LOVING THE MAFIA

Third Person's Pov

Maya stopped at the entrance and received a fervent greeting essence from the mélange of orchids and lilies that dominated the room such that it was quite excruciating to smell the bouquet of white roses she had in hand.

Not really sure if it was out of fright or over excitement, perhaps it was a phenomenal something. "Ha!" She breathed out loud before she glanced at her father and managed steps forward.

The whole congregation rose in unison as she entered the Church, footed arm in arm down the aisle with her father as the bridal procession song played placidly in the background to match each baby-taken-steps.

She wore an A-line straight-across neckline cut ivory-white wedding gown that was much more flowery than a ball gown. It had fitted bodices through the waist and cascaded long out to the ground. Her hair was simply tied in a bun, which left her long neck and back a paradisiac exposure.

It could be from an aversion toward jewels whatsoever, she wore no necklace apart from a chandelier earring and a radiant snow-white bracelet.

After what seemed like a decade, they finally got to the altar, and her father bestowed on her rosy cheek a gentle kiss and went back to join the seated congregation.

On her left was Damien, her husband-to-be. He did not divert his attention as Maya beamed through the veil. He returned the smile, in the course which revealed a set of perfect white teeth and attractive dimples.

From the look of his suit, you wouldn't have to win a Nobel prize to tell it was made by the best Italian designer.

He wore a midnight blue expensive-looking slim fitted suit over a white shirt with a gray tie and a neatly folded gray handkerchief tucked in his breast pocket. On his wrist was a dazzled Rolex watch, all encapsulated by a black leather shiny shoe which made him more classic.

The 47-year-old priest called, and shifted their attention back to life.

"Miss Maya Matinez, do you take Mr. Damien Cruz as your beloved husband? And vowed that nothing can separate the bonds from you both until death" The priest asked.

Damien smiled and stared at Maya who nervously glanced at the priest with all her attention.

"Yes, I do." She replied with enthusiasm.

"Please take your vow." The priest proclaimed.

She nodded and crooked her head to look at her mom. She beamed an assuring smile and Maya veered her glance at the rest of the congregation, they held on to each other's hand intimately while some eyes were filled with joyful tears. She turned my gaze back to Damien's and smiled.

"I Maya Martínez take Damien Cruz to be my husband. I promise to be good to you in good and bad times, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life. According to God's holy name, this is my solemn vow," she said and ended with a bright smile.

The priest smiled, "you have declared your consent before the church. May the Lord in his goodness strengthen your consent and help you."

He hesitated, glanced at the church then back to Damien. "Damien Cruz? Do you take Maya Martinez as your wife? In all circumstances, to love, uphold and respect her? In good health and sickness? In poverty or wealth?." The priest then again asked as the whole congregation was filled with absolute silence.

"Yes, I..." He didn't complete his statement as his vow was interrupted mid-sentence by a sudden loud high-pitched sound that reverberated throughout the entire building.

It took only a split-second for everyone to be up and ran. The stampede was such that it could only fit Hollywood movies. Except for this time around it was real and so real.

He kept his eyes squinted as he tried his best to conceal the pain from Maya. As Maya looked back at him, reality struck her, Damien was shot and he could die.

He slowly passed one hand to the area between his left rib and the stomach. However, that couldn't stop the blood as it oozed erratically, his eyes slowly turned from her as he slowly took a step backward, then collapsed to the ground.

Maya stood there transfixed as she looked at Damien's body which had fallen to the ground.

He held the area tight as his droopy eyes opened slightly. His head rose and fell repeatedly as he battled for his life. Maya however clenched firmly to the bouquet as tears slowly fell from her eyes and assembled in her gown.

"Maya, are you alright?" A voice called from behind, and asked with a concerned tone.

Though her vision was blurry, she saw and knew her mother was the person who had questioned her. Meanwhile, the sound of an ambulance was noted from afar and two men wrapped in azure attire and with gloves stepped before Damien. They carried him and disappeared from her sight.

"Maya, you are shaking, come let's get you out of here," Her mom said as she held onto her shoulders, and shook her back to existence.

"No." Maya managed to say calmly before she inhaled. "I wanted my Damien, only him and nothing else, I am not leaving without him," she said to herself as the words refused to pout out, she glimpsed at her mom whose face was pale enough that a closer look at her would unveil her visible veins.

"Maya, are you listening to me? Let's get out of here. Damien has been taken to the hospital. Don't you want to see him?" She asked with narrowed brows.

She nodded like a baby, took two steps, and blacked out…

In a room that had just a bed, Maya found herself curled in a fetal position, and cried to herself, the door opened and she lifted her head.

As her eyes met Damien, she scooted out of bed and jumped into his arms. The tears disappeared into thin air as her face joyfully lit up.