1

I pulled the sleeves up on my glimmering dress as tears well up in my eyes. I was getting married a moment to be remembered, but all I felt was alone in an empty room, surrounded by not a single familiar face. I had never felt more alone than on my own wedding day.

"Too fast", I repeated as my helpers straightened out my dress.This day was the day where I would feel loved and happy, but all I felt was alone.

I fell in the corner as I slowly grasped what I was going to become in a couple of everlasting hours. A wife. A wife of a man who not only loathed her but was disgusted by her. They tried to apply makeup to my rosy, red cheeks as my mascara kept spilling down my face along with my tears.

In the corner of my eye, I saw a little girl picking off the flowers of the bouquet on the table. I was left to have a few minutes to gather myself and then put on a strong face while a stranger walks me down the aisle.

The little girl approached me as she saw a tear running down the side of my cheek

"Why are you crying", she whispered to avoid the hearing of the others.

"I'm very happy", I said as she smiled and gave my figure a hug as the wedding director came in and saw me all ready to walk down an aisle where I knew no one, even the man I was marrying.

"All happy tears, smile", she said as she fixed my slouching shoulders upright and saw the lines on my face from the draining mascara.

"Let's get some waterproof mascara", she said as she grabbed a brush and applied foundation to my black lines of sadness. They applied it on with patience as I knew that was something I didn't have.

"Everything will be okay", the correspondent assured me as she fixed my dress and made sure everything was in place. She straightened my sterling silver necklace and straightened out my full-length veil.

Was I ready to give away my first kiss to a man I didn't even know, I wanted the whole deal I wanted to love, romance a happily ever after. I wanted magic, something that this relationship could never uphold.

"Miss Lawrence?", The director swooped her hands in front of me trying to bring me back to reality, a place I wanted to escape.

"Yes", I said interrupting my heavenly dreams of love and magic, something that I could never experience.

"Are you ready", she asked as that was my last resort of running away, of course, I had nowhere to go that I'd be free, from my father.

"Uh. yes", I whispered as the people started pouring out the little girl quickly gathered her rose petals in a mini basket and skipped out of the peach room and into the line of the arrangement of my wedding.

I peeked at the gate ahead of us as it was pulled wide open I heard an organ and a harp playing on in serene harmony. The people piled in one after the other some hand in hand.

Should I be happier? I'm getting married, right? I've wanted this since I planned out my dream wedding in my binder since I was 6.

I heard an echo from the silent church behind me as a voice said "excuse me" and "pardon me", I turned to see it was Nolan's Dad rushing towards me.

"Natalie, you look stunning", he said as a tear escaped my eyes, all I wanted was my mother to be here. His fatherly love reminded me of the love I had never had. Nolan's father was a sweet soul who knew the reputation of his playboy son.

"I didn't see your parents in the corridors, could they not make it", He asked as if I expected them to be there.

I shook my head "They couldn't make it, but they said they'd drop by soon", I said in the reassurance of the plan of our businesses.

"I'm sorry they can't be here but you have Allison and I here", he said as I thanked him for his kind manner, he slowly tucked his hand undermine as the music grew louder and everyone in the pews rose.

I walked in gracefully hiding my tears with a pleasing smile, we walked with ease and grace as I looked straight ahead I saw the man that made this happen, only now he was smiling, I think it's normal to smile on your wedding day, but we weren't normal, we were far from normal.

Nolan stood there grinning at me in a clean black suit with the look of it, it cost around the price of a mansion. He smirked at me as he saw me stumble on the train of my dress as Nolan's dad tried to steady me I tripped on the lower length.

I searched the pews for anyone I knew and saw no one except the little girl in the second row looking down at her empty basket.

My parents never showed and I can't say I'm not surprised, I mean they married me off to a complete stranger after kicking me to the curb, is this what I deserve? As my parents put it "Yes this is what you deserve for being a bitch, and a brat" I was their only daughter and all I wanted in life was to escape the parties and the makeup and the banquets all I wanted was to be free.

Nolan went into my mind again as we neared the podium, I felt my knees quiver and my mouth get dry. I started blushing madly after I saw his smile, his smile attracted the audience it was radiant and handsome. He was just overall the hottest guy I've ever seen and let me tell you I haven't seen a lot.

His father kissed my cheek as Nolan reached down for my hand, looking all chivalrous. I put my manicured hand in his hand as he squeezed it. I stepped up the podium as his hand guided me to where I needed to stand. I stood as his hand on my hand would move a bit, he was quite helpful. As the ceremony began, I saw his piercing hazel eyes staring into mine. The ceremony went on and on until it came to the final part.

"Nolan Clemente, do you take Natalie Lawrence as your wife, to cherish and love, to protect and to be there for one another, if you do say 'I do'? "

Nolan looked into my eyes as I imagined him taking off running, for the hills. But he surprised me "I do", he said as he squeezed my hand.

"Natalie Lawrence, do you take Nolan Clemente to be your husband, to love and

to cherish, to protect in all times if you do say 'I do'", the priest said as my it dawned on me. I would be trapped in a loveless marriage. Would I be safe, yes? And in the world, it's protection, not love.

"I.. do", the words flew out of my mouth as I saw the glance from Nolan.

"You may now kiss the bride", the priest said as his face floated towards mine. He leaned in as his lips brushed against mine and he indulged himself in my mouth. I felt fireworks as our lips touched and as his fingers trailed up my cheeks, wiping away my last tear of the night.

He let go of me suddenly as the crowd roared and everyone stood up and clapped for quite a performance. But that was only something Nolan, his family and I knew about.

As I saw tears pile up on faces in the pews I imagined my mother being here walking me down the aisle hand in hand. She would

tell me everything would be okay and that she would always be there.

"Natalie", Nolan said as he took my hand and hurried me down the aisle. The crowds filed out of their pew to see us get in a limo and drive away. We walked out of the church as cameras flashed away, as the guards blocked us we rushed to the car. He opened the door for me as I climbed into the spacious limo. He shut the door and lost his smile he crept to the back as I sat next to the books and candy.

Who could ever read in the car? If I did I would clearly barf my throat out.

"Get changed, into this you can't go into the party in your wedding dress", he threw me a pressed down the dress. He flung across the spread out limo, expecting me to catch it.

"I can't change here", I hesitated as he stared at me like a crazy person. He gave a light laugh, as I possibly couldn't understand what was so amusing for him.

"Why not", he put his phone down. I finally had his attention off that tiny piece of technology.

"Cause your right there and I need help taking this dress off it's not that easy", I said as a light laugh escaped his mouth.

"It's not like I'm looking", he said as he made me feel unwanted. He gave me a light chuckle as he just shook his head in disbelief.

"Can we stop please at Lorelai Boutique ", I called out to the driver as he pulled into an old boutique parking lot. Luckily it was on the way from the venue.

"Where are you going, we're going to be late", he called out to me as I ran into the boutique. Without another second I felt right back at home just looking through the window at the vibrant hand-sewn dresses on white mannequins.

I swung open the door as the bell rung and Lauren, my mothers best friend came running to me as she saw my flowing white dress.

"Darling you never told me you were getting married", she said as she gave me a hug and held me. I hadn't seen her since I had asked for some help, finding just a simple place to live.

"I.. need help", I let out as she hugged me tight a tightness I needed to survive today from someone who knew the pain I felt. She and I had discussed this day, not my wedding day of course, but the day I needed my moms to dress.

"Your mother's dress, of course", she said as she marked the store closed and assisted me to the back. I passed by photo after photo of the two, her smiling with great glee and even I was up there.

I saw the blossom pink dress hanging up on a hanger in the back as a showcase. It was a true jewel.

"I've been fixing it up, a bit", she said as I took the hanger and hugged it. It was my mother's engagement dress and I needed a part of her more than ever now. Just to feel connected to her and to feel like she was right with me the whole night.

"Here hun put it on, I'll get a pair of heels and a necklace with it", she said as she went to the back for accessories. I was left alone with a piece of my mother I could never replace. The dress had flowers flowing from the seems, and the skirt of the dress flowed out.

I handled the hanger with grace as I put it in my closet and stuck it in on the door. I unzipped my dress as it fell to my feet and I put on my new dress it fit like a glove and it was beautifully mine.

I grabbed my wedding dress and stuck it on a hanger as I gracefully walked out. I hugged my body as I felt her presence with me in this dress.

"Oh darling you look beautiful, just like your mother", she said as tears sprung out of my eyes. She guided me to a chair as she wiped away my tears with a tiny handkerchief.

I buckled up my shoes as she touched up my makeup and added accessories she fixed my hair in a beautiful style as she rushed to the back to get her camera.

"Natalie", a deep voice spoke as he made his way to the back.

I turned my back to the entrance to see Nolan standing there gawking at me as we caught each other's eyes. Those hazel eyes made me lose my grip on the chair.

"Cara Mia, your beautiful", he said as we stood in the exact same spot not sure what to do next. The way the language rolled off his tongue made me forget how much of his arrogance.

"I'm back with the cam-", she saw Nolan as she walked up to him, she was mighty but strong that women.

"You must be her husband", she said as I blushed at thought of him being my husband.

"I am, indeed", he said smirking at me as she pushed us two together and snapped a couple of pictures.

"We really must be going," he said as she gave us hugs and sent us on our way. He held my hand as we walked out.

"You truly are beautiful", he whispered on my neck as I felt his hot breath against my neck.

and that was the last of his charming attitude.