☆ Wedding Ceremony ☆
She securely placed her scarf on her head and hastily covered her chest with it. With a sense of unease, she glanced at her reflection in the mirror one last time before reluctantly leaving her room.
As she entered the living room, her heart sank at the sight of her father and stepmother engrossed in conversation on the sofa, with her stepbrother comfortably positioned, his head resting on her father's lap and his leg casually draped across her stepmother's lap.
Her eyes welled up with tears as she observed them, seemingly a picture-perfect, happy family, complete without her. The desire to be a part of that love and affection consumed her, yet deep down she knew it was a longing she could never fulfill. Letting out a heavy sigh, she quietly wiped away her tears that were now flowing uncontrollably.
"I will be going to church and I'll be back around evening," she politely informed her father. He acknowledged her with a nod, albeit without turning towards her. Disappointed by the lack of response, she sighed and said, "I guess I should get going then."
She left her home and began walking along the roadside. Residing in a quaint village with traditional values, the village provided only the basic necessities and lacked expensive malls or theaters. Every Sunday, she faithfully attended church to pray for a peaceful life. To reach the nearby city where the church was located, she always relied on the bus. Patiently, she waited at the bus stand.
The bus finally arrived and she boarded it, informing the driver of her destination, which was a nearby city. After one hour of travel, she reached her desired location.
As she walked towards the entrance gate of the church, she noticed a larger crowd than usual for a Sunday. With a frown, she entered the church and discovered that a wedding ceremony was taking place.
Intrigued, she joined the gathering and took a seat. She observed the bride happily making her way towards the stage, accompanied by her father. Witnessing this joyous father-daughter moment stirred a pang of longing in her heart. She, too, yearned for her own father to be just like him, leading her to her future groom.
With a sigh, she acknowledged the unlikelihood of such a scenario ever occurring in her life.
She watched as the bride finally reached her groom, and her father gracefully handed her over. The groom affectionately took her hand and planted a gentle kiss on the back of her palm.
She watched with joy as the bride finally reached her groom, and her heart swelled with happiness as her father lovingly gave away his daughter's hand. The groom tenderly took her hand and placed a gentle kiss on the back of her palm.
"Take good care of my daughter, for she is the most precious thing to me. And remember, if you ever make her cry, I'll give you a good beating!" The father's playful threat filled the church with laughter, showcasing his protective nature.
She couldn't help but chuckle herself, although her eyes welled up with longing tears, longing for the same affection from her own father. She wiped her eyes and smiled as she watched everything unfold on the stage.
The groom nodded earnestly and reassured the bride's father, saying, "I promise to keep her safe and happy with all that I have." In that moment, she felt hopeful that her future partner would be just like him. She could see the genuine love and affection in his eyes, and it filled her with warmth and anticipation for what lay ahead.
She closed her eyes and prayed to God that she would find someone like him to be her husband in the future. But as she opened her eyes, a worried feeling enveloped her.
Watching the wedding ceremony unfold before her, she couldn't help but wonder if she would ever experience a love like that.
The bride and groom exchanged vows, rings, and sealed their marriage with a loving kiss. In her heart, she prayed for their happiness together.
As she stood up from her chair after the ceremony, she exited the church only to be greeted by pouring rain. Frantically, she rushed to the bus stop, completely drenched, she waited for the bus under the shelter, securely wrapping her scarf around her chest and pulling it over her head.
After what felt like an eternity, the bus finally arrived, and she anxiously boarded, taking a seat by the window.
As she gazed outside at the pouring rain, she felt a sense of calm and closed her eyes.
