Broken Seven Times Over
I've planned seven wedding ceremonies in total, and not once has my fiance, Zachary Gardner, ever shown up for it.
The first time, his adopted younger sister, Louise Foster, bursts into tears because she lost her passport at the airport. It was the dead of winter, but he dumped me by the side of the road and left me.
The second time, Louise's dog sprained its ankle. Zachary stuffed the ring back into its box and rushed to the animal hospital to accompany her.
Every time I argue with him about it, he declares nonchalantly, "We can get married anytime, but I can't let Louise be upset."
Everyone around us agrees with him, saying that we're all family anyway, so I shouldn't be so petty. None of them has seen Zachary and Louise kissing fiercely on the dance floor.
Today is the seventh wedding ceremony. Once again, he turns to leave after getting a call.
I grab the corner of his shirt and say in a choked voice, "If you leave this time, Zachary, I won't marry you anymore."
He stops in his tracks and peels off my fingers.
"Wait for me," he says before rushing off.
What he doesn't know is that this time, I won't be waiting for him any longer.