RELUCTANTLY HIS MATE.

RAVANNA The music sounded like angels falling from the sky with trumpets and beautiful voices, it filled the church. Every pew of St. Michael Catholic church was filled with people as if everyone around the world has been invited. This wasn’t just a bond between two strong families, it was a covenant I was about to enter with Alex Alonso, the only person I want to spend the rest of my life with. It felt like a dream… dreams are usually too good to be true. I stood in front of Alex, my smile stretched from cheek to cheek, my dress crowned me with grace and royalty. All my life, everything I have always dreamed of settles down to this moment, the moment I say “I do.” The priest stood before us while we turned to each other with huge enthusiasm, happy smiles on our lips. Five years have finally yielded, and finally getting sealed. “Do you, Ravanna Camelot, take Alex Alonso, as your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold? From this day forward? For better or worse? For richer and for poorer? In sickness and in health? Till death do you part?” Adrenaline shot through me as I opened my mouth to answer. My heart rate sped up. “Ahh!” Someone screamed from the congregation in church. We all turned our heads towards who it was, but more importantly than ever, I needed to say “I do”. Nothing triggered my flight like the sound of something destroying a special day. It was Calico. My eyes were wide open, seeing everything happen like a movie. My husband-to-be was no longer on the altar and the ring he was meant to insert in my finger was now by my feet. He carried Calico, my best friend–probably faking an illness–out of the church leaving me alone at the altar. Everyone forgot about me for a moment. The church was filled with concern and murmurs. It wasn’t until Alex left with Calico that everyone seemed to remember that it was my wedding day and I was still on the altar. I found out just last night that they have been having an affair, stabbing me in my back. This must be their one plan to stop the wedding. It was a hard pill to swallow even though I knew I had better accept it. The church rumbles with murmurs. I stumbled, just in time for my mom to hold me. This is happening. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and believed that I was tripping but how dare they! I broke. I stood there, embarrassed and nervous, waiting for his arrival but he never came. People started to leave the church, most looked at me with pity in their eyes. “Darling?” My mother called. “We should reschedule this wedding for another time.” Reschedule? Like this is a f*****g meeting. I nodded and wiped my tears. “Yeah, right.” I gathered my gown and ran out of the church. My father was gone too, with Alex to check on Calico as if I meant nothing to them. My brothers were meant to stick with me right? They were meant to be the ones who stood up for me in times like this but they were gone. All this dressing for what? I didn’t wait, I drove myself home. The clouds gathered, shredding my heart even more. I was alone at home, still wearing my ridiculous wedding dress. After running to my room and struggling to get out of the wedding dress, I took scissors and cut it out vigorously, wiping my tears as they fell. I didn’t deserve this! No I didn’t. It would be more chaotic if everyone returned and found me in the house, then everyone would act like I was the villain in this story but not today.. I wore a casual dress and went outside. I walked anywhere my feet took me. Thunder stormed through the streets. People ran around for shelter while I walked slowly in the heavy rain, letting it hit me as hard as it could, maybe then, I would be able to feel light. All Alex had to do was say I do. Calico was going to be fine, I was damn sure. My father didn’t have to go with her, she was my best friend, not even a part of this family. My brothers…my husband-to-be…all of them didn’t have to leave me that way. My phone rang and chimed several times. When I checked it, it was Alex, finally calling back. I received a sharp message from my father. “Where did you go? Get your ass back here or you will see the other side of me.” I smirked and dropped my phone back into my bag. I was soaked. What is there to see? I’m well familiar with his other side. I froze in the rain and cried all my pain and sorrow out! Here, no one would see my tears. Two hours later, the rain stopped and I’d turned numb from standing in a spot for too long. I began to shiver and think about what to do. My phone still rang, as if any of them actually cared. My wallet wasn’t wet, thankfully. Night had fallen. The street was back to being busy. People walked past me like I was a street light, stagnant. I walked to a nearby hotel. While taking a sharp dark corner that led to the hotel, I glanced at the dark corners, took a few steps away then traced my steps back. Something caught my eye. A huge dog was lying on the floor, drenched in water. I walked closer to the dog. It was black and exceptionally huge. It whimpered and looked injured. Seeing it reminded me of today, how my world had crumbled and no one seemed to care. People had walked past this dog, I was sure, no one wanted to help. Quietly, I managed to wake it up. It was too heavy for me to lift. I moved back, making sure he wasn’t going to attack me. Instead, it began licking my hand. It was weak, visibly. I took it with me to the hotel, got a room and spent my time taking care of it while I danced to the sound of my phone ringing. The dog fell asleep as I tended to its little wounds and bathed it. It shed a lot of fur but became more relaxed when I was done. Keeping myself occupied kept my thoughts away from Alex for a moment. But when I was done, I came back to reality and picked up my phone. Everyone had called me. My brothers, Calico, Alex, my father…my mom. They had all sent me texts, asking about where I was. Alex sent: “Hey babe. I know you are angry at me but you are getting too dramatic. You need to come home! Let’s sort this out like adults.” Calico sent: “ Bestie, I didn’t mean to ruin your big day. Please come back, I want to make it up to you.” My father sent: "If you don’t come back tonight, you are no longer a part of this family.” They were all unbelievable but I’m choosing myself this time. That’s what my father always wanted. He’s always wanted me out of the family. I’ll figure it out myself. I called mom back. She is the only one I wouldn’t want to keep worrying about. “Where are you! Anna. Please come back home,” she begged over the phone. I smirked bitterly. “I’m not coming back home Mom, not tonight. Tell father to do his worst!” “What!” I heard my father yell over the phone and instantly I turned it off then tossed the phone in my bag. I opened a strong wine in the fridge and drank it all the way to the middle before lying down and staring blankly at the ceiling. “Where am I?” A thick disturbing voice forced me off the bed. My heart slammed against my chest. “Jesus!” I looked around and finally saw a strange man in my hotel room and he was naked.