THE SECOND GROOM

SORAYA The setting sun cast a golden glow over the wedding grounds, making everything seem like a dream come true. In two days right here, I'll be the bride who smiles, dances, and says, "I do." I will be Mrs. Soraya Alderidge. My heels clicked on the cobblestone as we practiced our wedding dance for the fifth time. Somehow, I managed to miss the last step each time. Liam dipped me slowly, letting out a soft sigh. "Sorry, I'm just nervous," I admitted. "Soraya," he whispered my name like a prayer, his lips brushing against my forehead in a light kiss that washed away every trace of doubt before he pulled me into a tight embrace "Everything will be perfect," he cradled me to his chest, his cologne melting through my doubt. "Our wedding will be perfect, Soraya. I promise." For a moment, I relaxed. A few more tries, and I finally got the dance right. I collapsed onto the floor, beside him, tired yet ready to tell him I was leaving for my final performance tonight. "Liam... my flight is tonight." "Do you seriously have to leave? Our wedding is in two days." He groaned, nuzzling into my neck and holding me tighter. "I mean, my team's ready, my ticket is booked... but I'll be back before you know it, I promise." With that, I kissed him and left. My luggage waited in the trunk of my car, already packed and ready. The cool evening breeze kissed my skin as I slid into the driver's seat. "I love you." I whispered into the empty air. The engine hummed low beneath my fingers, headlights cutting through the dusk. City lights blurred past my window, and I clutched the wheel tighter. The freeway opened like a runway as the airport sign flickered into view in a cold blue light. Inside, the terminal buzzed with motion. Everything moved. Fast. Loud. Active. I don't remember boarding. Just the echo of my name being called over an intercom. Before I knew it, we were in the sky. I sat by the window, chin in my palm, watching the clouds blur by. "Soraya?" I sat up and turned. Solene, my dance captain, raised her brow at me. "You good? You've been staring out that window like you're stuck in another dimension." I let out a small laugh. "Just tired," I said, offering a smile that didn't reach my eyes. "Uh—huh," she said flatly. She didn't believe me. None of them did. Across the aisle, Cassia and Naiya exchanged glances. I didn't blame them. They'd seen me nail every routine for months without breaking a sweat. But now, just days before the performance of our lives, I was off. "Okay, well," Solene said, nudging my shoulder, "When we land, I need you all locked in. Focused. Whatever's going on in that pretty head of yours, leave it at the gate." I nodded."Yeah. Of course," I said easier—said than done—part of me was still back home... with him. The plane touched down with a soft jolt. Warm desert air wrapped around me the second we stepped outside. I barely registered the city blurring past the tinted windows—towering skyscrapers, endless sand, gold—tipped everything. The limo pulled over at the hotel we would spend the night in. Inside the hotel, everything glittered. Marble, chandeliers, perfume lingering in the air. My troupe members chattered around me, but I just smiled. I walked into the elevator unfocused as its doors closed behind me. I barely noticed the little girl staring at me. When the elevator came to a stop, I walked out into the hallway and found my room. The hotel room was dipped in quiet luxury—cream walls, gold accents, and silk curtains that shimmered with every brush of the Dubai breeze. A velvet chaise stood by the window, overlooking the city’s skyline like it was trying to impress me. It did. The bed was too big for one person, and the sheets were too soft to comfort a restless heart. My suitcase sat half-unzipped in the corner, as if it wasn’t sure how long I planned to stay. I wasn’t sure either. A tray of fresh dates and sugared almonds sat untouched by the nightstand, next to a note that read Welcome, Miss Soraya. I traced the letters absently, my fingers tingling from muscle memory—my hands used to fit so easily in his. The mirror on the wardrobe caught my reflection. Tired eyes. A dancer’s posture. A girl who looked like she’d seen a ghost and called it love. I took a hot shower to ease some of my stress and went to bed— or at least, I tried. I lay still, curled up on the edge of my hotel bed. My troupe was already asleep or buried in FaceTime calls. The silence broke with a buzz, and Liam's name lit up the screen like a lifeline in the dark. Liam: You land safely? I can't sleep without your heartbeat beside me. I didn't know why I felt so off. Maybe it was the silence without his voice, the way my body moved without his rhythm beside me. He always came. This time, he didn't. I stood in front of the mirror again and looked at myself. My hair was tied up; my skin looked dull, like someone had dimmed the brightness on me. "He'll be fine," I whispered to myself even though I wasn't so sure. I turned off the lights, crawled under the covers, and closed my eyes. I'd never missed Liam this much before, and now that I do, it's draining me. As sleep slowly crept in, I let it take the weight of everything I was too tired to carry. The beautiful golden rays of the Dubai morning filtered through sheer curtains, painting soft lines across the marble floor. A faint knock echoed from the door, followed by Cassia's voice, light, and teasing. "Sleeping Beauty, rise and shine. We've got a wedding to crash—in heels. Rehearsal is in thirty." I blinked against the warmth, limbs heavy with sleep, and sat up. Today, I perform. One Last time. The rehearsal space was a cathedral of mirrors and music. The marble floors glistened under golden lights, the air buzzed with energy from the team—half of them jetlagged and the other half hyped. I stood front and centre, like always. "From the top!" Solene yelled, clapping her hands. "Full—out this time. Emotion in the limbs, people! Let them feel it." I inhaled, then moved. One, two, turn, leap, spin. With each beat, each flick of my wrist and roll of my hips, something inside me sparked again. By the time I hit the final pose, my pulse was wild with not only heartbeat but also with power. Ezra glanced over, breathless. "You good?" I wiped sweat from my temple and gave him a real smile. "Getting there," I said, and I meant it. After this, it'd be goodbye stage lights, goodbye applause. I wasn’t sure if I was ready. Maybe I never would be.