Deceptive Vows: The Wife's Agony

"Honey, we found this in your sister's room," she said, holding up a piece of writing paper. My legs shook as I walked towards her and took it from her hands. In my sister's flawless handwriting were the words:

"I'm sorry but I can't do this. I can't go through with this wedding; I don't love him. Please try to understand that I'm doing this for the both of us. I'm going away, and I'm not sure if I ever plan on coming back. Don't try to find me and please don't hate me."

A gasp escaped my lips as I held the note in my trembling hands. This couldn't be happening; it had to be some sick joke everyone was playing on me. I searched their faces for any sign of contradiction, but there was none. Shock and hurt mirrored in their expressions. However, one face confirmed the horrifying truth: Zacchaeus. He looked broken, dejected, and crushed, and my heart ached for him. His slumped shoulders, tensed body, and clenched fists portrayed a silent struggle to mask the pain. His eyes, however, revealed a genuine story of heartbreak. How could Olianna have done this to him?

"Ari, we know that this must be so difficult for you, but we have a wedding to go to in less than four hours with over three thousand people arriving."

I stared at my aunt, incredulous. What wedding? The bride had run away, leaving us to deal with the frightening consequences. There couldn't be a wedding anymore.

As if reading my mind, my father spoke up, his usually confident voice now lacking assurance. "We can't cancel the wedding, sweetheart. It'll ruin us, all of us. If a wedding doesn't take place today, not only will we be utterly humiliated, but we could stand to lose everything," he choked out. I stared at him, dumbfounded, uncertain of where this was headed.

My mother, a woman who had never allowed herself to be humbled by anyone, turned to me, her eyes pleading.

"We need your help, Ari. You're the only one who can save this family now."

About four hours later, I was led into the church, closely followed by my mother, aunt, and a few cousins who had been entrusted with the truth. A long veil covered my face, and the corset underneath the dress contoured my shape to fit into my sister's wedding gown.

The music began to play, and I fixed my gaze firmly on the ground, determined not to let any tears escape. My father linked his arm with mine as everyone else left the room.

"Ari, honey, you have no idea what this means to us," he whispered in my ear. I nodded slightly, not trusting myself to speak.

To the beat of the traditional wedding march, I walked towards the altar, my father gripping my arm tightly—comforting yet suffocating. He let go of me when we reached where Zacchaeus and his best man stood. After completing his duty of giving me away, my father left me alone to take the biggest step in my life.

The vows were said, the lies concealed, as I took Zacchaeus Winston to be my husband, for better or for worse. My actions were mechanical, my tone robotic. I had once dreamt of the day I would get married, but now I knew better. Those dreams hadn't been dreams; they had been signs of the nightmare to come.

With the priest's pronouncement of us as husband and wife, I whispered one sentence, hoping the words would somehow reach him.

"I love you, Noel. Please forgive me."