The priest's voice echoed through the church as he pronounced us husband and wife. I blinked, my thoughts spinning, the weight of what I had just done pressing down on me. I married someone today. I actually married a complete stranger. The adrenaline that had pushed me through this whole thing began to fade, and with it, my certainty. What the hell did I just do?
Marcus stood beside me, still as a statue, his face unreadable. The only words he'd spoken since walking up from his seat were "I do," and now he seemed content to let silence fill the space between us. Not a word of protest. Not a flicker of surprise. If I hadn't been so stunned myself, I would've asked him why he was so calm.
My heart pounded as I glanced around the church, the stunned faces of my friends and family blurring together. There were whispers, shocked gasps, wide eyes—everyone was waiting for someone to say something, for this to make sense. But it wouldn't. Nothing about this was supposed to make sense.
My gaze landed on him—Liam, the man I was supposed to marry. His face was pale, his mouth hanging open as if trying to form words, but nothing came out. Finally, his voice broke through the thick tension. "What did you just do?" he demanded, his voice cracking with disbelief.
I turned toward him, taking in the shock, the panic in his eyes. Part of me reveled in it. After what he had done to me, the betrayal, the lies—I wanted him to feel the same pain, the same helplessness I'd felt. And yet, standing here, with Marcus at my side, I didn't feel victorious. I felt lost.
"We are so done here," I said, my voice cold and steady, even though my insides were a churning mess. I kept my eyes on Liam, daring him to challenge me, to fight for me—for once. But all he did was gape at me, speechless.
The guests were all staring, their shock palpable in the air. Some whispered, others exchanged glances, but no one dared to speak up. I could feel the weight of their judgment, their confusion, pressing down on me, but I didn't care. I needed to leave. I needed to get out of this place, away from the chaos, away from everything that reminded me of what should have been my perfect day.
Without thinking, I reached for Marcus's hand. His skin was cool against mine, but his grip was firm, solid, like an anchor in the storm I had created. He didn't say a word as I pulled him toward the exit, past the rows of pews, through the crowd of onlookers. I didn't dare look back at Liam, at what I had left behind.
The church doors swung open, and we stepped out into the crisp afternoon air. It hit me like a slap—cool, fresh, and sharp, a stark contrast to the suffocating atmosphere inside. I breathed in deeply, trying to calm the frantic beating of my heart. My chest felt tight, and my mind raced, replaying the events of the last ten minutes over and over again. What had I done?
I kept walking, not sure where I was going, just needing to move, needing to put distance between me and the church, between me and the reality of what I had done. Marcus followed silently beside me, his presence a strange comfort even though he was still a stranger to me.
We walked through the narrow streets, past the small shops and cafes I had once visited with Liam, and it struck me how everything had changed in a matter of minutes. I was supposed to be married to him right now, celebrating with my friends and family. Instead, I had tied myself to someone I didn't even know.
My apartment loomed in the distance—small, cozy, and now filled with memories of a life I had planned to share with someone else. I hesitated for a moment before unlocking the door, unsure of what to do next. My mind raced with questions, but I had no answers.
I led Marcus inside, my stomach in knots. The space felt too intimate, too personal for a man I had known for less than an hour. Yet here we were, husband and wife, bound by an impulsive decision I was already starting to regret.
The apartment was quiet, too quiet. I could still feel the echo of my steps from earlier that morning when I had been filled with anticipation and excitement for my wedding day. Now, it felt like another lifetime, another version of me.
"Sit," I said, gesturing toward the couch. My voice was shaky, betraying the turmoil I was trying to suppress. I needed answers, but I didn't even know where to start. Marcus did as I asked, his movements calm and deliberate, like none of this fazed him.
I stared at him for a long moment, unsure of what to say. I didn't even know his name until a few minutes ago. How was this real? How had I ended up here? My heart raced as I struggled to gather my thoughts, to form the right words.
"So," I began, my voice small in the quiet of the room, "we're married." The words felt strange, foreign, like they didn't belong to me. My fingers trembled as I clasped them in my lap, trying to steady myself.
Marcus nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "Yes," he replied simply, his voice calm and deep, a stark contrast to the chaos swirling inside me.
"Why didn't you say anything?" I blurted out, the question escaping before I could stop it. "Back at the church, I mean. Why did you go along with it?"
He leaned back slightly, his gaze still steady. "You seemed like you needed an out," he said, his voice steady but unreadable. "I wasn't going to stop you."
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. I didn't know how to respond to that. He was right—I had needed an out, and he had been there, a willing participant in my escape. But why? And who was he really?
"I didn't even know your name," I muttered, more to myself than to him.
"Now you do," Marcus said, his lips twitching into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
Silence fell between us, heavy and awkward. I didn't know what to do, what to say next. I had dragged this man into my life, into my home, and now I didn't know how to handle it.
I glanced around the apartment, the familiar space feeling foreign with him here. It was filled with remnants of my life with Liam—photos on the walls, shared memories scattered across the shelves. I felt a pang of regret, but it was quickly followed by a rush of anger. How could I regret this? Liam had cheated on me. He had broken my heart, and I had every right to leave him.
But this… marrying a stranger? How had I convinced myself this was the solution?