I walked towards the alter wearing a beautiful white dress less my size, holding an overly perfumed plastic flower bouquet, my arms locked into a man who I call father but barely recognize him as one. My feet hurts like crazy. Even the heels aren't my size. We got to the alter and my father left me there stranded like a chicken soaked in rain a heavy storm.
"Where's the groom? Who comes late to their own wedding? The bride looks So Sad." It's been more than an hour. I've been standing for more than an hour, and my so called groom is yet to be seen. People already began to whisper among themselves.
FEW HOURS EARLIER
"Silveria!" Mom yelled my name from downstairs. I left what I was doing upstairs and rushed to meet her immediately. "What took you so long to answer? Where you slacking around when there's a lot to do today?" "Today is your sister's wedding and everything needs to be perfect." she yelled. "Sorry mah, I was checking the decorations upstairs to make sure they look perfect." I apologized. She snared at me looking irritated. "Go get your sister and help her get ready, she needs to look her most beautiful self today. Damien Crew will be waiting to see her." She ordered. I nodded and rushed up the stairs to Lilibeth's room. I knocked but received no response. Knocked again but the silence greeted me again. I knocked trice, still no reply. "Lilibeth wake up. It's time to get ready for your big day." Still I received no answer.
I pushed open the door and entered knowing she'd definitely insult me for entering her room without being ordered to. But, I was met with a cold and empty room. The window was open with blanket hanging from the window. I rushed towards the window and looked. Different blankets were tied together to form a rope long enough from the first floor to the ground.
I rushed back to the living room where Mom was ordering some maid around. "Mom!" I yelled catching her attention. "Lilibeth is gone. She escaped through the window. I think she left since last night, her room is very cold." Mom left what she was doing sprinting upstairs and straight into Lilibeth's room. She checked out the window confirming the blankets, she opened her wardrobe all her clothes were still intact except for almost all her jewelry boxes, and the blanket sections.
A note was left on the top of the wood. Mom rushed out of the room and into the study with me following behind her, were dad was working on a few documents. "Lilibeth is gone! She left last night without a word." Mom announced. "What!" he yelled standing up. "She left a note." Mom handed the not to him. He read it before handing it back to Mom. She also read it and turned towards me.
"Silveria, you'll get married to Damien in Lilibeth stead." She said looking at me coldly. "What?, isn't this marriage an alliance between the Crews and Hitlers? Lilibeth is the rightful daughter of the Hitler family. I can't take her place?" I declined immediately trying to get myself out of this scheme dey were trying to pull off. "They will never find out if you didn't tell them yourself. Besides Damien Crew doesn't know how the Hitler daughter look, so you'll go instead." He also replied coldly. "Father,I don't think this is right. I can't do this." I said trying to pull out.
The room fell silent for a brief second and next thing heard was the sound of Mom's hand landing on my cheeks. The sound was loud enough to be heard in the next room through that silence. "You insolent and disrespectful child! We raised you, clothed you, fed you, and even let you graduate from one of the University in French Riviera and this is how you pay us back?" Mom said. And Dad followed "You ungrateful brat! We took care of you for the past 18 years and you can't even do this little for us?" "You'll get married to Damien Crew today, and that's final." He turned to Mom and said, "get her ready. I can't afford to be humiliated and disgraced in front of everyone today. This marriage is an alliance between the two families and with a connection like this, our company will no doubt skyrocket within weeks. We can't afford to lose it."
Mom grabbed my arm and dragged me into Lilibeth's room. She called in a few maids and they began fitting me into Lilibeth's dress. And with that came thousand insults, down grading, and body shaming. Mom read a few rules for me while I was being pressed and caked. "You're to be a good wife to Damien Crew, do not bring a shame to our family." "Keep him satisfied in every way possible and always attend to his need. Be a good house wife." "you're to play the role of your sister for now. When she comes back she'll be taking her rightful place." "With a look like yours, I bet Damien wouldn't even want to look at you nor be around you. So him falling for you is impossible, so do not get any idea in that dead skull of yours." I nodded to every word she said and walked out of the room. I was taken to the venue, Father was already there waiting. He gave me a fake smile and held my hand escorting me to the alter.
**********
Suddenly the hall door burst open and a man in a well tailored suit walks in. He stood in front of the alter facing me without coming up. He gave me a little nod in acknowledgement and then turned towards the crowd. "Sorry for the inconveniences and delay caused. I am here with a message from Mr. Crew." he announced. "What! He isn't the groom?" "What's going on here?" people began too murmur again. And he continued. " Mr. Crew is very busy and won't be attending the wedding. Everything should be carried out without him" He turned over to the pastor accept our vows. "He accepts whatever you're going to say" The pastor nodded and the man stepped to the side folding his hands while watching. I felt a strong lump in my throat, but swallowed it. The pastor read my Vows, I said 'I do' and the marriage was sealed. Everyone was looking at me, some with pity, some snarled, and bothered whispered amongst themselves. Whisper enough for me to to hear. "What an unlucky bride." "she looks terrible. If I was to marry her, I'd do the same." "I don't think she is fit to be called Mrs. Crew." "Is she the real Ms. Hitler?" "I don't think so." "what are the Hitler trying to pull here?" "I heard she stole Ms. Hitler spot and insisted on marrying Damien Crew to gain fame" Everyone was looking at me with disgust.
I walked down the aisle alone like a fool. The man in suit followed behind him, but keeping a few distance.
I wish iiii could just hide away and cry. Or Maybe disappear and never be seen again.