BETROTHED HEARTS

I stood by the window of our small apartment, my gaze fixed on the bustling streets of New York City below. The city, with its towering skyscrapers and vibrant energy, had always held a special place in my heart. It was a place where dreams were born and nurtured, where opportunities were abundant. As a young woman full of ambition and dreams, I had envisioned a future filled with a fulfilling career and hopes for a love that would sweep me off my feet. I had felt invincible, ready to conquer the world. But life had a way of throwing unexpected challenges at me. My family, once prosperous and influential, had fallen on hard times. The weight of mounting debts and financial struggles had cast a dark shadow over our lives. I watched helplessly as my parents struggled to make ends meet, their hopes and dreams fading with each passing day. One evening, as the city's lights twinkled outside my window, my parents broke the news to me. In order to resolve our financial woes, they had struck a deal—an arranged marriage between myself and Sebastian Bach. My heart sank as the weight of the situation settled over me. I felt like a pawn in a high-stakes game, my future determined by others. I longed to fight against the constraints, to forge my own path, but the weight of my family's expectations pressed upon me. I stood in front of my dad, tears threatening to fall uncontrollably from my eyes as my head was spinning from this new development. " You can't just marry me off like that Dad. I'm not some kind of property or object to be tossed around. I have dreams and ambitions of my own and I'm not about to succumb to these demands. I'll find a way to get us out of this financial crisis Dad, I promise." Mr Morgan, Dana's dad just stood there looking at his once vibrant daughter who was ever so full of life. All that had changed over the past few months due to their financial crisis. "Dana, you know how important this marriage is for our family. Your mother and I have picked a date with Sebastian's family and therefore the wedding is set in stone." "But Dad, I can't just marry someone I don't love, what if he treats me badly?". I said, my voice breaking. Mr Morgan sighed softly. " You're being selfish, Dana. This isn't just about you; it's about our entire family and our future. You need to please be a little reasonable. I'm sorry Dana, but this is the way it has to be". And with that he turned and left the room, leaving me standing there, heartbroken and alone. I just laid on my bed with tears in my eyes. My dad was marrying me off to save the family from going bankrupt;and I had no say whatsoever in it. I was always supposed to get married to a man that I loved and appreciated deeply but now that plan was shattered. I was being forced into a loveless marriage and there was no escape. I felt so betrayed, not just by my dad but by my mum too. I immediately felt a sharp pain in my chest as I felt abandoned and set up by my loved ones. I cried and screamed until my throat was sore and my eyes stung. I laid on my bed feeling exhausted and numb. And then, I heard a soft knock at my door. "Dana, are you okay?". It was my younger sister, Abby, her voice filled with concern. I wiped my eyes and sat up staring at my sister in disbelief. "I'm not okay, Abby. I'm overwhelmed by this whole forced marriage." Abby came forward and sat beside me on the bed, putting her arm around me, " I know this is hard, Dana and I genuinely wish I could take all your pains away because I hate to see you like this but I think Mom and Dad are just doing what's right for our family." I nodded, knowing that she was right. But it still didn't make any sense or make this an easier pill to swallow. "I just wished things could have been different.". I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes again. Abby hugged me tight. "I know, but sometimes we sacrifice a lot for the ones we love." Abby smiled and kissed my cheeks. "You'll be fine Dana, you've always been so willful and strong so you've got this.". She said, I waited until Abby left the room before I dragged myself off my bed into the shower; maybe a shower could've made my heavy heart relax a bit. I headed into the shower, turned on the hot water faucet and stayed still underneath. The minutes ticked by, and I tried not to think too much about the life ahead of me. I didn't want to think about the reality of being forced into a loveless marriage. The thought of spending the rest of my life with a man who didn't love me only filled me with dread and anxiety. I didn't know what to do or where to go as the wedding was around the corner. All I could do was just lean on the walls of my shower and cry, letting the droplets of water from the shower wash away my tears.