The vow I left behind

ead tied to my heart. Guests rose from the pews, smiling, turning their heads toward me. My veil floated

was

supposed

airy

for

ending

r Rhys. I could see the alter, the priest stood t

-the space where Rhys sh

lin

n

ic

gn of

in my stomach,

e wa

slowed my steps, confusion rising like a tidal wave behind my ribcage. People were tur

arm tightened as he mut

walk

choked, my voice

nning late" he

he k

d lines of his face. Rhys

Rhys, but he'd to

at me like he

g me or chasing R

bling. The priest offered a faint, apologeti

lling him. Ther

my lungs. My heart pounded so loudly I was

nt numb aroun

sn't ha

dn't be h

lov

nder the stars, his hand trembling as he slipped the ring o

e I was h

believe in

-written story and a church full

We've longed

new

w his

dn't do

ould

ess

issed me, but it had felt... distracted. Cold, almost. I'd told myself it

't said

this time. A woman cleared her throat. A child

the grief. My chest tightened. Heat crawled up

, center stage in a p

ing-that the doors would fly open and he'd come rushing

is phon

een abandoned in fron

idn't move. And

forward again, his

ld give it a few

e minutes

iation to fi

, hoping the tear

ldn't

he

ront of

ted. One min

dn't

No call

.. no

ht of everything. My dreams. My

uldn't

wasn'

loved

ed to start ou

ome, plans

arm. My father's v

Bella. L

whe

after getting le

ded. What el

l slipping from my head and tears threatening to fall,

me believe

er. Elena reached for me as I passed, but I shook m

tside, the sunl

e into the car silently, and I stared o

ral was behind me, I l

the s

I b

rt does when it reali

ndo

, maybe it would ease

or the lo

swers l'd

o walked away