THE WEDDING

The Church

Here I am getting ready for a wedding where I will only put my presence, where the only people I know are my friend and her parents. But all for the sake of helping them. I can't let them go bankrupt. I am a witness to how hard they work to keep their businesses afloat.

Moreover, what do I have to lose? I'm single, he lives far away, we can be married and each in our own country without any problem or so I want to think. Who am I kidding? I'm in shock. I still haven't assimilated it. Everything happened so quickly. I turn to the mirror and there I am in a beautiful wedding dress.

I truly look amazing. My natural makeup looks very beautiful. I can't believe I'm getting married, right now I'm so nervous. Someone knocks on the door and Anabel enters, Kami's mother or my future mother-in-law.

"Gabi, thank you so much for what you're doing to save us. We will never forget it. Take this, now more than ever I want to give it to you. You're like another daughter to me and now, married to my son, you will officially be part of our family. This bracelet has some blue details as tradition takes, these borrowed earrings were from my grandmother and what was stolen, you already have it, that dress that was not meant for you."

"Thank you so much, Ana, but I wear everything stolen since nothing at this party belongs to me, not even the groom."

Saying that out loud makes me realize the mistake I am about to make. Someday I dreamed of getting married for love and now that won't be possible, because I will join this unknown man through the church.

"Gabi, you look beautiful!"

"I hear that voice and I turn around and Don Jesus is looking at me."

"You are radiant, princess, because it was written in destiny, I know you will be very happy. My son told me that he has always been in love with you and that's why he decided to leave his girlfriend to marry the love of his life, even though I don't applaud the way he did things! I am very happy for you."

I smile, uncomfortable, because the truth is that this story is not true. It's the lie they created to get by. If he only knew that his son and I don't know each other.

"Thank you very much, Don Jesus, it's good to have your blessing!"

"Beautiful, now I am your father-in-law! And you should call me by my name, no need for formalities. Would you let me walk you down the aisle? I know your father in heaven is happy for this big step you are taking today."

I wipe away a couple of tears, because talking about my father is something that makes me very sad, and I extend my hand to my future father-in-law. "Thank you for accompanying me. I feel like my legs are failing me as I walk. He just smiles at me and I feel the weight of this decision with every step I take. In the background I hear the wedding march that plays in all churches. I advance, looking at a fixed point so as not to fall, I don't want to see the guests, as their faces must be of total surprise, since I am not the bride everyone expects to see.

‘Oh my God! Why did I accept to do this madness? We forgot a small detail. Everyone knows I'm not the bride of this wedding!’

I walk like a robot, not wanting to see where he should be standing. I am not prepared to see the groom. I wish the aisle were longer. Now I want to run away from here and not look back, but I can't because I'm holding hands with my future father-in-law.

I think I am about to have a panic attack, added to the fact that this dress fits me too tightly. I think the original bride didn't have as many attributes as me. I snap out of my thoughts when I hear.

"Take care of her, son, she's a treasure!"

"I will, father!"

I raise my gaze and meet a beautiful man. He looks at me with a glare. He is tense; I can even see annoyance, disappointment, etc. It must not be easy to pretend that you weren't stood up and continue with this ceremony as if nothing has happened. He looks away from me and takes my hand as if it burns or disgusts him to touch me. The priest begins the ceremony. I observe the man by my side. He has black hair, olive green eyes with enviable eyelashes, a freshly shaved beard, and a perfect suit that molds to his masculine figure, but he exudes indifference and arrogance. He must have a horrible character.

"When I was informed that my bride had disappeared, I must admit that I went through all the emotions in a matter of minutes. I looked for her in her room. Which was a waste of time. I never imagined that she and my best friend could do this to me. How could the two people I trusted with my life betray me like this? I go back up to my room and sit on the bed with my hands on my face as I try to deny the obvious. I was abandoned in the middle of the wedding!”

There's a knock on the door.

"Sir, I am the wedding planner. You are five minutes late. You must come down, people are murmuring. Your sister says to go to the altar. She is looking for a solution."

I take a deep breath. I am not in a position to cancel this wedding for anything in the world. First, for the sake of my father's health and secondly, how do I explain this to the guests and the press? Without causing a scandal that would bankrupt us, there is simply no way to do that.

It is easier to invent an excuse for the change of bride than to cancel it. I take a deep breath and go downstairs. At this point I don't care who Kamila intends to marry. It could be even the hotel maid. I just need to get out of this quickly. I feel like I'm suffocating. The anger and helplessness are so strong. It makes me want to destroy every arrangement in this damn place.

The music plays and my father comes with someone on his arm. My first impression is astonishment. She is very striking. She could be compared to a Barbie doll, but when I look at her body and see her in the dress and all the things Mafer bought for this wedding, I feel my anger grow.

The one who should be walking towards me in all of this is my beautiful Mafer! I use all my self-control not to go to her and snatch away everything that doesn't belong to her. I don't know how much longer I can bear this charade.