Anonymous Tip

Squeezing my phone and gnashing my teeth, "Who sent me this?"

"Is this a joke?"

"Why would someone send me this ugly joke today?" I questioned all my bridesmaids as my eyes turned into flames.

While rubbing my back, Lydia pulled the phone off my hand and whispered in a shaky voice, "Lexy..., this ain't a joke."

"This picture was uploaded about an hour ago."

"Take a closer look, besty," said Lydia frantically.

"Damn it, Lydia, don't you dare calm me right now. I want to know whoever sent me this deadbeat joke," I said furiously, snatching the phone off Lydia's hands.

"The man in the photo looks like Jerry, but not my Jerry. They may be sharing the first name but not my Jerry Stephens," I said frantically.

I didn't take the picture seriously. Sarcastically, I burst into laughter then the girls gaped at me.

My weird reaction shook the girls. They must have thought I was losing it. Perhaps a string had detached itself in my mind.

I wasn't thinking straight. I'm supposed to be damn mad right now, but there I was laughing.

While rubbing my back, Lydia tried to calm me down, "take it easy, best..." before Lydia finished off her soothing punch line, I intercepted her with a yell, "shut the fuck up, Lydia. Just shut your f-ing mouth," as I snatched and threw my phone on the car's mat.

A bomb of silence dropped in the limo. Nobody dared to say a word after my outburst.

I sat there in silence; my heartbeat was the only thing I could hear. It was so loud.

As loud as my heartbeat was, so was my heart scared. Then it stopped, and my body grew weak. My body turned pale. The shocking turn of events made me grow cold.

I wanted to scream, yell, punch something or someone, but I couldn't. Something held back my cocktail of emotions.

Then I saw a message pop up on my phone. Cindy went for it, but before she got it, I had it.

"It's mom, not Jerry," I uttered in frustration.

I was still expecting to hear from Jerry. I believed he was going to reach out. I mean, he must have an explanation for all this.

We were just a few minutes away from the church's gate. But then a sudden stop and silence without communication from anyone.

No one from the groom's family reached out to me. Is that even normal? I couldn't tell as it was my first time to wedd. Besides, I had never been a bridesmaid at any wedding. So I lacked clues.

The text from mom was an apology.

Mom sent me a sorry message. I couldn't understand why mom was apologizing and for what reason. Why not any other person? Thoughts streamed through my mind.

I was brought back to life when my driver rolled down the partition to make an announcement, "I have orders to take you back home, mom," the driver said politely as he rolled up the partition.

I wanted to ask questions, but he didn't give me room to air my queries. Maybe I was seeking answers in the wrong direction.

The driver took a sharp turn and then rushed us home. On our way home, silence robbed us of our voice.

I had sprayed fury inside the limo. Nobody dared even to cough. I grabbed the veil hanging from my back and tore it apart.

I didn't realize my eyes were socked wet in tears at this moment. I cared less about my makeup. Angy's effort could go to hell for all I cared.

Upon arrival at home, I noticed a red flashy sedan car parked adjacent to my parents' ride to the church.

The car was not just any type of sedan car, but Jerry's type. The Limo pulled over at our home's entrance.

I stepped out and turned to the sedan car, only to be stopped by Cathy, "mom, you have a guest waiting for you inside."

"Quit with the damn titles now if you don't want to get your ass fired. Who the hell is waiting for me?!"

"Speak up, damn it...!" I raged at Cathy.

Shaking, "I'm sorry, mom, but I've never seen the gentleman before, though he said he's Anthony Stephens," Cathy responded, nearly crying as she paved the way for me.

I entered the house in fury, heading for the living room. Cathy interrupted me again, "mom, to the study room, please."

I turned and gave her a stern, frenzy look. Cathy stepped back, nearly tripping before Lydia held her. Lydia saved Cathy from stumbling onto the flower stand.

I turned to the study room as Lydia and Kate followed me.

When I reached dad's study room, the door was ajar. I stormed into the room and slapped the door behind me, locking Lydia and Kate out.

Furiously, I headed for Anthony. I wanted to grab him by the collar to get my answers.

All I need is a reality check. Only the truth can restore sanity in me.

Before I reached Anthony, Jerry's brother, mom pointed to a seat and commanded me, "take a seat, darling."

Mom sat while dad stood by her side with his arm rested on mom's left shoulder.

Mom and Jerry seemed tense, but dad's face was blank. For the first time, I couldn't read my dad's face. It was like a poker game.

Once I took the seat, dad broke the silence, "speak up, young man. What brings you to our home, and.."

Before dad finished speaking, mom rubbed dad's arm that he'd laid on her shoulder. That way, dad posed, and mom nodded to Anthony.

As soon as words left Anthony's lips, my heart skipped a beat, not once but nearly thrice. I could no longer feel my heartbeat. I became emotionless and motionless like a statue.

Darkness grew in the room. My body became colder and colder. I could see Anthony's lips moving but couldn't get his words. Suddenly, darkness engulfed my eyes and world.

I didn't know for how long I was out. It seems like I had flaked out. When I woke up, I was lying on my bed, no longer in dad's study room but in my room.

The windows were open to allow the breeze into the room. Then I heard voices in my room.

"Doctor, will she be fine?"

"Don't worry, Mr. and Mrs. Grey; she is and will be fine."

"The sudden turn of events just shook your daughter."

"Are you sure my daughter is not sick?"

"No, Mr. Grey, she's in perfect health."

"Thank you, doctor."

"One more thing, she needs just plenty of rest and less stress. with that, she'll be fine."

"Thank you, doctor," a woman's voice said.

I noticed mom and dad by my bedroom door when I came around.

They were with a man in big round glasses and a stethoscope. That must be a doctor. It's their voices that I've heard all along.

I tried getting off the bed but got held back by a nasty headache.

Then I heard a voice, "you'll need this and plenty of rest," said Lydia as she handed me a cup of chamomile tea.

It seems like Lydia had been by my side all along. I wanted to confirm whether what Anthony said before I flaked out was real.

In a weary tone, " Lydia.. is what Anthony told the truth?"

"Please don't lie to me. I need some honesty, please."

"I need something to restore my sanity."

"I feel like I'm losing my mind."

"Please say something, Lydia. I promise I won't yell at you."

"I'm sorry I yelled at you back then in the car..."

Before I could finish my apology, Lydia interrupted me.

"I understand what you're going through, Lexy."

"I would've reacted the same if not overreacted."

"It's true. Everything Anthony said is true. Jerry played you dirty."

"He never deserved you in the first place, Lexy."

"You deserve much better than Jerry."

"He was your first, and with your beauty and figure, you would grab any man's attention."

"Just forget about Jerry, please.." Lydia said as she hopped in bed with me.

I responded with a smile and acted like everything was okay to ease the tension.

I wanted some time alone. But after the fainting, who would dare give me space. That blackout worsened things for me; I'm being pampered like an egg.

I was getting more attention from mom and the entire household.

"But how am I just supposed to erase all our memories together?"

"The good times we spent together..."

"How I'm I supposed to empty my memories with Jerry?"

"Is it easy to get rid of your first love's memory?"

"Jerry is not just my first love. He was going to be my husband, "I said

Lydia intercepted again, "but he has just turned into an ex-boyfriend, not a husband."

"I guess he was just fooling you, Lexy."

"This time, I'll walk with you; I'll be right there when it all happens, to stop bad guys like Jerry from wasting you," said Lydia sarcastically.

"But I still love him. I want him back. I want him.. back... please," I said in tears.

Lydia held me close to her chest. She was about to join me in the crying party before mom walked back into the room.

"Come here, baby, " mom said with open arms as she got closer and sat next to me on my bed.

Momma and Lydia held me as I cried my eyes and heart out. My wedding day has turned into a nightmare, my boyfriend, husband to be, has just turned into an ex-boyfriend...