The Church was quiet and crowded up with people, all that was heard in silence were Mandy's bridal shoes that echoed back and forth while she held her custom couture made mermaid wedding gown in her hands, which was ordered by Holmer from one of the famous designers in Italy. The whole wedding package came along with a set of original pure white Pearl earrings with a neckline and bridal shoes that were specifically designed for her as a bonus.
She couldn't hold herself anymore, she was in a most miserable situation, she had no idea what kept Holmer too long to show up on time on their wedding mass and this whole thing was making her head to spin. Her beautiful big blue eyes couldn't keep out staring at the Church clock that was ticking soundly on the wall. As she stood in front of the altar, she heard someone behind in a crowd say in loud whispers," Never in my life have I attended a wedding ceremony where a groom is this late, he was supposed to be here earlier waiting for his bride to arrive."
Another voice cut in," This is no movie dear, today, we will surely witness the runaway groom." After they had said those words, she heard soft chuckles and giggles escape their mouths. When she had listened to their hurtful conservation, Mandy felt a sharp pain prick inside her chest. She began to quiver with fear, her whole body started panicking she felt her face and palms become wet with sweat.
She rushed and knelt beside her father looking at him with pleading eyes and said," Pa! Would you be kind enough to phone Holmer and find out what is holding him?" Her father felt unpleasant when he saw grief in his daughter's eyes he felt a terrible heartache and his chest tightened up, and felt as though his daughter's pain was suffocating him to death, but he managed to control his rage because at that pointing time he needed to be strong for his daughter, for her find strength in him.
He cupped his hands on her thin long face and placed a soft kiss of comfort on her forehead then forced a smile on his face, and nodded his head without uttering any words in agreeing to his daughter's request. Mandy's father excused himself and shuffled towards the Church main entrance, he could barely walk as he could feel the eyes of all the guests rested upon him. His legs became heavy as though they had been filled up with iron bars inside them as he matched out with a heavy heart filled with shame.
Meanwhile, Mandy laid down her head on her mother's shoulder who was busy comforting and saying some sweet words to her of which she never heard a single word of it because she was absent-minded and had her mind engrossed with deep thoughts. After a few minutes her father came back with unpleasant news, he said to her," Sweetheart, am sorry I can't get a hold of Holmer, his phone is switched off." When Mandy heard those words come from her father's mouth.
She felt like those words were sharp as a sword and had split her chest apart and they had placed burning candles right to the centre of her heart and left it to burn its life out of it and she felt betrayed. She felt that familiar twirl in her stomach and a form of saliva build up in her mouth which made her want to throw up before she knew it, tears had begun seeping out uncontrollably sending a blurry vision to her eyes. she felt as though the whole place was surrounded with smoke that choked her to death. She pulled out the veil from her head and threw it down with force she felt as if it was contributing to the splitting headache she had at that moment.
She cleared her throat while sobbing and said with a breaking voice," Thank you..... Ma and.... Pa for fixing this arranged marriage thing for me which has turned my life into a complete laughing stock, I pleaded with you two not to betroth me to a man I hardly knew, but no! You pushed through with it. Where is your so-called son in law to be now? he is nowhere to be seen. Just when I thought everything was falling in place and we had begun to build something between us, what did he do? he chose to play along and toy with my heart and break it into pieces and left it to rot by itself without looking back or feeling any remorse in him. I must assume l was wrong to fall in love right Mama? her mother wanted to say something but she stopped her on the way as she continued to speak.
" I was brought up to love and cherish exclusively one man, who apparently has dumped me in front of the altar and all these people have clearly witnessed this to be precise. Why do I have to face this hardest point of life alone Papa? Why does a woman have to go through tough times just for love?!
While she was addressing her parents, they heard foot steps and the people in Church became as quiet as the still waters, when Mandy and her parents turned around to see what had caused the quietness, they were shocked and couldn't believe what their eyes saw, it was Holmer and he wasn't dressed in his wedding attire. Her father Mr Meyers arose from his seat and strolled towards him by the time his wife tried to stop him it was too late, he had already struck Holmer with a hard slap across his face.
When he wanted to hit him again, this time he held his hand in the air and said," This should be the last time you lay your filthy hands on me. The next time you try to do that, you will make me do things that I might end up regretting, if you will excuse me I have my ex-fiancee to attend to." Mandy, her mother, the people, including his parents had their jaws dropped when they heard him speak to his father-in-law with such disrespect. Mandy's father tried to say something but they were no words that came out of his mouth.
After saying that, he pushed him to the side and walked past him going towards the altar to meet the latter who was supposed to be his bride, He lessened his steps as he came closer to her. He placed a soft kiss on both her palms and said with a hoarse voice," Am sorry Hun please forgive me."
"Meaning?"
"I tried to force myself to fall in love with you but....."
"But your feelings have failed you is that what you are trying to say uhmm....?" Hun, please don't do this to me let's try to give ourselves another chance, please...Wha....what do you think?"
there is no point in giving this relationship another chance if it isn't working."
Why do you think that way?" Mandy asked.
While I guess urrrrr... I am tired of this pretence and fighting so hard to feel something of which I think will never happen." Holmer answered plainly.
"Are you tired of this or tired of me? Mandy tried to kneel to plead with him to make things work between them, but he stopped her on the way and said," Hun don't stoop yourself to that level you are more worth than gold, besides you are not the problem, I am the problem and I have failed to fight for us."
"So now tell me, Hun! What am I going to tell my parents and friends uhh....? that you have kept me in a "Shell" for five good years? common Holmer be serious! If this is a joke please stop, seriously if that's a joke it is simply a bad one."
"I wish it could have been a joke, but no it's not, it is the truth Holmer replied and showing seriousness that he meant every word that he had said.
Mandy said in a hoarse voice as her eyes were being filled with tears," I need answers, Honey, why you have decided to break up with me on our wedding day, don't you think it's fair enough for to know the reason for what has caused this or is there another woman?
....sighs
There was no explanation from Holmer, he was silent.
"I guess your silence explains it all, you have broken my heart in pieces! I don't know how I am going to heal from all this!! With you not holding back saying it straight to my face that.... you don't want me anymore? And that you have come to draw a line between us? She held her hand upon her chest," My heart bleeds cause you have filled it with pain and sorrow. And she wept bitterly.
People were trying to collect what Mandy and Holmer were discussing but they couldn't hear anything, Mandy and Holmer managed to solve their issue in a civilised manner, but people got something when they saw Mandy cry uncontrollably they connected the pictures and realised there was no peace between the two and that she wasn't crying the tears of joy either.
The whole crowd listened to her soft sobs that escaped her mouth, they were touched and felt pity for her, though none of them had experienced being stood up in front of the Church altar, or in the minister's presence, yet they were deeply hurt by the whole scenario. While others were soaked with tears of sorrow towards her in their hearts.
Holmer tried to calm her down, "Sweetheart, I know you will get through this it is just a matter of time."
"Don't you sweetheart me! You have no conscience, how do you expect me to react, to start clapping that you have done a great job for breaking my heart and give you an award for it?! Well, you're wrong, you could have thought about it before you broke my heart, what an incredible wedding you prepared for me." And she said the last words that made Holmer feel bad, it has been a pleasure, sharing this last moment, I will cherish, and respect every piece of memory that we spent together, thank you so much for everything, though I never expected our love to end this way goodbye my Love! Wherever you will go just know in your heart that someone is waiting for you no matter how long it takes I will wait for you." After saying those words she composed herself and turned her back against him.
Holmer tried to touch her shoulder, but Mandy turned and slapped him so hard that he almost fell with dizziness, when Mandy saw that, she got frightened and started running but before she stepped outside the Church, she fell and collapsed. Holmer and his parents rushed to her, and checked if her pulse was beating, her mother kneeled beside her while crying and cursing and her father was dialling an emergency number, and the whole Church was in chaos.