The Wedding Loop

“I’m getting dressed right now. Where are you, Aisling? I’ll be there in a second.”

That was Adam, always making a mountain out of a molehill in matters concerning me.

In the past, it was a sweet burden to see Adam worrying over the littlest thing.

Yet now, the panic in Adam’s voice was the assurance I needed.

It was a good thing.

Adam wasn’t lying to me.

Staring at the pitch-black sky outside the window, I made a silent vow to myself.

Since I didn’t get the time wrong, I didn’t see the need to attend a wedding that was starting in minutes.

So long as I stayed in my room, I wouldn’t run into the monster from my past life.

The tragedy wouldn’t have happened.

All I needed to do was wait until morning light.

Inhaling deeply, I sat down on the sofa, stiff with tension.

It was only then that I noticed my palms were clammy.

Just as I grabbed my phone to text Eve that the jig was up and she shouldn’t expect me, the bridal party group chat exploded with notifications.

“@Aisling, we are starting in five minutes. Where are you?” Eve asked in the group.

My brows furrowed as my fingers tapped on the keyboard.

“Drop the act, Eve. I know what’s going—”

Before I could finish typing, a push notification of a local livestream popped up on my screen.

I tapped on the livestream by accident, but the content left me shuddering.

…

“Welcome to the stream, everyone. We’re coming to you live from the wedding of the bride, Eve Connel, and the groom, Hunter Keeley.

“It’s 9:55 A.M. right now, and the ceremony is about to begin. Please like and follow me!”

The emcee’s upbeat voice drifted through the livestream.

I stared at my mobile screen in disbelief.

The reception tables, guests, and flowers…

Everything seemed terrifyingly real.

Eve and June could very well deceive me, but the guests and the emcee, nearly a hundred in number, weren’t likely to be a part of the plan.

The thing that made my hair stand on end was the presence of Adam.

Just minutes ago, he was yawning on the phone, telling me he was coming over.

Yet, there he was, standing in the crowd, exchanging pleasantries with Josh in shiny leather shoes and a gray suit I had ordered for him.

“T-That’s impossible.”

I fell from the couch, my limbs shaking.

The biggest shock came from Eve.

She rushed up to the camera in her wedding dress, her eyes in tears.

“Aisling, I know you’re watching.

“You promised that if either of us got married, we'd be each other's only maid of honor. The ceremony is in three minutes. Please get here right now. Don’t let my wedding end with regrets.”

She sobbed uncontrollably while Hunter held her, gnashing his teeth.

“Aisling, if you have any decency left in you, say something! You’re supposed to be Eve’s best friend. Are you going to let her down now?

“Are you even a friend?”

After a brief exchange with June, Adam appeared before the camera in rage.

“Aisling, I’ve raised you to be trustworthy and grateful.

“Today is your best friend’s big day, but you’re abandoning her as the maid of honor? I’m so disappointed in you.

“You have three minutes to get down here, or you’re not a daughter to me anymore.”

The livestream fell into a frenzy.

Even the viewers called me out one after another.

“Aisling, I don’t know you, but you should show up for your friend’s wedding!”

“Don’t ruin what’s supposed to be the happiest day of her life, Aisling. If you care about her at all, you should get there right now.”

“Show yourself, Aisling!”

Streams of similar comments flooded the screen.

My mind was in turmoil.

Everyone, including the tens of thousands of viewers in the livestream, was pressuring me to show up.

Was it possible that I was wrong?

I gritted my teeth so hard that the taste of blood filled my mouth.

Right when I was about to break under pressure, something Eve said made my head snap up.

I figured out what was going on!