The day I had long awaited had finally arrived. I couldn't wait to be pronounced as Elliot's wife.
"Miss, I am done," the makeup artist informed me, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I took the bouquet and made my way to the wedding hall, feeling excited that I was finally going to walk down the aisle.
As I stepped out of the waiting room, my friend Patricia ran up to me, panting.
Confused, I asked, "Patricia, what's wrong?"
She hesitated before replying, "Elliot isn't here. I have searched everywhere for him and tried calling him, but his phone isn't connecting."
My bouquet fell from my hands as my eyes widened at her words. There was no way Elliot would forget that today was our wedding day.
"Let's wait for him. Maybe he's stuck in traffic..." My voice trailed off as I tried not to break down.
He couldn't abandon me on what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. Not after everything I had done for him and how I had anticipated this moment.
"Amy, it doesn't seem like it's just traffic. If it were, he would have called you," Patricia said, sounding realistic.
Without saying a word, I returned to the waiting room. I walked up to the table where my phone was placed. I wondered why I hadn't thought of this-maybe he had tried to call me.
I had been so focused on looking good that I had forgotten to call him, or maybe I hadn't bothered because I thought he was waiting for me.
Right in front of everyone.
"It can't be..."
My lips parted as a soft gasp escaped. My phone fell from my shaky hands as I tried not to believe what I had just seen.
I must be dreaming, right?
"Amy, what is it?" Patricia asked as she hurried up to me, picking up the phone from the ground.
As she read the message, which seemed like a goodbye from Elliot, a gasp tore out of her lips. She was equally surprised.
I couldn't believe this was how things were going to end between us. I thought he was the right man for me. I thought his promises to stay by my side forever and be the father of my kids were real.
But reality dawned on me. Maybe it had all been lies from the start. Maybe he never loved me. Maybe he was just trying to humiliate me in front of everyone present today.
It was supposed to be the grandest wedding in the city, but it ended up being...
"Amy! Amy!"
My friend's voice made me snap out of my thoughts. I raised my gaze to meet her eyes, tears streaming down my face as they washed away my mascara. "Patricia, what am I going to do? I thought he loved me! I foolishly gave him everything," I sobbed.