The Ring

Vanessa

The whole house goes silent. No one is making a move. It's like God hit the pause button on the Earth's remote. Not even the flowers are moving as the breeze stops.

Everyone's eyes are on us. On me. What should I say to them? I can hear the wheels turning in their heads. The questions are being asked loudly but without a sound. I look at my mother's face and it's like she's waiting for me to deny it and say that he's probably high on something. I also believe he's high on something because we already had an agreement on when to break the news to them. He didn't even let me prepare for that.

“ Since you all have nothing to say, we'll take our leave." He doesn't give me a chance to talk or clarify anything with anyone before pulling me along with him into the house.

“ Let go of me, sir!"

“ Do not call me sir in public. We're presumed to be getting married soon."

“ Well then let go of me immediately!" I say as I keep struggling to get out of his grip.

He keeps pulling me until we