The Deserted Bride

The wind gushing from outside the car’s window softly blew the bride’s veil, revealing her morbid yet beautiful face. She was on the way to her honeymoon. A sour smile curved in her lips as the bitter tears filled her eyes.

After she was forced to wear a wedding dress that morning, Audrey was left with no choice but to squish her bigger frame inside the slim-cut white gown. It was her wedding day. A supposedly special day for each bride in the whole world. But hers was certainly special and differently memorable. Her swollen eyes and puffed cheeks should be enough for one to tell that she wasn’t happy at all. All thanks to her dress, her groom, and her honeymoon trip. Her day turned out worse than it could ever be.

Audrey was not skinny at all. She was fat. Not so fat, but she got a lot of extra calories within her body and to her surprise－ her future in-laws had prepared a bridal outfit in a smaller size. It was like a slap to her face and to think that the groom’s mother was not doing it on purpose. It’s just that they hadn’t met for years until a few hours before the wedding started. Mrs. Vargas, her late mother's best friend was extremely sorry that she even suggested postponing the event until she could get her a new set of wedding garments on behalf of her deceased parents. Audrey declined it for two reasons; she wanted to get over with the so-called arranged marriage as soon as she could, and she didn’t want to spend another sleepless night thinking about her future with her soon-to-be husband.

Speaking of her groom, he was no other than Shane Vargas. Her childhood friend, her first love, and the most loved actor in the country. Shane rose in fame since he started shooting commercials when he was 15 and was featured in every teen magazine. At 18, he became the main lead on the sensational teen romance drama that became famous worldwide. His status skyrocketed after that. Audrey could definitely recite all his achievements ever since that day he stood in stardom. She was so proud of him then until she realized one thing… he was getting further away from her reach. And Shane proved their differences on the day of their wedding. He left for another country to shoot his movie, leaving her behind.

Like a joke, Audrey tried to complete the ceremony alone. She was totally embarrassed. It was not just her. Even the priest and the guests felt awkward when she walked down the aisle without anyone waiting for her at the end. She recited her vows and cried in the middle, wearing her wedding ring by herself, thinking that the ceremony was just for a show and the important thing was they already signed and registered their marriage contract the day before. All those self-comforting words failed to make her feel better. After all that happened, she ended up regretting attending her own wedding.

“Madam, we’re here.”

Audrey automatically went back to her senses when her personal driver’s voice echoed inside the car. She lifted her head and stared outside the window. They were in front of a luxurious resort where she was supposed to spend the first night as a wedded wife. But since her groom didn’t attend the wedding, the chances of spending the night with him was below 0.1 percent. If not for her mother-in-law who insisted she go, saying that Shane would definitely come to make up with what happened in the ceremony, she wouldn’t have bothered her driver.

She pulled off her veil and shook her head, letting her hair fall on her back. With a heavy heart, she breathed out. “Turn the car around, John. Let’s head to the villa,” she ordered. She had enough shits for the day.

‘What’s the point of waiting for him in the honeymoon suite when he could not even attend the wedding ceremony?’ she thought as the car engine started again. A smug smile curved on her lips when her eyes landed on the billboard by the roadside. It was her groom, wearing a sweet smile while hugging his leading lady in the upcoming movie he’s currently shooting. She fetched her phone in her purse and was thrilled when she saw him having a live interview with his crew. His face was shining brightly as he promoted himself and the other casts. ‘Right, there’s no way he’ll make it tonight.’

Watching Shane through her phone became her habit for years. She thought that it wasn’t that bad that the guy’s famous as she could simply type his name in G****e search and hundreds of the latest updates about him would pop up on her screen. Audrey wiped her tears after pulling several sheets of tissue beside her, smudging her makeup.

*Toot-toot-toot!!!*

“Madam!”

Everything happened in a flash. Audrey raised her head only to see the ten-wheeler truck coming towards them. She saw how hard John tried to avoid it but the look on his face was yelling it was impossible. Her heart was beating rapidly as the truck closed the distance to their car in an instant. Audrey clutched her phone with Shane’s interview still streaming. ‘Is this the end?’ Tears fell from her eyes once again when John jumped over his seat to protect her from direct impact as their vehicle collided with the truck.

The deafening sound of the ambulance rushing to the scene could be heard. Audrey opened her eyes for a second only to be welcomed by a pool of blood. Her trembling frame was lying cold on the concrete road as she whispered her prayers.

“Just… this once. Please don’t take me yet.”

It was her wedding day, and she was wearing a not-so-perfect stained white wedding dress while fighting the fate that was dragging her to her deathbed. She had it worse for a bride.

‘Shane… were you thinking of me even for once? Wondering about how our wedding ceremony turned out like…? What’s in your mind right now while I’m trying my hardest to let you hear my death throes… Shane, do you know that I love you?’ Audrey pursed her lips, her head was becoming fuzzy. She felt her energy rubbing off her. The clanking sound of her phone which fell on the ground was the last thing she heard before her world crumbled in silence.