Shadows of the past

Chapter 3

Amy opens the door and ushers me in. There I see on the dining table are kept two large bowls of popcorn and two cans of coke. "Don't get baffled they're for us." Zach said. "Were you two watching a movie? " I ask. "No but we will be soon."

There is a knock at the door "it must be Joe" Amy opens the door for him. His eyes also dart towards the dining table and the expression I had on my face moments ago is now plastered on his.

"Why don't you two take a seat?" " Amy, I think you've had your fun, please stop tormenting us." Joe requests Amy. "I'm losing my mind, please just tell us, this suspense is killing me." "I fully intend on telling you but first sit."

Joe sighs in defeat and sits on the couch, I sit beside him.

Amy brings her laptop and keeps it on the coffee table in front of us and plays a video. It's hazy, the camera quality is not good its hard to understand what is going on, from the decorations it seems like its shot in a chapel. It seems like its someone's wedding video. Who are they? And why is Amy showing this to us? I pick the laptop to get a closer look, its shot sideways I can't see the faces of the bride or the groom. I notice their clothing its nothing like someone would wear at their wedding its more suitable for clubbing. I pause the video and zoom on the bride, funny she looks so much like me and she's also wearing the same dress that I was wearing yesterday.

Holy s**t this girl doesn't look like me, it is me.

I look at Amy and Zach “Please tell me it's not what I'm thinking”. I get up from the couch and go towards them “Please tell me its some sort of joke you’re pulling on me”.

It’s true honey and it’s not some joke we’re pulling on you”. Amy hugs and whispers in my ear“welcome to the family, sis-in law" I still can't put my head through all this

"So you’re saying I got married yesterday, who did I marry?"

Amy and Zach look at each other then at Joe.

"You've got to be kidding me. I married Joe? That's impossible, you both are surely just messing with me now”.

Wordlessly Zach hands me an envelop I open it and see it’s a wedding certificate, it’s Joe and my wedding certificate. "

What is it Ella?” Joe asks I hand him the certificate.

My head is spinning I can't understand what's happening, how did it happen?

"Ella?” Zach asked.

"I need to sit.” I sat on the chair beside me.

"How did this happen? and how did you two let this happen? I remember that we both were heavily drunk but you guys were sober. And where were you two? Why didn't you do anything?” Joe asks them. “We don't know how this happened, and when you were getting married we were busy getting engaged, you called us and asked us to come to the chapel, by the time we reached there the ceremony was over”.

"So, what are you going do now?” Zach asked in a serious tone. “I don't know, get a divorce?” I said.

"No we won't be getting a divorce, we'll just get this marriage annulled.” Joe said the lawyer in him waking up.

"Really you're going to end it, just like that, I mean aren't you going to give it a try. I mean come on, you guys are perfect for each other, you both understand each other, know each other well plus you’ll make a great couple. I really think that you should give this marriage a chance.” Amy said.

"Amy, this is not possible, I know that Joe is a great guy and that we have this special bond between us but that’s it I’ve always looked at him as a friend. Nothing more will ever happen between us. I know you’ve wanted us to end together but that’s not possible sweety because we don't love each other.”

"It's not only me, I mean mom and dad also want to see you together and they got really excited when I told them about your wedding…” Amy said.

"Hold back there, what did you just say? You told mom and dad about our wedding. Are you totally insane?” Joe asked. “I just got so excited, I thought that you guys had really decided to be together, it was in the morning that we realized you didn’t have a clue about what you did, in my excitement I may have called mom and dad and Charlie and Grace (Ella’s parents) too Ella.”

"Great now I have this crap to deal with too. The day just gets better and better, just tell me one thing Amy, I’m curious why would someone tell their parents that their friends got married drunk in Vegas.” I asked Amy.

"Well it happened because that someone thought that her friends were serious and her lifelong dream of having her best friend as her sister-in law was finally coming true."

"Amy…” I started, Joe interrupted me, “What"s done is done Ella, we need to find a solution to clear this mess now. We need to get back home as soon as possible so that I can start the process of annulment and we have to face the elephant in the room too.” I looked at him clueless. “We've to tell our parents that we’ve decided not to stay married and get them out of dreamland too."

"Zach look for the next flight available for home and I'll get started with the paperwork and you two should start packing.”

I'm in my room packing and bracing myself for the conversation that I'm going to have with my parents, I'm scared and nervous, well I should be I got married drunk in Vegas with a guy my parents want me to settle with so now I have to tell them that I'm crushing their lifelong dream by terminating this marriage. God please help me.