One

“Do you vow to stand by Sylvia to support and protect her and to be your partner in good health and bad?” The pastor’s voice echoed in the silent hall.

There was a pause in the hall.

Sylvia's eyes shone with happiness as she gazed at Nicole, her expectant look palpable. But Nicole's expression turned cold, his eyes narrowing as he clenched his hand and drummed his fingers with an anxious intensity.

Sylvia's heart raced with anticipation, every second feeling like an eternity.

Just as he was about to respond, his phone rang. He hesitated for a few seconds, then pulled it out of his pocket.

“Hello?”

The hall fell silent; all eyes were fixed on Nicole.

He spoke up again after a few seconds. “I’m on my way now.” He spoke the words quickly, his hand dipping back into his pocket with a soft jingle of keys. As Nicole turned to leave, his eyes flashed , and Sylvia felt a shiver run down her spine. She hoped it is not her dreams coming to pass.

Sylvia's hand shot out, grasping his arm. “Where are you going?” She asked, her voice trembling.

Her heart was pounding fast against her chest. An uneasy feeling made her stomach turn. It seems her nightmare was really about to happen.

Nicole stopped and looked at her. “Tendy is pregnant, and she is having complications. I have to go; I will make sure to come as fast as I can to complete the wedding process,” he said, giving her a reassuring look.

Instead of making her calm, his words sent a chill down her spine instead. “And what is your business with her?” Sylvia asked angrily.

Nicole looked at her with a frown on her face. “You are really evil. Do you wish for her to die before?” He asked.

Sylvia shook her head when she heard this. “I don’t mean that; I just felt she should not be a reason for pausing the wedding, that is all,” Sylvia said, trying to explain to him.

“I don’t think that should be your business. Our marriage is just a deal; I don’t have any feelings whatsoever for you. The woman I will only love is Tendy.” Nicole declared this in the presence of everyone in the hall.

As the groom's words hung in the air, a collective gasp echoed through the hall, followed by a stunned silence. Then, like a ripple effect, whispers and murmurs began to spread, creating a soft hum of disbelief and shock.

"Did he just say...?"

Gasps echoed through the hall, and the guests eyes widened in disbelief as they took in the scene unfolding before them. Some of them covered their mouths with their hands, as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

The guests watched in silence, the hall was full of their mumbling .

Sylvia's eyes snapped wide, her gaze frozen on Nicole's retreating back.

Disbelief gripped her like a vice, her mind racing to comprehend the words that still lingered in the air. Had she misheard? Had she imagined the whole thing? The murmurs of the guests around her served as a harsh wake-up call, snapping her back to reality.

"You??" she stammered, her voice barely audible and her thoughts tangled in a web of confusion.

‘Why did he want to marry her then?’

Nicole's words sliced through the air, a sharp blade of rejection that pierced Sylvia's heart with precision. The cruelty of his tone left her reeling, the pain of his words echoing through her mind like a scream.

Memories of Nicole's past actions when it came to Tendy came flooding back; his eyes reflected with the love and adoration that had always eluded her. The contrast between his passion for Tendy and his indifference towards her was a stark reminder of her place in his heart.

Nicole longed to be in Tendy’s shoes; maybe she can get the love too. That is why she wants to marry him; maybe he will have feelings for her in the end too.

“You can either wait till I’m back to continue the wedding or you can leave,” Nicole said before turning away to leave.

Sylvia tried to grab him, but Nicole's hand shot out, shoving against her shoulder. She stumbled back, her heel catching on the hem of her gown, and almost fell.

The pastor quick reflexes saved her from falling, but Nicole didn't even notice. His focus was fixed on leaving the hall, and he strode out without a backward glance.

Sylvia watched him leave, unsure if he would return. Her eyes locked onto her father, pleading for his help, but she saw only disgust and anger etched on his face.

He rose from his seat, turned his back, and walked out of the hall without a word. The murmurs and whispers grew louder, and Sylvia's face burned with shame. She gazed down at her feet, wishing she could disappear.

People started leaving the hall one by one, shaking their heads with pitiful expressions on their faces.

The pastor was also about to leave too when Sylvia looked at him, squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin in a determined gesture. But her voice betrayed her, trembling as she spoke.

"Where are you going?"

The pastor brow furrowed, his eyes squinting in confusion. "I'm going back," he answered simply.

Sylvia shook her head, her voice trembling as she grasped the priest's arm. Her eyes pleaded: "Please, we can't leave now. He will be back; I know it."

The pastor’s eyes softened, filled with compassion, as he looked at Sylvia. He shook his head, and Sylvia felt a jolt as she looked around the hall. It was now empty, her parents having left too.

"I... I..." Sylvia stuttered, trying to make up an excuse for him, but none came to mind. "

Sylvia's world spun around her, the familiar hall and faces blurring. She felt like she was trapped in a living dream, unable to wake up from the horror unfolding before her.

She tried to make sense of what was happening, but her mind was a jumble of confusion and despair.

She felt abandoned and alone, like she was the only one left in the world. The murmurs of the guests, the rustling of their clothes, Nicole's words, the look on the guests faces when he clearly told her he doesn't love her.

She covered her ears, trying to block out the noise, but it only seemed to get louder. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of despair.

Sylvia stood alone in the empty hall; the silence felt like a heavy weight crushing her. She gazed down at her feet, her vision blurring as tears began to fall. The pastor’s compassionate eyes lingered on her for a moment before he too turned and left, leaving Sylvia to face the shattered remains of her dreams. The sound of her own ragged breathing was the only response to the question echoing in her mind.