CHAPTER 001
1211 Words
CHAPTER 001
The church smelled of lilies and candle wax, and all Lily had felt was the stinging of betrayal in her heart.
“Put a smile on your face, Lily. At least pretend. It is your sister’s big day.”
When Betty Wendy crept up, her voice was a knife blade. She seized the arm of her daughter and pushed her.
It tightened Lily’s lips. She could not smile. Not today. Not when her younger sister was strolling down the aisle to marry the man whom Lily had three years of loving him.
The date--twenty-first of March--scalded itself into her mind.
On that day, her sister Tatiana got married to Owens Pierce. The man who had just a month before mumbled that he loved Lily more than life itself.
Her knuckles were white; she was holding the bouquet so tightly. One step to the altar got heavier and heavier.
Tatiana floated along, gorgeous beneath the veil, flushed with happiness. Each smile of hers was a knife, wringing deeper in Lily.
Owens stood there waiting on the altar, pretty in a black tux and staring at the bride. He grinned, and that grinned had softened Lily in her will. Now it was curling her own stomach with nausea.
Her brother Lionel drew away, his round-faced face full of pity. His eyes met hers, and were heavy with pity. Lily’s jaw clenched. She did not want pity. Not from him. Not from anyone.
The priest started with a calm, deep voice. We are here today to watch the union of these two in matrimonial bliss.
Lily scoffed and could not restrain herself. The glance of Tatiana cut sharply at her, but the glare of Betty was worse--fire blazing in the left pew, cautioning Lily to behave.
But Lily did not care.
The vows began. Owens grinned like a fool. “I do.”
Tatiana’s voice was bright. “I do.”
The words rang in the skull of Lily like the sound of hammer blows.
But, said the priest, there is no one here who has any ground why these two should not be joined together? Say so and be silent.
The chapel fell to silence.
Lily’s chest went up and down fast. The voice of her best friend, Diya, reverberated in her head. Tell the truth. Ruin this day. Do not let them win.
Her lips parted.
But no words came.
She gulped the scream within herself.
No one spoke. The union was sealed.
The applause increased and reverberated in the vaulted ceiling.
At Beverly Hall, later, there were chandeliers, above which the gold glittered on the smooth floors. There was laughter in the room. Music filled the air. The new pair swayed in the centre, laughing, kissing, perfect.
Lily remained at the periphery with her crossed arms. She felt sick at seeing their happiness.
Betty came to her side, and her peach costume twinkled with the illumination, a glass of red wine in her hand. Hate not good things. Your sister is happy. That is what matters.”
Lily’s jaw tightened. In a low growl, she came out. “What about my happiness?”
Betty scoffed. “Do not be ridiculous.” She strolled, mopping up her wine, the heels of her feet clicking on the floor.
Lily snatched a glass from a waitress who passed by and drank it. The alcohol in her blood did not burn much to extinguish the flame in her heart.
She looked to the sound booth. One microphone shone in the lights.
Her lips smiled bitterly.
She was not going to be quiet any longer.
She walked to the stand and insisted that she be given the mic. The DJ hesitated, and her cold stare had no alternatives. He cut the music.
Silily picked up the microphone, and the room became quiet.
“Hello, everyone,” she began. Her voice shook, and she put it underfoot. I kept silence when the priest posed a question whether there was a reason why this wedding could not take place. Now I have a thing to say.
There was a shivering in the audience.
“Lily!” Tatiana had a sharp voice; she was telling her to halt.
But Lily ignored her.
Her eyes scanned the guests. Betty was already flushed with an angry face.
“My sister married today. She got married to a man who, a month ago, in my bed, was telling me he loved me so much. For three years, he told me that I was the one. And I believed him. But the truth? I was filling the space till Tatiana was twenty years old.
There was a shriek of astonished murmurs in the crowd.
Owens stood paralyzed with his swaggering smile faded.
Some four weeks ago, they confessed. Gave us their betrothal 3 weeks ago. My mother blessed them. And me? And here I had to stand as I was humiliated and shown off as maid of honour. But no more.”
Betty made a movement to move forward, but Lionel grabbed her arm and kept her.
I was not adopted, I kept on, Lily, and it breaks my voice. “I am her daughter. But even since my father passed away seven years ago, she has averted her gaze from my life. Maybe she blames me. Maybe she just never loved me. But I am done being silent.”
Her cheeks were wet with tears, but she forced her way.
During the weeks, I wondered what I saw in Owens. He snorts like a steam engine. He chews with his mouth open. His morning breath is foul. I remained because I needed love. I wanted to be seen. And I thought he was worth it. He wasn’t.”
She looked at Tatania, whose face had now grown as red as that of Betty. “You can have him, sister. I did not lose anything. You did not win anything. Enjoy what you think is love.”
She put the microphone back on the table. The room was dead, stifling with awe.
Lily turned and walked out.
The air was cool outside at night, and it felt as though it was freedom. She sniffed, the lightness of her chest bringing her a pleasurable shock.
“Lily!”
The voice of Betty penetrated the darkness. She raged off behind her, angrily in her footfall. Her eyes flared, her phrases were as knives. What the hell have you just done?
Lily turned, and her voice was calm, her eyes hard. What I ought to have done many years ago. Enjoy your perfect daughter. She is all you have left.”
Her head was high and her steps were straight as she walked away.
But as she neared the street-end, there was motion in the shadows.
A man was emerging, a tall man, in the dim street-light. His wide-set shoulders made a long shadow over the pavement.
His eyes were also glossy, too shiny to be natural.
He grinned, kindly and cold, as though he had been keeping this over and waiting.
Lily froze, with her breath in her throat.
And then it struck her—
Her night was not over.
Not even close.
What was his name, and what did he want her?
- Writer
