Layla was taken from the dressing room as she walked down the few corridors of the church hall she was in, staring straight ahead as her mind was somewhere else far away. Two younger ladies walking behind her as they held her train for her, as the coordinator silently led her to the church halls main room for the wedding ceremony.
The coordinator wanted to say something, wanted to speak to lift the heavy silence and unspoken tension in the air, but didn't. She stayed silent and kept walking as they finally reached the doors to the main room in the church hall. The coordinator didn't say a thing as she opened the door ajar and stepped in herself, calling over Mr. Brookes, Layla's father, to come walk her down the aisle. Mrs. Brookes and Mr. Brookes exchanged a glance before they shared a sweet kiss and Mr. Brookes stood up and walked to the door. All eyes were on him as he stepped out into the hall, his breath taken away at the sight of his one and only lovely daughter standing before him. A smile took over his older and worn features as his eyes softened at the sight, happy that his daughter would be marrying such a gentlemen like John Bax Moore. Though he had no idea how bad it truly was for his daughter.
"My sweet angel, look at you. All grown up and marrying such a man today." He took her one hand in his as his slight larger hands enveloped her slight smaller one. He had such a kind heart for her, his eyes showing genuine care but the thoughts couldn't leave Layla's mind at the thought of marrying John.
You have no idea father, this kind of man is a man no one- not even you would want to associate with. But it's alright, for now it can stay hidden..all I know is I'll never blame you for this. I love u, father.
Her thoughts ran as a sweet smile spread across her baby soft lips that were tainted red with a lip stain. She wouldn't break her father's heart, not yet, not now, the time would come soon and she knew it would. She gave her father's hand a reassuring squeeze as her facial features remained hidden behind the vail, fogging any view of what she really felt.
"Thank you, father. I'm just happy that the man I'll always love is getting the chance to walk me down and hand me off." Layla wanted to cry but she knew she couldn't, she knew she'd most likely never get the chance of seeing her father again. Knowing and hearing about what John is like, keeping his "trophies" locked away for only his eyes and she knew that's what that snob thought of her. Not his wife, but a trophy he had claimed.
"Well, my angel. It is my honor as your father. Now, why don't you say we go before the water works start, hm." Mr. Brooks, also know as Manroe Del Brookes and his wife, Donna Sancha Brookes, were a well known couple since their early thirties for the company they ran on marketing's. They became even more well known when their daughter, Layla Son Brookes was born, her beauty was outstanding and natural no one believed she was real till they saw her for the first time with their own eyes. Layla had to be homeschooled, having a private tutor that didn't care for her looks but the way she studied and what she learned. Layla had never had many friends and she didn't have many today either since she couldn't go anywhere without being crowded, asked out upon, or having multiple pictures taken of her.
"Of course, father." Layla replied, thinking of everything and how her life came to this, how she was being passed off to probably the most snobby and worst man in the world. But not many besides her knew John's true intentions, but neither did any know of Layla's true intentions either.
Mr. Brookes stood beside Layla, anchoring their arms together as the church halls main doors were pulled open wide for all to see. Everyone's eyes gazed upon the two of them as they walked in, a few whispers going around as everyone stared at Layla's figure in the dress she wore. Many wanting to see behind her vail and the true beauty she really was.
It won't be for long, it's just a short period and everything will end. I'll end it all soon, the date chosen to finally be free from everything and everyone that surrounds me today.
Every whisper was quiet until everything went silent as a throat cleared, the priest had gotten everyone to calm down as it had snapped Layla out of her own thoughts. She looked up through her vail, meeting the eyes of the man she hated the most in this world. The deep brown eyes that only showed trouble and mischief, bringing only pain and misery wherever they landed. The sharp jawline like a sharks ready to bite down on anything or anyone in its way to get what it really wanted. The hair as dark as the night sky itself, like an empty sky with no soul left but the one.
These are the features that she would remember, the ones that would taunt her every night having to stay in the same room and sleep in the same bed as him.
But it's only for a short amount of time.
She reminded herself multiple times, knowing she only had to endure him for a period of time and she'd rid of him quicker than becoming one with him on this day