“Never give it up.”

That’s what my grandfather had always told me. Yet there I was about to do just that. His voice echoed in my head. He’d passed away 5 years before but his presence was always with me. His love for his family trumped all else. God was in us all he would say. So by loving god and us he was always loving one and the same. I was about to get married. It should have been the happiest day of my life. But my name would be gone. That was how things went. I never asked my grandfather if it was okay to take another name. My grandmother did, but the rest of us were all born with ours. My mother never married and my father never stayed.

My mother didn’t approve of the marriage. It wasn’t right. He wasn’t right. Her voice chased after my grandfathers in my head. My two brothers were behind them, patiently waiting their turn to let me know how disappointed they were in me. None of them were at the church that day. Nobody was. Just me, a minister, and my husband to be. I wasn’t getting cold feet. I just had cold voices in my ears.

My family would still love me. Even if they didn’t approve they would let me stay. That thought kept me strong. It kept my feet from backpedaling. I walked through the empty church and met my betrothed. The minister said his words and we said ours. We kissed. There should have been a celebration after that. Instead the lights went out. When they came back on the minister was gone. So was my newly appointed husband. The voices were also gone. I was alone.

I ran from the church. Outside I rushed past people, ignored street lights, and ignored my racing heart. I kept on running until I reached my house. The door was always unlocked. Inside I heard voices. My family. I turned the knob and walked in. I rounded the corner and saw them laughing at the dinner table. I laughed too. I was so happy they were all there. They didn’t look at me though. I yelled for them. Still nothing. I slammed my hands on the table. I made no sound. They were together. A family. But I had broken the one rule I shouldn’t have.

“Never give it up.”

My husband’s voice came from behind me. I turned and saw him. His eyes were no longer human.

“For so long you had been under his eye. The name that was light. And now you are mine.”

My husband’s voice warped and mutated as he spoke. I should have listened but it was too late for that. I turned and screamed for my family. I reached for them. I was being pulled away from them. My feet slid backwards until I could feel the hot sulfurous breath of my captor on my neck.

“Come, my love. Let us consummate this unholy bond.”

My name was gone. What had replaced it was spelled with pain and sounded like agony.