It was just two days before the wedding, and Emily was
ecstatic. She had been waiting for this moment for what felt like an eternity.
Her friends and family were all filled with excitement, and Emily couldn't help
but feel like the luckiest person alive.
She and Eric had met in college, and their love had grown
stronger with each passing day. They had been inseparable since their first
date, and Emily knew that she had found her soulmate in Eric. As she walked
through the crowded room, she couldn't help but smile at the thought of
spending the rest of her life with him.
But amidst all the excitement and anticipation, Emily's
friend Debbie noticed that she seemed a bit on edge. "Hey, Emily, what's
wrong?" Debbie asked, concern etched on her face.
Emily hesitated, unsure of how to share her worries. She had
been diagnosed with cancer a few months ago, and the thought of leaving Eric
behind was unbearable. But she didn't want to burden her friends and family
with her fears, so she just smiled and said, "I'm fine, just a little
nervous, that's all."
Debbie looked unconvinced, but she let it slide.
"You're going to be fine, Emily. You're going to make a beautiful bride,
and Eric is going to love you even more than he does now."
Emily smiled, feeling a pang of anxiety. She knew that
Debbie was trying to reassure her, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that
something was off.
The day of the wedding arrived, and Emily was beaming with
joy. She put on her beautiful white wedding dress, her hair styled perfectly,
and her makeup flawless. She was ready to walk down the aisle and start her new
life with Eric.
As she entered the church, she couldn't help but feel a
sense of excitement and nervousness. She looked around, taking in the familiar
faces of her friends and family, and her eyes scanned the crowd for Eric. But
as she reached the altar, she realized that he wasn't there.
"Where's Eric?" she whispered to Debbie, feeling a
knot in her stomach.
Debbie hesitated, unsure of how to break the news to Emily.
"Don't worry, Emily, the groom isn't supposed to see the bride before the
ceremony," she said, trying to sound convincing.
But Emily knew something was off. She felt a sense of
unease, and her heart was racing with anxiety. She looked around the church,
hoping to catch a glimpse of Eric, but he was nowhere to be found.
As the minutes ticked by, Emily's anxiety turned to panic.
She felt like she was going to be sick, and her mind was racing with worst-case
scenarios. Where was Eric? Why wasn't he here?
Suddenly, Eric's parents appeared out of nowhere, their
faces somber and guilty-looking. "Emily, we need to talk to you," his
mother said, her voice trembling.
But before they could say anything, Emily's phone rang. It
was an unknown number. She hesitated for a moment before answering it, hoping
that it might be Eric.
"Hello?" she said, her voice shaking.
But instead of Eric's voice, she heard a message from the
phone company. "The number you are trying to call does not exist. Please
check the number and try again."
Emily's heart sank. She felt like she had been punched in
the gut. She looked at Eric's parents, her eyes pleading for answers.
"What's going on?" she demanded. "Where is
Eric?"
Eric's father cleared his throat, his face looking guilty.
"Eric is getting married to someone else, Emily. He's marrying a childhood
friend, Sarah. Didn't your parents tell you about the promise?"
Emily felt like she had been hit by a truck. She couldn't
breathe, she couldn't think. All she could do was stare at Eric's parents, her
mind reeling with shock and betrayal.
"What promise?" she stuttered. "What are you
talking about?"
Eric's mother looked away, unable to meet Emily's eyes.
"It's an old promise, Emily. Eric's and Sarah's parents made a deal years
ago that they would get married when they grew up. Eric never told you about
it, did he?"
Emily felt like she was living in a nightmare. She couldn't
believe what she was hearing. She looked around the church, hoping to find some
support, some comfort, but everyone was staring at her with pity and sympathy.
She took a step back, her eyes welling up with tears.
"This can't be happening," she whispered. "Eric would never do
this to me."
But as she looked at Eric's parents, she knew that it was
true. They were telling the truth, and Emily's world was shattering around her.
She felt a wave of grief wash over her, and she stumbled
backward, her vision blurring. She tried to speak, but couldn't. Before she knew
what was happening she fainted.