The Wedding Night Curse

ka'

I was supposed to di

m an ac

rom m

cred vows were spoken. I know this now. But when it all began-when the proposal arrived

ing had begun to descend. The sky was like an open wound-red, gray, and hollow. There was

car pulled u

nsive. And far too foreign

dable, devoid of expression. He approached the headmistress and han

behind a pillar

turned to

ing changed

-

you," the headmistr

choked on

ho

r Ard

The Ardhana family was old money, said to descend from colonial aristocracy. Their estate on the hill was

ickly. "This is

d her hand over mine.

y proposal, Alika. Thi

't even

. Tomorro

that, my life

no c

someone else's roof, destiny

-

rived on a cloud

he air around him. His face was handsome-but not in a warm way. His eyes were

g me straight in the eyes. "But I'm not l

y m

But it's not time f

rdity. But something about hi

if I s

for a long bea

kes you

s nowhere else

nest. De

e was

-

a white gown as we stood

as quiet, alm

my side-becau

ders and one woman who stared at

as no l

mus

sil

tside turned black-despite it o

-

one on a hilltop. Enormou

e air changed. Not cold... but heavy.

The deep crimson carpet felt like it had once absorbed blood. My

r home now,"

sk, And where

ds stuck in

al suite upstairs. The room was beaut

e rest,"

.. don't open the mid

ed. "Wh

at me for a

... they'll come

-

ldn't

s too

da

n the wall shifte

ng at the door that hadn't moved si

ng night,

sband had

eath, trying to

he old wardrobe in the corner-

was my fir

st

ched s

bled as they to

ne last

opene

lected my image-bu

s anothe

ng beh

edding

mouth agape... blood s

un a

e was

back at the mirr

d reach

houlder... from

nd slammed t

ed. My knees n

echoed in

ar. I ran to the doo

o

a whi

e home,

ed it, and slid down

wn my cheeks befo

the momen

sn't the beginni

beginning