I got up from my chair and went to Alice.
Now she wanted that kiss. She put up her lips.
I kissed her.
The world rocked.
A buzzing noise sounded behind me. It made my blood crawl, because it was familiar. I jumped back from Alice just in time.
"No," I moaned. "No—Alice!"
But it happened.
I imagine that I'm the only man who ever kissed his bride on their wedding night, then watched her turn into a monstrous bug before his eyes....
Outside the owl hooted.