Love Was Never An Accident
Every time Anthony Slim and I tried to get our marriage license, something went wrong.
For three years, we tried thirty times. And every single attempt ended in an accident.
The first attempt ended with a vagrant that went berserk and stabbed me four times. I nearly died outside the city hall.
The second attempt ended with a speeding motorcycle crushing the bones of my hand.
The third attempt ended with a burning mall, and I was trapped inside for three whole hours.
…
Everyone told me to cancel the engagement, but I stubbornly refused to give up.
And then the 31st attempt ended with me getting rushed into the ICU. A billboard that fell from up high crashed right into me.
I was rushed into the ICU with a severe head injury. The doctors issued one critical notice after another. For two months, I hovered between life and death before barely pulling through.
Then on the day of my discharge, I overheard Anthony talking to his best friend.
"If you really love that underprivileged student and want this marriage canceled, you can just tell Melissa. Why set up all those accidents? She nearly died."
Anthony did not answer for a long time. When he did, his voice was filled with gloom. "I don't have a choice. Her family saved my life ten years ago, and her parents died in the process. This marriage contract is repayment of that favor.
"But I only love Lily. I won’t marry anyone but her.”
I looked at the bruises and wounds that decorated every inch of my skin and let out a broken cry.
All the accidents and near-death experiences I went through were the machinations of another man, not actual mishaps.
If Anthony was feeling stuck, I was more than happy to make that choice for him.