it must be the lighting and smoke.

Antonia guides you back out front in your still dazed state and delivers you to your waiting companions. Marcia asks, "Is it done?" Antonia nods and says, "She's ready for her new life."

The three of you head back to the car with Marcia holding your elbow the whole way to steady you. When you arrive home you suddenly realize how much time has passed as Cindy tells you to hurry to get ready. Something feels off as you make your way into the house and to the room you're sharing with Paul. Thinking you may be getting sick you debate going to Cindy's bachelorette party or staying home and resting.