Fate

PRIMROSE

“Julian’s mother is such a..” Mia’s voice trailed off at the sight of her daughter.

Prim stood smiling as the stylist fluffed her wedding dress and veil behind her. 

Her mother slowly walked into the bridal suite, closing the door behind her.

“Oh mijita.” She said in Spanish, walking forward. A tear ran down her cheek. 

“No, Mamita. Please don't cry.” Prim said, stretching her arms out. Her mother fell into her arms in a warm embrace. 

“I never thought I would see this day. Mi pequeña niña is a bride.” Her mother said, rocking her in their embrace. 

Prim smiled at her mother, referring to her as her little girl. She did not mind.

Her mother stepped back to look at her. “You are like an angel, mi amor.”

Prim blushed. She felt pretty too. She had never felt more beautiful.

Aurora stepped close and hugged her from behind. 

“I agree with you, Ms Mia.” She said to Prim's mother. “Our Primrose has embodied her name today.” 

Prim smiled and leaned her face against her bestfriend’s. She felt grateful for the people in her life. 

She was happy they were all here on her big day despite all that had happened in the last few years.

“Don't you dare.” Aurora threatened. 

“Dare what?” Prim said sniffling. 

“Ruin your makeup by crying.” Aurora said gently, pulling away. 

Prim laughed. Her friend knew her so well. 

Aurora finally exited the room with all the hired beauticians, to give mother and daughter privacy. 

Prim took her seat on the huge white sofa in the queen’s suite. She smiled as she wondered what Julian was doing with his friends in the groom suite at this moment. 

Her mother carefully sat on a couch beside her.

“You're sure about this, my girl?” Her mother asked with concern in her eyes. 

Prim laughed and took her mother's hand in hers.

“I cannot change my mind anymore now, can I?” She smiled. 

Her mother sighed.

“I know. But his mother is such a bitch. Anytime you cannot stand her anymore, always remember you have a home to return to.” Her mother said, squeezing her hand. 

“Mamita” Prim said, shaking her head in exasperation. 

“I know we may not be as rich as them, but we will get by. And you can always accept the job offer from your last interview.” Her mother continued.

“Julian loves me, Mamita. He will always protect me. I will be fine.” Prim said.

Her mother shook her head. 

“It brings me so much joy to see you get married in a real wedding dress after how unlucky I have been, twice. I only wish it was to a better family. I love Julian, but his mother..” She trailed off.

Prim hugged her mother again.

Her mother finally stood up. “I would let your siblings in, but I don't trust those rascals not to ruin your dress.”

Prim laughed. 

A few minutes later she waited alone at the entrance of the beautifully decorated garden. 

She had no father figure, and Julian’s mother said it would be less scandalous to walk down the aisle alone, than with her mother. 

She shook all those thoughts away from her mind, as the Ave Maria song came on. 

She took careful steps down the aisle.

Why were the guests who had been staring at her just a few seconds ago now looking elsewhere? All of them. Even the officiating priest. 

When the crowd turned back to her, their faces were different, some people were whispering and others shook their heads in pity. 

She hesitated and almost missed her steps, but somehow managed to continue walking. 

It suddenly struck her that Julian was not there at the altar. 

Her eyes widened.

She looked around. Her mother was hurrying towards her.

“Mamita?” Prim called shakily. “What is going on? “Where is Julian? Did something happen to him?” 

The look on her mother's face made her legs tremble even more. Why was Julian not here? Everyone told her he was waiting here, at this altar.

The crowd’s whispering grew louder. 

She noticed Jaliyah Sanchez, Julian’s mother, marching towards her angrily.

“He left.” Her mother said. 

Just two words. But Prim felt her world shift.

“What? How is that possible, he was just here.” She said in disbelief. 

Her mother’s hand flew to her trembling lips, shaking her head.

“My son finally came to his senses.” Jaliyah Sanchez said loudly, stopping just before them.

“No.” Prim shook her head. 

It was not possible. Julian loved her, they had had a happy relationship for years, he even funded her mother’s heart surgery. 

“Where is he? I want to speak with him.” Prim said, turning around to look at everyone with determination. 

Where was Aurora?

“No, mi amor. Don't.” Her mother said, trying to hug her close. Prim shrugged her embrace off. 

The crowd was staring at the drama.

“He looked very angry,” her mother said.

“Why? Why would Julian be angry with me? I kissed him this morning. He was waiting here a few minutes ago. Waiting to marry me.”

“Oh, Mijita.” Her mother burst into tears at her daughter's distress. 

Prim killed her superstitious thoughts. This could not be some sort of curse manifesting like her mother has always feared. 

They were not cursed. 

She just had to see Julian and understand why he suddenly got cold feet. He could not be angry, he had no reason to suddenly be angry with her. 

She heard several phones chime, and then she saw people gaping at her. The bridal train, the few grooms men that did not follow Julian out, the groom's family.

Jaliyah burst into a loud laugh. “Well, this explains a lot.” Still smiling, she shoved the phone under Prim’s nose to the entertainment of the guests. Everyone was staring. 

Prim felt her world go dark for a second.

No. No.

The harsh whispering had become so loud it felt like everyone was speaking right inside her head.

She started backing away down the aisle. 

“Primrose.” Her mother called her name in full, hurrying towards her. 

Prim picked her big ball of a dress, spun around, and ran.

She did not stop even when she heard a footfalls behind her.

She had to find Julian. 

Make him see reason. 

She never slept with that man all those years ago. She did not know how the video of her had come out today of all days, but whoever was behind this had carefully cut out the part where she changed her mind.

“Julian is in the groom suite.” She did not know who shouted that out behind her, and she did not turn back to look.

She ran up, and pushed the suite's heavy doors open with both hands.

“Julian, Let me..” 

The words died in her throat as Julian flung Aurora off him, and scrambled to button his shirt.

Prim stumbled further into the room in a daze. 

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

“You b*tch!” She heard her cousin's voice, one of the people who had run after her, scream from behind, and lunged forward for Aurora, trying to tear her hair out.

Prim still could not move. Her mouth would not work either.

Aurora and Julian? 

Aurora was the sister she never had. They had been friends since they were seven. 

“Aurora?” She finally managed to say as she watched the others try to hold her cousin, Sol, back from fatally injuring Aurora.

“You sw*ne.” Aurora screamed after finally being rescued. You dare lay your hands on me? My father would make sure you die in jail.”

“Like your no-good boyfriend did?” Sol screamed back, still struggling to get back at Aurora.

“Aurora,” Prim called again. 

This all had to be a nightmare. That was the only way today would make sense.

“Does it hurt?” Aurora screamed at her with furious eyes. “Does it hurt to have your world destroyed in one day?”

Prim stared at her in shock. 

Her friend had never looked at her with so much hate. It confused her.

“You did this?” Sol yelled. “Let me go. I have to at least ruin her pretty face.”

Prim, unable to stand all this anymore, turned calmly back out of the room.