My Dream Wedding

SLOANE

Today is my wedding day. I am about to be Mrs.Prescott. Although I’ve always dreamt of this day, I can’t help but feel a bittersweet feeling in my stomach. I keep tossing on the bed, replaying my meeting with Rowan in my head. It's been a week since we last saw each other. Instead of helping with the wedding preparations, he sent his grandfather instead. 

The door bursts open, and my best friend, Catherine, enters."My girl" she beams.

“Oh my goodness, you look stunning.” Catherine fawns, spinning me around. “Trust me when I say Rowan won’t be able to take his eyes off you.” She says, winking.

She has always known about my love for Rowan. We went to college together and we’ve been best friends since then. But what she doesn’t know is that my soon-to-be husband hasn’t even bothered to check if I’m alive. He doesn’t care about me.

“You’re here,” I say softly. “Of course I am here. I won’t miss your wedding for anything in the world. Now let’s go, your dad is waiting.” She hooks my arm with hers, grinning like a fool. 

With each step we take, my heartbeat increases. I see my dad waiting at the end of the staircase, immediately he hears my footsteps, he raises his head to look at me. I don't miss the way he quickly wipes the tears from his eyes. My mum joins us, as they both hug me tightly. 

The moment we get to the church entrance, my breath hitches. My finger grips the bouquet until my knuckles ache.

“Relax, my dear, you’re walking into a new beginning, not a trap. My grandson is about to receive the biggest blessing of his life.” Rowan’s grandfather assures me, keeping his eyes on the entrance. “Take a deep breath, my dear, I’ll always be with you.” 

I smile briefly, but it doesn’t reach my eyes. My heart is pounding so fast.

The door opens. And the music starts to play. 

Rows of faces turn towards me, and my knees almost give out. Rowan’s grandfather’s arm is the only thing keeping my knees from giving out. I catch the radiant smile of my parents and Catherine's eyes glistening with tears of joy. I give them a reassuring smile, as I  take a deep breath once again and raise my head to look at my soon-to-be husband. But the space beside the priest is empty. 

The murmurs from the crowd increase, my hold on the bouquet tightens, and the air in the church shifts. I look at the altar once again, and the truth presses into me with cruel clarity.

Rowan is not here.

I turn to his grandfather quietly, but he gives me a sad smile. 

No, no, no. This cannot be happening.

It’s just a prank, right?

He can’t possibly leave me. His exact words the last time we met were that “I'm going to marry you, so I'll see you on our wedding day.”

Why did I even believe him when he lied to me for years?

“Sloane, please breathe. You’re having a panic attack.” Different voices sound beside me, but I can’t seem to concentrate. I hold my chest in pain.

What have I done wrong? Is it a crime to love someone? This time, I didn't bother to wipe the tears falling from my eyes. The voices keep talking, but I can’t hear anything.

“Sloane, my dear.” I hear my mother’s voice, and I force myself to look up. 

“Mum,” I say in a soft voice and hug her tightly. “He’s not here Mum. He left me.”

“No, dear. He’s probably stuck in traffic, “ she says, wiping the tears from my eyes. This is exactly why I didn't call off the wedding. The look on my mother’s face, even though she’s trying to console me, I know she's also hurting. I hate disappointing my parents.

It’s more than an hour now, and Rowan is not here.

“Do you think Mr. Prescott is still coming?”

“Why will he leave his bride at the altar?’’

The guest whispers, making my heart ache further. This is not how it is meant to be. I stand up, holding my gown tightly.

“My dear, where are you going?” Rowan’s grandfather holds my arm softly, and the happiness I always see in his eyes is gone. He looks worried. 

“Thank you for everything, grandfather. But I don’t think your grandson is coming. I can’t do this. Enough of the disrespect.” I don’t wait for his reply before walking away. My heels click on the ground as my gown sweeps the marble floor. However, I don’t take up to ten steps before; my legs give up. The world tilts, and my knees buckle as I fall helplessly, waiting for my head to hit the floor, but a hand grips my waist firmly. 

The musky scent of his cologne hits me as I force my eyes to pry open. And there he is, staring at me with his jaw tight. His eyes flickered with something I can't name — pity? Regret? Indifference

He’s here.

My Rowan is here, and I am in his arms. 

Time stills, and the world fades away

“You need to breathe, Sloane.” His deep voice sounds, causing a vibration in my chest. The way he pronounces my name brings a satisfying feeling to my heart. When he’s sure that I’m breathing properly, he continues. “You like making a scene, don’t you?”

I roll my eyes and try to distance myself from him. But he holds me closer. 

“Can you stand? Do you have the strength to continue?” He says, still holding my waist. When I lift my head, my gaze finds his. And it’s almost as if my heart wants to jump out of my chest. For a fleeting moment, I think I see something flicker in his eyes, concern, maybe, but it is gone before I can be sure. He’s wearing a white tux that is perfectly tailored, hugging his tall frame like it is made for no one else but specifically for him. 

“If you’re done ogling me, can we go?” He adds, looking everywhere else but my face. He removes his hands from my waist, and I suddenly miss his warmth. However, the warmth returns when he entwines our hands. He gives a practiced smile and waves at the guests like he does on camera. We reach the altar, and he removes his hands from mine as if it is burning him.

“Shall we begin?” The priest asks, clearing his throat. We both nod in response. The soft murmurs from the crowd fade as the priest starts the wedding.

“Do you, Rowan Prescott, take Sloane Liora Camden to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in joy and sorrow, for better or worse, for as long as you both shall live?” I look at him. The boy I’ve loved for years. I search his face for any sign of love, but he masks his feelings. He’s standing close to me, yet he feels distant. “I do.” He whispers, sliding the ring onto my finger. Rowan’s eyes meet mine briefly before looking away.

The priest smiles faintly. “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

This is the moment I'll finally have my first kiss. I rub my sweaty palms together. Rowan steps closer, the smell of his cologne wrapping around me. His lips touch mine softly before he pulls away. My face turns all shades of red, making Rowan smirk evilly.

The guests clap loudly, cheering both of us as we walk towards the entrance. Rowan excuses himself, “I need to take this call, it's very important.” However, I don’t miss the worried look on his face. 

What could have happened?