[ WP ] You declare to the heavens that you will never fall in love . Aphrodite herself took it as a challenge .

My first thought that morning was one of disbelief. I couldn ’ t believe this day had finally come. 
 
 My best friend Alan was due to tie the knot with his girlfriend of 15 years; Sophie. If there was such a thing as a'match made in heaven' - this was it. High-school sweethearts; rarely disagreed about anything; and above all else, they were both mad for each other! Jesus. Big Al and Sophie, together, forever. I must admit, the thought of being in Big Al's shoes fucking terrified me, but I knew he could n't be happier. And we were all very excited to bare witness to the big moment they had been waiting for their entire lives. However, that ’ s not why I was awake so early today - the wedding isn ’ t until tomorrow. Tonight, was Alan ’ s big send-off. And as best man, I ’ d planned the world ’ s best bachelor party. 
 After all, who better than a bachelor, such as I, for the job? 
 
 I ’ d rented out the private function room of a hotel close-by for a steak dinner with Alan ’ s closest friends. The soundproof walls contained the soundtrack of our debauchery - loud music; drunken singing; cracking dirty jokes - the sort of behaviour which was, in general, deemed unacceptable for public viewing. Without meaning to toot my own horn, the night was perfect. Or at least, it would ’ ve been, if people would stop talking about the damn wedding. 
 “ You nervous, Alan? ” 
 “ How ’ s everybody getting there? ” 
 “ You got a date for tomorrow night? ” 
 Christ. I had to remind these clowns where we were. 
 
 I piped up. “ You really are a sad bunch - we ’ re sitting here, dining on steak, washing it down with the finest whiskey this side of town; and you ’ re getting your panties in a bunch about a wedding! I thought this party was for the bachelors, not the bachelorettes! ” 
 
 Of course, young Kevin hits back, “ we ’ re just talking about our dates, John! Speaking of which, are you taking anybody? ” he asked suggestively - he knew already that I wasn ’ t bringing a date, we ’ d had this conversation already - he just wanted to embarrass me. He was sneering now, so I just sneered back. 
 “ I wouldn ’ t bring a date to a wedding, in the same sense that I wouldn ’ t bring a packed lunch to a buffet - there ’ s a platter of lonesome bridesmaids already there!. ” Enough people laughed that the matter was forgotten. Even Kevin cracked a smile. Kevin was a high school buddy too, we ’ d kept in touch over the years. Throughout high school; Me, Alan and Kevin were inseparable. 
 
 “ You know, John, the last time I seen you, you were still going out with that blonde girlfriend of yours - the tennis player! ” said Paul, ( Kevin ’ s older brother ) - “ what was her name? ” 
 
 I knew there was only a limited amount of time before anybody brought up my ex - we ’ ve been separated for 5 years now, but people still ask about her. She ’ s the only girl I ’ ve ever really ‘ loved ’. “ Yeah - that would ’ ve been Sarah ” I replied, trying not to sound too melancholy “ Oh God, I remember her well. I had sixteen blissful years... - and then I met her! ” 
 
 “ You always were good with the jokes, John! ” Paul laughed, taking a second to catch his breath. “ So I ’ m guessing we won ’ t be attending your wedding any time soon? ” 
 
 “ Paul, may Christ strike me down if I ever do something as silly as fall in love ”, I exclaimed, standing to make a swift exit, as my phone had started to ring. 
 
 It was true. I thought falling in love was for suckers - but I didn ’ t want to give Alan any room for doubt before the big day. Besides, the agency I employed for tonight ’ s ‘ adult entertainment ’ was calling me, so I didn ’ t have time to discuss the ins-and-outs of my stance on ‘ true love ’ - it ’ s all bullshit to me. I marched to meet the lady of the evening in the car park - the wonderful Aphrodite. Original name for a Greek stripper, I know. 
 
 But Christ, when I seen her, I could ’ ve sworn she was a real goddess. Maybe it was because I ’ d drank my weight in alcohol; maybe it was because I hadn ’ t had a date in well over a month - but when this olive-skinned statuesque beauty approached me, I was sure there must be some sort of mistake. “ You are John, yes? ” she speaks in broken English with a voice so soft that I find myself flustered searching for a response. I manage to splutter out 
 “ Yes - I am John. You are Aphrodite? ” 
 My awkwardness is in no way subtle, but she smiles sweetly, “ Yes. Where is the party? ” 
 
 Of course, when she walked in the room, she set the place on fire. She performed atop the centre table for a solid half an hour. Starting off in a toga costume, and losing it all in thirty minutes of pure heaven! 
 As she was putting her robes back on and climbing off the table, I thought I ’ d conduct a quick survey of the room. 
 “ That was some show, John! ” 
 “ Holy shit, where did you find her?! ” 
 “ Don ’ t leave here without giving me that number! ” 
 Everything went as well as expected. 
 
 She taps my shoulder, and says my name aloud in her eloquent tone, yet when I turn around I ’ m still surprised to see her there - as if it ’ s the first time I ’ ve seen her all over again, I felt like I really forgot just for a moment how beautiful she was. “ Where is my coat? ” 
 
 The walk to the coatroom involved me doing most of the talking, remarking on the quality of her performance - “ I think you may have made a few more bookings tonight, Aphrodite, they loved you! ” She responded with a giggle and said “ you can call me Ana, John, the performance is over! ” 
 ‘ Ana. ’ I ’ d arrived at first-name basis with the stripper. Lord have mercy! 
 
 However, the mood of the conversation was interrupted when she said rather bluntly; 
 “ John. Do you really believe that you will never love another woman? ” 
 I went back into a stunned state in which I couldn ’ t string a sentence together. But she spoke first. 
 “ You say, John, that God must strike you down if you ever fall in love - is this true? ” 
 Somewhat confused, I hoped that I could brush this aside as nonsense, but I could feel my brow starting to sweat. 
 “ Your friend Paul tells me this! It ’ s ok, John, I do not judge you! But I think this is sad! ” 
 She had me cornered. But even if I could deny it, I didn ’ t want to. Why would I lie to the most beautiful woman I ’ ve ever seen? And why would I lie to a stripper? I didn ’ t ever think that the most beautiful woman I ’ d ever meet was destined to be a stripper - but that ’ s besides the point. 
 
 I assist her with her coat and try to diffuse the situation. 
 “ It ’ s not as it seems, honey, I just don ’ t think relationships are meant for me - that ’ s all ” 
 To my delight, she smiles, “ I understand. ” Checking her phone, she continues “ my taxi will not be here for another 30 minutes - will you stay and talk? ” 
 I respond calmly, to disguise my excitement that I get to spend more time with this beauty. 
 “ My pleasure - but can we sit at the bar? I think I need another drink - how about you? ” 
 As we walk to the bar, my mind starts racing - I was watching Ana all evening; she done her dance; said her goodbyes; then left with me - how did she manage to sneak in a conversation with Paul without me noticing? Regardless, I ’ m not going to focus on that when I have a beautiful woman escorting me to the bar. 
 I only have thirty minutes to spare, I ’ m going to make them count. 
 
 
 
 “ So this is it, John? Her voice awakens me. 
 The sun beats in through my window, illuminating the white sheets that hug her figure as she stretches her legs under the blankets. 
 It takes my mind a while to adjust to the reality of the situation, and I find myself battling the stammers and the stutters to string together a reply; “ what do you mean? ” 
 “ Relationships are not for you John - now that we ’ ve had one night of passion, you wish to cast me aside and go on in pursuit of another lover? ” 
 Unbelievable - if any other woman had asked me this, then the simple answer would ’ ve been ‘ yes ’. 
 But if she thinks that I ’ m going to let her go now, then she ’ s crazy. 
 
 “ Actually Ana- ” I sit upright in the bed and I can ’ t help but smile like a fool 
 “ - I was thinking about asking you if you wanted to escort me to my friend ’ s wedding? ” 
 She returns my smile, and nods graciously. 
 
 I still refuse to admit that I believe in silly things like “ true love ”, or “ love at first sight. ” But as we bring our bodies together under the sheets and share a few brief minutes of silence, I find my mind is possessed with idyllic visions of what a future with Ana might be like. Greek salads with feta cheese for Sunday lunch; summer trips to Santorini - maybe I ’ ll even learn Greek! 
 It feels silly - after all, I ’ ve only known her for one night! 
 
 But if I could do something as silly as fall in love with Ana, then may God help me! 
 
 
 ( My first submission here; I call it'Holy Fuck'. Hope you all like it! All feedback is appreciated )
