Broken Hearts

Chapter Five

As much as I wanted to punch Bryce in the face for what he said, I knew he was right. “Why did you have s*x with me if you knew what this meant to me?” I yelled as tears rolled down my face once more.

“Come on, Asha.” That’s the nickname he used when we were together. “You know why,” he laughed as he grabbed my arm, trying to comfort me.

“Don't you dare call me that again,” I roared angrily towards him. “Tell me the real reason, not that bullshit you told me. You just said that to get me to sleep with you again, huh?” Dumbstruck by my anger, he just stayed silent. “Stay away from me.”

“Hadassah, --”

“Don’t follow me!” I screamed, my eyes burning from the tears. As soon as I got away from him, I got into my car, locking the doors. Starting the car, I decided to text Arabella and tell her that I was going to take a spin around town and that I was going to be late. Should I tell her that I'm going to leave for a few days? No, you know what? I'm just going to the beach. Water always calms me down when I'm in a crisis, right? As I backed out, I noticed Bryce in his car, crying. But I didn't pay attention, I had other things to worry about. Arabella, my books, which was just a hobby, my spirituality, this baby growing inside of me, etc. Should I tell him? I haven't even told Arabella or my dad. What would Mom think? She'd kill me or worse, kick me out. Groaning, I decided to go back to the hospital and tell her. Just want to get it over with. Instead of leaving my parking spot, I just parked where I was.

“Hadassah?” I saw someone coming towards me, but I didn't see their face.

“Yes? Do I know you?”

They were right in front of me in a matter of seconds. “No, but I know you.” Soon enough, they hit me with something, and I was down on the sidewalk. Clutching my side, I groaned. What did they hit me with? I saw blood on my side and yelled out.

“Hadassah!” I couldn't make out who called me, but I saw a glimpse of him.

Bryce?

“Who are you?” he screamed towards the mysterious person. They suddenly took off their mask.

__

“Vanessa?” Seeing as he knew who she was, she jumped into his arms.

“Bryce, nothing can keep us apart. I just had to get out of prison to see you.”

“Stop!!” Holding her at arm's length, he said the four words she dreaded to hear. “Vanessa, I'm seeing someone else.”

“What?!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. Sighing, she asked, “Who is she? Hadassah?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, and I don't know what I would do without her. I'm head over heels in love with her, and even if she isn't in love with me, I'd wait until she decides to marry me and if she doesn't, I'll stay single because I'll never find a woman as beautiful and loving as her. And I wouldn't have it any other way.” But what Bryce didn't realize was that even though I was unconscious, I heard everything. “I'm sorry, Vanessa, but you are crazy and manipulative and deserve to be locked up, away from me and away from Hadassah.” With that said, I woke up. I had a massive head injury from the fall. As soon as he saw me, he knelt down next to me. I had tears cascading down my face. “Hey, hey, hey, you're all right. I'm right here.” Sobbing into his arms, I exasperated heavily, as though I had been cut and then, that's when I saw it, a massive wound on my side. Thank God we're at the hospital, I thought.

Carrying me bridal style into the hospital, he saw Alex, a really old friend. “Alex!!” he called out.

“Bryce, hey, is this an emergency?”

“My girlfriend got knocked out and wounded by my ex, who escaped prison. Could you help me?”

“All right let's get her to a room. Arabella is her sister, right?

“Yes, but what—”

“Let's go.” They put me on a hospital bed and, heading to the elevator, we, fortunately, got to the room where Arabella was. The minute, I saw her, I instantly buried my face in the pillow to muffle my screams. She looked pale and lifeless.

“What happened to her?” Bryce asked.

“We don’t know. All I do know was there was this girl. I think her name was—”

“Vanessa,” he said. “I’ll be right back,” he told us. Alex nodded and, gently placing his hands on my side, I instantly started feeling cold seeping into my wound. As if he heard what I was thinking, he said, “Relax, all right? I'm almost done.” True to his word, my wound was inexplicably healed in a matter of seconds.

As I opened my eyes, I saw him. “Bryce?” Rushing to my bedside, he grabbed my hand, kissing my forehead.

“Hey, how are you?”

“I'm fine, just in a little pain.” Grabbing my hand, he kissed my wound.

“Better?”

“Better,” I replied, smiling at him. Closing my eyes, I breathed in, as if inhaling his scent all over again. “Did you mean what you said?”

“What?”

“You said that you're head over heels in love with me. Is that true?”

“How did you—”

“I heard what you said,” I sighed, tears forming in my eyes. “I was thinking about what you said. And you're right, we're not ready for marriage or the fact that what we want from each other is s*x. But I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.”

“What are you saying?”

__

“I just need to take a break from us. I need to get my life in order first before I can be with anyone.”

“But—”

“Don't make me feel worse, please.”

Sighing, he took out a red rose box. “Here.” Then, without saying another word, he left. As I opened it, tears started forming in my eyes, my heart sinking to the bottom of my stomach as I took a good look at the ring. It was a princess cut double band diamond ring.

“Where is he?” I asked Alex, my lips quivering from the cold.

“He's outside.” As I got out of bed, my side started bleeding. “Stay in bed, I'll get him.”

When Bryce came to the room, I started spiraling. “Bryce, I-I'm sorry. I thought you didn't want to, that it was too early. And . . .” He quickly put his lips on mine, making me forget what I was saying.

“Did you see the ring?”

I nodded. “Yes, it's beautiful. It’s the ring I’ve always imagined, thank you.”

“Here.” Taking out the ring, he placed it on my finger. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes!!” Just as we were about to kiss, my heart monitor started beeping like crazy. “What's happening?” I asked.

“You're just excited for your engagement, that's all,” he laughed. “I'll leave you two alone.”

We immediately started talking about the wedding and how much we should spend. Suddenly, a wave of sadness washed over me and, before I knew it, I started crying. “I miss her so much,” I sobbed.

“Who?”

“Arabella.” Kissing my forehead, I sighed. “I told her that I don't know what I'd do without her and, now that she's gone, I don't know what to do.”

“I know, baby, but we're getting married. Aren't you excited?”

“Of course, I am, but I really wanted her, or my dad even, to walk me down the aisle.”

“Well, can't he do it?”

“He’s really busy with his company.”

“But that doesn’t mean that he might want to be there. Besides, I don't want to have a big wedding.”

“Me neither, but I know a lot of people and most of them have known me since my mom gave birth to me.” I sighed. “I have a headache from all this wedding talk. After the wedding, though, we need a long vacation. Two weeks in Bora Bora would be great. Or Paris.”

“Whichever one you want, princess,” he said as he kissed my forehead and then my hand. “I'll let you sleep, and I'll take care of everything down to the last detail.”

“How did I get so lucky?” I asked, my eyes suddenly heavy.

“I'll let you sleep, future wife. I love you.”

“I love you, future husband.” I, then, snuggled into the covers to what seemed to be a long night.

__

In my dreams . . .

Before I knew it, it was my wedding day. I was getting all dressed up in my beautiful wedding dress that was my mother's. I wanted to keep her spirit alive. Suddenly, I saw someone I recognized. “Arabella?” I asked.

“Hey, sis.” Right at that moment, I thought I would never see my sister again. My eyes suddenly starting to tear up. This isn't even her. This is just a dream, I thought. As my father asked me if I was ready, I noticed something. My father wasn't even here, and it was none other than my ex, Joel, who was walking me down the aisle. His face looked normal but shockingly enough, his face turned into the devil. This is just a dream, I kept telling myself. This is just a dream.

“You hurt me, you backstabbing she-devil—” At that moment, I woke up, realizing it was morning.

“Hey, princess.” Hearing my future husband, I was elated. He was wearing a black biker jacket, jeans, and Timberland Icon six-inch premium men’s boots.

“Bryce, hey.” As he kissed my forehead, I groaned heavily as if I had a really bad hangover.

“Are you all right? You look like you didn't sleep well last night.”

“You'd be right.” I sighed. “I can't wait to get out of here, get married, and just forget about all of this.”

“Well, today's your lucky day. The doctor's coming over to bring you your discharged papers. So, I took the liberty of getting your clothes, which include a warm jacket side zipper hooded coat, denim jeans, and a pair of sneakers.”

“You're amazing. I still can't believe I'm marrying you.”

“Hold that thought, because I got us matching t-shirts.” He got out one of the shirts and held them up, letting me read them. The shirts said I love you to moon and back. “They're both black because I know how much you love the color.” I didn't know what to say so I kissed him.

“You're amazing.”

“No, you are.”

“We both are.” At that moment, the doctor came in with papers and, taking out my IV, said the four words I've been yearning to hear.

“You're free to go.”

“Thanks, doctor.”

“Hey, don't thank me. Thank your fiancé.” With that said, I got dressed and we left.

__

10 days later. . .

“Hey, beautiful. You ready?” It was finally our wedding day, and I was healed. No more drama, no more Vanessa or Joel, just me and Bryce. After Arabella died, her mother didn't agree to walk me down the aisle, but she did wound up being a guest. My father eventually walked me down the aisle, which was every girl's dream. The dress covers my shoulders only barely with 2 spaghetti straps and flows down into a delicate cowl neckline. It's a loose fit which makes the dress look comfortable, yet elegant and stylish. My arms have been covered to just above my elbows. The sleeves are simply, yet elegant. A perfect combination of grace and style.

The dress' waist is narrow, but it's a comfortable fit. A bow has been wrapped around her and rests gentle on her lower back. Below the waist the dress fits snug around me and has a fish tail style. The dress reaches to just above my ankles and is the same length all around.

I’m wearing scarpins, gorgeous on their own, an ideal match in combination with the dress. To top it all off she's wearing a subtle necklace and several gilded bracelets.

“Yes, I'm ready.” Taking my father's arm, we started walking and, as I stared at my future, my knees were weak, like jelly, once again. He still has this effect on me after all this time? I thought, smiling to myself. He looked so handsome, wearing a smooth shirt, and buttoned it up fully to support the elegant tie he's wearing. On top of the shirt he's wearing a chic vest with 7 buttons, it has a fairly deep v-line, which causes the vest to line up perfectly with the jacket's v-line when it's button up.

The jacket was clearly made for him, it's a perfect fit. It has a tight herringbone pattern which gives the suit a more formal and elegant look. The 4 buttons of his double-breasted jacket are all buttoned up with the exception of one, a subtle touch of nonchalance which works perfectly. The jacket is slightly longer at the back, it has a vent at the back, there's a pocket on either side and there's a breast pocket which contains a stylish pocket square.

He's wearing pants which copy the style of the jacket, both in color and pattern and they're a perfect match for his shoes. He's wearing a handsome pair of plain toe bluchers. To top it all off he's wearing a graceful belt, which can be accompanied by gloves and a watch. Standing in front of him, I could only think about how much I love him, how I longed for him, to finally be his and him to be mine. “I love you,” I mouthed.

“I love you,” he mouthed back.

The wedding started. . .

“I, Hadassah Ash, take you, Bryce Anderson, to be my wedded husband, to love and to cherish and deeply respect in accordance with the divine law as set forth in the Holy Scriptures for Christian wives, for as long as we both shall live together on earth according to God’s marital arrangement.”

“I, Bryce Anderson, take you, Hadassah Ash, to be my wedded wife, to love and to cherish in accordance with the divine law as set forth in the Holy Scriptures for Christian husbands, for as long as we both shall live together on earth according to God’s marital arrangement.”

The rings were passed out. . .

“By the power vested in me by Jehovah God and the state of Florida, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

That said, Bryce brushed his lips on mine. “I can't wait to be alone with you,” he whispered in my ear, making my heart jump.