Eighty-eight Weddings

Before the wedding started, the priest went over the final details with me. We had practiced those exact details eighty-seven times before, so I knew the entire routine by heart. Despite the gastritis I was suffering from, I forced myself to welcome the guests alone early that morning.

I had to take painkillers three separate times just to get through it. Yet, Luca Fernandez was nowhere to be seen in the main chapel. Instead, he was back in the dressing room, kneeling on one knee to help Rita Sterling check on a stray dog’s injuries.

Rita panicked, looking like she was on the verge of tears. “It’s all my fault. I was driving too fast and hit it. Is it going to be okay?”

“Don’t blame yourself. It’s going to be fine,” Luca murmured while gently stroking her hair to comfort her.

My mother witnessed the entire scene. Heartbroken for me, she took my hand and said, “Look at this. Why are you even doing this? When has he ever actually put you first?”

I stood at the doorway, completely silent. Over the last ten years, Luca had canceled the weddings I had looked forward to on countless occasions. Everyone knew just how desperately I wanted a perfect ceremony.

Seeing that the ceremony was about to begin, Luca called the priest over and told him the wedding was off. He then picked up the stray dog and headed for the exit, where he bumped right into me.

He looked down, his tone carrying a hint of guilt. “I need to run to the veterinary hospital with Rita. This little dog isn’t going to make it. Let’s cancel the wedding for now. I’ll make it up to you and have another one in a few days. I promise I will show up next time.”

He brushed past me, walking away without looking back. Rita followed close behind and hopped into the car, sliding right into the passenger seat that was supposed to be mine.

Watching this play out, I wasn’t even shocked anymore. If this had happened in the past, I would’ve thrown a massive fit, clinging to him and demanding he set a date for the next wedding. Yet now, I wouldn’t do that. Having heard too many empty promises, I felt nothing.

“The dog’s injuries are more important. Be careful on the road,” I said, acting completely understanding.

However, my reaction seemed to catch Luca off guard. He paused, reaching his hand out of the car window to hold my wrist tight.

“Yeah. I’ll be back soon. Oh, by the way, that new white sports car in the garage is for you. I’ll have someone deliver the keys to you in a bit.”

I stood there quietly and nodded. Without another word, he started the engine and sped away.

I had been in a terrible car accident before, which left me terrified of driving. Because of that, I never bought cars, and I absolutely hated getting behind the wheel. When Luca and I first got together, he bought me a car. Not wanting to disappoint him, I had forced myself to suppress my fears and drove him for a few miles. Unfortunately, I made a mistake on the road and crashed into the guardrail, but thankfully, it wasn’t a major accident.

While he was comforting me, I finally confessed the trauma of my childhood car crash. He apologized to me on the spot and swore that he would be my personal driver from then on. He promised that the passenger seat would always be reserved exclusively for me, but somewhere along the line… he forgot. It had been a very long time since I last sat in his passenger seat.

By the time I walked back into the chapel, my parents had taken care of wrapping everything up. In front of everyone, I tore off the veil I had worn eighty-eight times.

This time, the relationship was finally over.