The Bride’s Secret

The Bride’s Secret

I couldn’t focus.

My mind kept replaying it over and over again.

Lidia’s face.

The way she reached for me just before she fell.

The sound of her head striking the corner of the coffee table.

It had been three hours.

Three hours since I dragged Lidia’s lifeless body out into the rain.

Three hours since I stood on the riverbank, shivering so hard I could barely breathe.

I had looked at her one last time before letting go.

I could have sworn someone was watching me from the darkness beyond the trees.

I ran away immediately without looking back.

Since then, I have showered twice.

I scrubbed my hands until my skin burned.

I washed my hair over and over again, because I kept imagining blood tangled between the strands.

Still…

I couldn’t wash away what I had done.

No one could know.

Not my mother.

Not Javier.

Not anyone.

Because this…

Was the bride’s secret.

My secret.

The one I would carry for the rest of my life.

“Elena!”

I flinched so hard my champagne glass nearly slipped from my fingers.

The cheerful chatter around me crashed back into focus.

Music drifted softly through the house.

Children ran between the sofas, nearly knocking over a tray of pastries while an exhausted aunt chased after them.

How could the world still be normal?

“Where did your mind go?”

Mother asked.

“I— I, nowhere. I answered quickly.”

“I was just…”

My voice disappeared.

Thinking about burying my best friend.

No.

Don’t think about it.

“I just needed some fresh air.”

Mother narrowed her eyes.

“You’ve been sitting in this same spot for twenty minutes.”

“Oh.”

I looked down at my untouched drink.

Had I?

“I didn’t realize.”

She sighed before smoothing the front of my dress.

“Nervous?”

I forced a smile.

“A little.”

“If anyone should be nervous, it should be Javier.”

That earned a round of laughter from my relatives gathered nearby.

Uncle Carlos lifted his wine glass.

“Here’s hoping this wedding actually happens tomorrow.”

Another wave of laughter rippled through the room.

My stomach tightened.

Aunt Jemima nudged her husband with her elbow.

“I told you we shouldn’t have bothered flying all the way here.”

She shook her head dramatically.

“Every time these two try to get married, something happens.”

Her husband chuckled.

“Relax. If history repeats itself, we’ll all be on the next flight home by tomorrow afternoon.”

“Oh, stop it,” my mother said, though she was smiling too.

“Lidia has learned her lesson.”

“Has she?” Uncle Carlos teased.

“What excuse was it last time?”

He pretended to count on his fingers.

“Food poisoning?”

Several people shook their heads.

“No.”

“The rare illness.”

Someone else laughed.

“No, that was before that.”

“The fake k********g!”

The entire room erupted.

“Oh yes!”

“I’ll never forget Javier’s face.”

“The poor priest almost waited forever.”

“I still can’t believe she fooled the police.”

Everyone laughed harder.

Except me.

My fingers tightened around my champagne glass until they began to ache.

“Cheers to tomorrow actually happening.”

My chest tightened, making me struggle to breathe.

Tomorrow.

There wasn’t going to be a tomorrow for Lidia.

“Elena?”

Mother’s voice sounded far away.

“It’s your turn.”

Every face turned toward me.

I lifted my glass with trembling fingers.

“T-to tomorrow.”

My voice cracked.

Someone chuckled.

“Bride’s nerves.”

“Poor thing.”

“If I were marrying Javier, I’d be shaking too.”

Everyone started laughing again and I forced myself to join in.

Ding-dong.

Their voices ceased, including the children who ran around.

“I’ll get it,” my mother called, making her way toward the front door.

Please…

Not the police.

“Oh, Victoria!”

Mother smiled warmly.

“Come in.”

My blood turned to ice.

Mrs. Victoria stepped inside carrying a neatly wrapped gift.

She wore a cream-colored dress, her makeup flawless despite the rain outside.

Her eyes landed on me almost immediately.

“There she is.”

Mrs. Victoria’s lips curved into a smile, but it stopped there. It never reached her eyes. They looked dull, as though she hadn't slept in days. Her gaze lingered on me longer than necessary, and for one second, I wondered if she knew.

“Congratulations, Elena.”

I forced myself to stand.

“Th-thank you.”

She embraced me lightly before taking a slow step back to study me from head to toe.

“My…”

She smiled again.

“You clean up rather well.”

A few relatives laughed politely.

She tilted her head.

“I wasn’t sure Javier would wait this long.”

The room went awkwardly quiet, that only Mother forced a laugh.

“Victoria…”

“What?” she replied sweetly.

“I’m complimenting the bride.”

Her face returned to me.

“You finally got your happy ending.”

Mrs. Victoria had never hidden her dislike for me. Every time a man showed interest in me and not Lidia, she would wear that same tight smile as though my happiness stole something from her daughter.

“ You know…” she said quietly, almost to herself.

“ Lidia loved you more than anyone.”

Her voice cracked on the last word. She swallowed before meeting my eyes again.

“ Sometimes I used to think she loved you more than she loved me.”

My fingers curled tighter into my dress until my knuckles turned white.

She stepped closer before I had the chance to move away.

Everything inside me screamed to step back, but my feet refused to obey.

She brushed an invisible wrinkle from my sleeve.

“ I just wish…” she murmured, “…she meant as much to you.”

The words forced a cough from my mouth.

Her gaze traveled slowly across my face, lingering on my swollen eyes before moving higher.

Her eyes paused. I saw them narrow.

In that instant, my hand rose toward my ear.

“ Elena…”

“ Where’s the other earring?”