The Wedding Day Abandonment

upposed to star

e one Chloe said made me

, sunlight catching the white roses Chloe insisted on

ar, my best man, Mar

ous,

justing my tie. "Just want

ulder. "It will be,

been together, since our early t

ah, rushed towards us, her f

I talk to

back, his s

d her phone.

ped. "Is she ok

She... she's not

hat do you mean, not coming? Is

Damien had an emergency. A medica

sician she always felt sorry for,

d, my voice flat. "

ious. Life or death.

t my phone, my hands shakin

. Said she c

It went straight to voi

ed at Sarah, desperate. "Some k

tears in her eyes. "

s probably about t

her face a mask of confusion and worry

going on? Sar

rds were stuck in my thr

omething about

"No. Not today.

she

he white roses and the confused faces of our guest

r apartment, the one we were suppose

asn't

n address, a rundown apart

unlocked. I p

as lounging on a stained couch, a beer in hi

e asked, startled. She wasn't in her w

erously calm. "Our wedding, Chloe. It's h

ked. "She's

h me. We can still fix this. Tell me what's

ttack. A really bad one. He called me, s

s now lighting a cigarette. "And that's more

r voice taking on that familiar, defensive

lly losing my composure. "We had

e. Just come back. We can talk about thi

ed her a

now. "He needs me right now. You're

sh, broken sound. "Is that what you t

st stared at Damien, as if he w

said, her voice barely

rr

ring. "You heard h

ching for any sign of the woman I lov

tranger prioritizing a dest

lked out, leavi

k to the venu

iends remained, looking lost. My parents were talking to the

red. "Ethan, honey. We... we told ever

cancelled. She

ything. Just a vas

on my shoulder. "L

he wilting white roses

ght, pressing down on me. All thos

to my da

't loo