The Shattered Heart

cade down my cheeks. These past three days had been an agonizing ordeal, a ceaseless torrent of tears lulling me t

eyes sunken. Since accepting Dylan's proposal, I hadn't crossed paths with him, a small mercy

procated that love. Fate had other designs; I was bound to wed a man who reviled me, seeing me solely as a depraved maid. Moreover, he refused

steady my frail form. Countless times, I had envisioned a life with Dylan, where he promised the heavens and showered me with affection, p

ly dried my eyes. "Hey, dry those crocodile tears and com

sing from my seat, I noticed Mr. Smith holding a white, silky satin fabric in her hand, tossing i

ike a life sentence," tears flowed. "I can't wear this. It should si

happiness; you're destined to be a money-making machine," s

I cared little. It was a small wedding. Slipping it over my head, the

ut of my room for the first ti

a display, a zombie on show. I glimpsed the altar setup in the spacious sitting room, my h

here to be seen, and silently, I prayed for his absence. Mr. S

throat tightened as he entered. It might have helped if

n more prominently than they had three days ago. H

e striding toward the altar. "Hurry it up, Pastor. I need to leave t

gaze. I walked with rigid legs until I stood beside Dylan, who remained motionless, his

o love and cherish, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickne

choice," Dylan reto

to have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, i

around me, and I felt utterly destroyed, bound for a

ring?" the pa

it necessary?

ucing two rings miraculously. The pastor

for the pastor's approval, he forcefully took my left hand and slid the ring onto my fourth finger. The

"By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you husb

d to sign?" he impatiently inquired. The pastor presented some

atisfied now?" he snarled. "Go pack your bags and come with me. I hope you

I wept into my bags. Stepping out to the waiting car, it dawne