Their words cut deep into my heart. I died the moment they made their decision. My cheeks began to tear up as I felt my own pain.
I don't want to get married. I won't quit school.
Mom, dad, I never expected you would prioritize marriage over your own daughter. I'm trapped. The wedding has to be called off! I must be their choice.
(Days have gone)
"We have our own reasons, Sarah," said mom.
I looked up to see her standing next to me and offered her no response.
"They're an affluent and honorable family, and the groom is an only child. Isn't that enough for a woman?", said mom
"We decided to grant their wish, we don't want to miss this proposal," she explained.
"Just for that? There are plenty of men out there! I can have a better family than them" I said.
"As I said, I'll agree to the marriage after I graduate! Or drop the wedding!", I said.
"We can't do that, your father has a name in society, it will affect his reputation and dignity", said mom.
My father is a well-known man in society. His staff refer to him as "Big Boss" at the airport. He is an airline investor. In his spare time, he enjoys making antiques. He is also regarded as a kindhearted man. But if I keep thinking about them, WHAT ABOUT ME?!
I can't stand it any longer! All I want is to vanish from the earth. I know I never study in class since I'd rather do makeup than study, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to be a graduate.
"Sarah, we will get you out of school. Get ready tomorrow morning", said dad.
"DOES MY LIFE SEEM LIKE A JOKE? You can't do whatever you want with my life without my consent!", I said.
"We have the right to make decisions regarding your life because we are your parents. Whether you like it or not, you have to obey us!" replied dad.
"I won't obey your orders dad! You have to listen to me!" I exclaimed.
"You weren't my parents who gave me commands; you must respect your parents' decision," he said.
Does my father ever love me?
No more! He switched sides, Abrams brainwashed him. He is no longer a lovable father. I want my father back!
My parents drove me to school the following morning. Dad rapped on the principal's door.
"Excuse me" , said dad.
"Good morning, Ma'am", dad greeted the principal.
"Good morning", said mom.
She went to them and said, "Morning!" The principal replied with a big smile, "Please have a seat," and guided us to our seats.
She glanced at me. "Why aren't you wearing a uniform? Don't you have class today?", I signaled the principal while turning to face my parents.
"May I know what brought you here, Sir/ma'am?", asked the principal.
"About that..." Mom answered with a broken sentence. Dad caught her eye.
"We're here to talk about Sarah", said Dad.
She asked, concern rising from her expression, "What about Sarah?"
"We decided to dismiss Sarah from school", said Dad.
"May I know why? What's with the sudden decision?" Her wide-open eyes stared at us, her mouth gawking in disbelief.
"She's 19. At this age, especially when you have a daughter, there will be a marriage proposal," said mom.
"Sarah received a marriage proposal from a respectable family. We would not turn it down for our daughter," dad added.
"I apologize for interfering, but she's still in high school, and she'll be graduating shortly. Why don't you wait?" asked the principal.
"She would have finished high school if she hadn't spent so much time in kindergarten," dad joked.
"Another reason is that we and the groom's family have fixed the wedding date," mom explained.
Yes, I spent a long time in kindergarten, and it was all his fault! Dad transferred me to this school after I graduated from kindergarten at the old school, and he sent me back to kindergarten. Otherwise, I would have finished high school! In his mind, I was 4 or 5 back then. HE PUT ME IN SUCH A SITUATION! I HATE HIM! He made me graduate from kindergarten twice. He now refuses to let me graduate from high school!
After a lengthy discussion, the principal consented to my parents' request, er, orders. My parents' plan, specifically the Abrams plan, worked! Would they do the same if they had a daughter? Impossible! People would rather wreck other people's lives!
I wasted my time by spending the rest of my days with my parents. Getting married, having children, starting a family aren't on my radar right now. They might be someday.
However, fate whispered differently, my life speeding by as if I wanted to die tomorrow. My body tightened as the shadows of life after marriage threatened me.
What if my life is miserable like any other housewife's?
What if… what if…! My mind couldn't stop those awful thoughts.
Sarah, calm down, I can't think about them that way. Fill your head with pleasant images. I believe they're not what you thought.
**
The groom was absent when his family visited me. One of them just contacted dad to say, "He's coming to see me at 7 p.m. tonight with his friend."
I played dress up again for that stranger, ughh...! I stared at myself in the mirror as the sound of a motorbike filled my ears. It could be him, Luke Abrams!
"Sarah.., he's here", mom called me out to meet him,
My palms began to sweat, unable to dry as I wiped them on my white frock, my pulse racing as if I were in the presence of a monster.
It took me a moment to leave my room, he was waiting for me in the living room. I approached him with a cup of tea, bent down, and caught a glimpse of him.
His gray shirt traced his solid torso as tight black pants enveloped his legs, and his keen green eyes penetrated my soul. My fingers desired slippin' his short side cut, and his stubble beard wrapped around his chiseled face.
He took my breath away.
His large hand took a cup from the tray, he arched his lips upward before sipping the tea. He placed the cup back on the table. He glanced at me.
I'm not used to this, he's too hot to handle.
My heart is pumping nonstop because of fixating on him. Heat rushed through as I adjusted my body to a stiff stance,
My first encounter with a man. I'm at a loss for words, can't think of anything to say.
And why is he so quiet? We can't just stare awkwardly at each other, he should initiate the discussion.
"I'm sorry I couldn't make it. I was in a meeting that day," Luke Abrams explained.
Finally! The man in silence spoke.
"It's okay, I was surprised", I replied.
"How's your high school? In my time, it was a lot of fun", he said.
I frowned at him, "I've been dismissed from school, didn't you know?"
"I haven't heard any news yet, why?", he asked.
"Because of the wedding?", I said.
"I heard the marriage will be after your graduation," he grumbled.
"They insisted the wedding had to take place this year," I explained.
"I'm sorry!", he said
"I'll talk to them, let the wedding be rescheduled," he stated.
"It's too late anyway", I answered.
"Are you sure?", he asked.
"I'm sure our family will object to our statement," I remarked.
"You're right, they're not going to listen to me; parents never want to back down from their children," he smiled.
"100% correct, I am an example", I said.
"You missed something, they pushed us to meet their wishes," I remarked.
We passed the time by chatting. Then his friend stepped into the living room and hinted to him to return home. It was 10 pm. Time went by.
He stood up. He said, "Well, I guess that's it, time to go home."
"Bye... take care", I said.
"You too", he said.
I escorted him to the front door. I waved at him as he rode away.
I won't say it's bad. Honestly, I wasn't expecting it. We had a nice conversation. My parents didn't make a wrong decision at all. There's good about that.
After such a long wait, my parents expected things arrived. My wedding invitations. Exquisite! I pulled the card from the envelope and saw my name and his name. The unknown life awaits me. A schoolgirl becomes a family woman. I forbid marriage. Another part, I'm proud when I see myself as a grown woman.
Aside from that, I'll be the eldest sister-in-law in their family, the daughter-in-law of the eldest Abrams, and the wife of the eldest son-the sole child.
An only child, one of the reasons my parents agreed to the marriage is that I would not have to deal with a brother or sister-in-law. They don't always get along—they're always arguing and slandering each other.
What now? Get ready for the wedding!
**
I'll be his wife the next day, leaving this house, leaving them, and starting a new family. My mind kept rewinding the thoughts while my hands were henna-painted.
My parents' relatives continued to arrive, packing the wedding house.
My wedding night, the final night I'll spend at my parent's house.
While others celebrated the night, I had the opposite reaction.
Is this a wedding sick? I can't take this feeling!
After a long wait, they wiped the henna off my hands.
"I'm off to sleep," I remarked as I stood up.
Mom said, "Wait a bit longer."
"Enjoy the night, Sarah; it happens once in a lifetime for every bride!" auntie added.
My other aunt exclaimed with excitement, "You'll regret this if you go to bed; the night is still young, baby."
"Come on Sarah, sit with us, tonight is my last day with you," Mom murmured, her eyes watery. She wiped away the tears that were almost falling.
"We will shed tears, God, I'm not prepared for that", Aunt's voice breaks.
I have to end this. My tears are about to fall.
"I'd like to stay late, but I hardly open my eyes, I need my beauty sleep, and I don't want my makeup to look awful," I remarked, with a broad artificial smile on my face.
The group laughed.
"Tonight isn't just for the bride and groom, it's not a once-in-a-lifetime thing. We can do it again after I get married. Happy?" I asked, my heart aching.
Their spirits rose as their faces lit up with delight.
"Absolutely! We can have this night again, not as a wedding night, but as a newlywed night," my other aunt replied cheerfully.
"I can't wait for that night!", said her aunt.
"OK, people, slow down! We have to give my daughter a good night's sleep," mom turned to me and caressed my head.
"Sleep well, and have a wonderful dream," mom remarked as she kissed my forehead.
I lay in bed, I closed my eyes, and tried to distract myself, but nothing happened.
I couldn't get this thought out of my head until it happened. The only thing I want right now is to lose my memory.
(I turn to the other side)
Let me sleep, Sarah! (the doorknob twirled). It's mom's voice, she climbs into bed, is she sleeping with me? She wanted to be with her daughter on the last day. She wrapped her arms around me. I can't open my eyes, God... I'll have to pretend to sleep until the next morning.
Mom gets out of bed and switches off the light.
Eventually, in the dead of night, I was able to open my eyes. The clock ticked on as my eyes slowly closed.
"Sarah wake up!", mom tapped my feet
I yawned and pulled my blanket up to my chest, saying, "It's five mom, look how dark it is."
"Did you forget it's your wedding today?" mom asked.
"Don't mention it, I remember!", I said. The word startled me to my feet and gave me shivers.
"You can't wake up at 7 when you're the bride, while the wedding is at 10 am," said mom.
"You know perfectly, the bride spent hours getting ready," mom added.
I rolled my eyes. I snatched up my towel and rushed to the bathroom.
Hours passed, I transformed into a bride. The bride is now ready. The final stage was to wait for the groom to take me out of the room.
"The groom's on his way", said mom
The jitters are setting in again. I tapped my foot down and squeezed my handkerchief.
They're here, rapid as thunder. Mom and dad greeted the groom and his family, while the others presented homemade pastries.
My mom, aunt, and some of the groom's family entered my room. After a brief period of peace, the storm began.
They escorted me from the room and paired me with the groom. I stood beside him, where all the lights and cameras were shining at us. We got in the car. We drove to the shrine where the wedding would take place.
I never imagined myself walking as a bride so swiftly. My freedom-filled life has been much shorter than I had thought.