Diana's pov:
I slowly bit my index fingernails as I nervously kept watching the big clock on the walls of the church. Today was suppose to be the happiest day of my life but my groom, the man I planned to spend the rest of my life with was no where to be seen around the premises. Watching the gigantic wall clock became another obsession for me.
I silently prayed for time to stand still or for some genie to appear for me to make a wish to cancel time for my sake. I knew it sounds crazy but I was ready to do anything at this moment.
The soft tap on my shoulders brought me back from my thoughts. Standing before me was the priest who was suppose to bless my marriage. The amount of times he had been to where I was seated was unhealthy, he appeared to be more worried than I was.
"Have you been able to reach him?", he asked calmly, his hands still on my shoulders as I tried to put on a warm smile. Deep down I was biting my lower lips preventing myself from bursting into tears.
I slowly shook my head in reply as he let out a sigh and then he asked "what about your friend. Is she back?"
"No", I replied rubbing my sweating palms together. I kept my head low avoiding his gaze, I was too ashamed to look at him.
"Are you sure he is still going to show up?, he asked and then continued. "It's 2pm already, this wedding was suppose to take place by 10:00am. I had to cancel my appointment to bless this special day for you. For the last time Diana are you sure he is still coming?", he took my hands into his, at the same time he stared at the wall clock before staring back at me.
I looked around, seeing how few the guest had become. The remaining guests weren't my friends neither were they my enemies. They were just people I knew back then in college, they were people who knew how my relationship started with my soon to be husband.
I slowly withdrew my hands from his, I didn't need pity or simpathy from him or from anybody. Vincent was going to show up any moment from now. It didn't matter if he was late but the most important thing was for me to see him right now.
"He will show up sir. I believe by now he is on his way with Nicole", I took my phone and dialed his number for the nth time. My heart dropped as my call went straight to voicemail, now I could only hope on Nicole. I shook off any negative thoughts or unsettling feelings trying to settle in my guts.
"I will give you more time, Diana. If he isn't here by 3pm I will have no choice but to leave", he said and I nodded as he walked away.
After 30 solid minutes, the door burst open with a loud thud revealing a distressed Nicole. She had her heels in her hands as she ran to me looking very pale. I kept looking over her shoulders to see if I could see Vincent but it was obviously clear she came alone. This made me feel anxious and scared. "Did something happen to him?", I asked myself as I ran to Nicole meeting her halfway.
"What happened?, where is Vincent?. Is he sick?, why is he not here?", I rushed her with these questions without waiting for her reply. I was so nervous, I don't know if I can survive it if anything bad happens to him.
"I .... I don't think he is coming", she said panting trying to catch her breath. I was in shock trying to understand if I misheard what she said
"What do you mean he is not coming?. Is this a joke or what?", I asked in disbelief.
"His neighbors confirmed that he moved out of his house yesterday. And the crazy part is that he has been living with Vanessa for the past six months and she is pregnant", she immediately brought her phone out, scrolling through it before shoving it into my hands.
Blood drained from my face as I saw Vanessa's Instagram post. The first slide showed only her hands which had a ring on it. I impatiently swiped to the next slide and what I saw made me pause. I saw Vincent in a romantic pose with her, he was holding her prutuding belly and smiling like he just won a freaking lottery.
She captioned the post:
I said yes to the love of my life
My body instantly went cold. I couldn't hold it in any longer, right then and there, the tears I had been fighting to hold in.I could no longer stop it, I burst into an uncontrollable tears. I didn't care if people were watching me.
I couldn't believe he would do this to me. Vanessa was his ex in college and i could remember vividly when she left him for someone better, for someone richer and for someone more powerful. I could remember like it was yesterday, how I was there to help him forget about her completely.I was just blinded by love, thinking he will come to his senses and love me back.
" Why did he plan a wedding with me when he already got Vanessa pregnant", I asked myself as tears streamed down my face.
I began to piece everything going on so far and it finally made sense. For the past 6 months he refused to allow me visit, he told me he was busy with work and I foolishly believed.
Nicole hugged me tight while patting me on the head. I couldn't help but cry like a baby. It was so embarrassing how everyone watched
"All hope is not lost, Diana. I have good news", she beamed with joy. I looked at her, wondering what she was talking about.
"They finally found a donor for your dad's heart transplant. They called me this morning to inform me about it", she continued talking as she took my hands squeezing it gently."I didn't want to tell you yet, I just wanted the wedding to be over before saying anything to you".
I could hear whispers, I knew whatever happened today could be the topic of today's gossip.
One could think that I would be happy about the news Nicole told me right?, but I wasn't.
I slowly left her hands as I instinctively wrap my hands around myself. I was too ashamed to look up
"What is it?", she asked, trying to lift my face up with her finger. "You don't have to worry about that scumbag, he is not worth it okay. Let's go to the hospital and make necessary payments for your dad's surgery", she said leading the way, but I stood still unable to move or even meet her gaze.
"I .... I don't have the money with me", I began to stutter, unable to arrange by words.
"Did you withdraw it as cash?. Is it at home?", she asked still clueless about what I have done
"No", I slowly replied rubbing my sweating palms together, as more tears poured down from my eyes
"What do you mean no?".Where is the money?, she asked, the more she questioned me, the more I hated myself.
"The ... the night you came to my house to transfer the remaining money to my bank account, Vincent was around. He knew about the money so..., she didn't allow me finish before cutting me shut
"Tell me you didn't", she said in disbelief. There was a loud gasp among the few guest. I quickly moved to grab her hands but she slapped it away like it was disgusting.
"Please Nicole I had to. He only borrowed it. He said he wants to use it to rent an apartment for the both of us, he promised to give it back in two days time", immediately this words left my mouth, she slapped me hard across the face. I knew I deserved it but I had never seen her act like this towards me and it really broke my heart that I pushed her this far.
"So you choose a man over your own dad?", from the look on her face I knew she was trying to process everything I just said
"He only wanted to borrow it", I said as I cried bitterly
"Are you being serious right now. No one seems to know where he is now. How can we come up with another money for Dad's surgery??. Right now my job, my dad's job even your job was on the line for this. How do we pay for the loans we took Juliet, how do come up with another 1.7 million dollars for the surgery. Do you know what this means?", she yelled, her voice laced with anger. I just sat on the floor helplessly.
I knew exactly what this means. Because of my foolishness, my dad was going to died.
"From today henceforth I don't want to set my eyes on you", she spat bitterly.The air was suddenly becoming suffocating for me as I struggled to breathe. At this point I wished the ground could open and swallow me completely.
I quickly bolted out of the church, I didn't look back. I didn't want to see Nicole's angry and disappointed face.
Ever since we started this friendship, we do fight sometimes and make up immediately, but we have never had a fallout before. I ran as far as my legs could carry me, I held the hem of my already messed up wedding gown in both hands in other to prevent me from falling or slowing me down.
I could hear the priest calling my name but I didn't look back, I ran into the street as the rain poured down heavily.
I didn't want to live to the day where I could see my dad's lifeless body , or to see him die because of me.
Everyone on the street watched me like I was some sort of entertainment to them. I didn't mind, that would be the last time anyone will see me on earth.
The running and the rain, seems to make me feel better. I decided to close my eyes as I kept running.
Suddenly something very hard knocked me to the ground, and I opened my eyes as I fell to my knees.I opened my eyes and then I realized a car was in front of me, and it was the one that actually knocked me to the ground but I wasn't injured.
The driver angry stuck out his head from his window, not minding the fact that the rain would get into his front seat by doing so.
"If you really want to die, you can go jump off a bridge", he said angry as he sped off
"He was right", I said to myself as I looked around and then I realized I was on the bridge. It could be better if I gave myself a peaceful death.
I slowly took off my wedding gown, leaving only my thin underwear gown. I then proceed to climb the edge of the bridge and immediately closed my eyes. I didn't want to look down, in other for me not to get scared and change my mind.
I was a bad daughter and I pray my dad would be able to forgive me. I love my dad so much, he was my like my first love, friend and a great dad, and the only way I could repay him was to kill him.
I took a deep breath, "dad I hope you can forgive me, in your next life I pray you don't have me as your daughter, because I failed you", I said those words as I fell into the ocean with a loud thud.