Suddenly, as Argos's gaze flickered across the crowd, hope ignited inside me. For a fleeting moment, our eyes locked. Time slowed; the world around us faded. I felt a flush of joy, believing maybe, just maybe, he still felt something for me. But then he looked back at Alice, and my breath hitched painfully.
I know I should turn around, leave quietly, and spare myself the agony of witnessing this moment. But as Alice takes her place beside him, my heart shouts louder than my common sense.
""Does anybody oppose this marriage? Speak now or forever hold your peace," the priest intoned, and I felt the weight of the world crash down upon me, thick and suffocating.
The moment hangs in the air, pregnant with tension. Silence envelops the room, thick and suffocating. It's my last chance, the final opportunity to reclaim what I had lost.
I thought I could let go of you, to see you happy with someone else. Ever since, I always let the people before me have their happiness first before mine but now, I wanted to be selfish just this once.
It was then that I found myself standing up, heart pounding against my ribcage, driven by an impulse I'd never felt before.
"I object this marriage!" I shouted, my voice ringing through the hallway like a siren. Every pair of eyes locks onto me— some in shock, some recognized me, but they don't matter. I'm only focused on you.
Alice's face turns crimson, and she stares at me as if I've just provoked a wild animal. The priest loses his composure, looking at me incredulously, and I can hear the whispers erupting around the room. But it all fades, the noise blurring into a distant hum.
"I love you, Argos!" I call out, and with that confession, the air seems to shift. People exchange uneasy looks, shocked murmurs filling the space as my heart thunders in defiance.
"You know this isn't right!" I plead, my voice cracking but strong.
However, he only stared at me then looked back at the priest then said coldly, "I don't know her so continue the wedding."
My world completely shattered when I heard his words. Alice looked at me and smirked as if mocking me that Argos wouldn't choose me. I was trembling all over, tears streaming down on my face as the guests looked at me in disdain.
'I know it's my fault but it hurts. It hurts so much.'
"Can you just leave? You homewrecker!" Someone shoved me hard, and I stumbled, pain shooting through my ankle as I fell amidst burning humiliation and despair. The physical pain was a mere shadow compared to the wrecking anguish inside my heart.
I attempted to stand but I fell again. No one even tried to help me or look at me, they were just staring at the soon to be husband and wife. I tried wiping my tears but its completely useless, my tears won't stop flowing.
That's when I heard gasps as a strong pair of arms lifted me from the ground and carried me as we walked out of the church.
"Thank you," I managed to mutter, my voice barely audible over my heartbreak.