Prologue

Standing at the altar as the celebrant reads the vows to have us repeat them to each other, my

soon to be husband shows no emotion. He says his vows slipping the ring on my fingers and

looks down at me. Once he announces the classic line of you may kiss the bride my now

husband cups my face in his hands kissing me, coldly and no lust or passion. The wedding

reception was no different just the sense of emptiness as I put on a smile greeting guests and

hugging my now in laws.

My bridesmaids all at the bar laughing and cheering as they bring me to the dance floor to do

the traditional bouquet toss. My maid of honor and sister from another mister Aubry catching the

bouquet as she squeals excitedly, looking over giving a wink to her boyfriend Colie who smiled

at me. The DJ playing ‘Follow you’ for the bride and grooms first dance, Lewis walks over to me

extending his hand which I take as he leads me to the middle of the floor. My eyes align with his

broad shoulders, his hand on my waist as mine rest around his shoulders. That usual closeness

people experience wasn’t there, no signs of affection just pure coldness, looking over his

shoulders I saw our parents looking in admiration.

I know what you’re thinking there must be another girl in the picture for him to treat me like this,

truth is there wasn’t another woman in the picture. Our families courted us since we were

sixteen and seventeen, we’re now 21 and 22 getting married and he doesn’t love me back.

As the night goes on, we done everything you would expect at a wedding reception, the

speeches and the cutting of the cake. The show of one-sided affection along with how lonely

this wedding felt, well expect for his sister Iris who was a sweetheart. She was the main person

that accompanied me with organising the venue, Iris is only 19 but has her whole life planned

out as she’s in her second year at university studying law and is still with her childhood

sweetheart Brendon. I smiled as I looked down seeing her and Brendon slow dancing in the

background, Lewis doesn’t look at me the same way that Brendon looks at Iris.

Towards the end of the night when people start leaving the venue and saying goodbye to each

other, my bridesmaids are ushering me to the car waiting outside. Eager to see me off to my

honeymoon and wave goodbye, honeymoon would be like a free holiday with no romantic

gestures most likely. Sitting in the car Lewis pulls his phone out and I hear mine buzz in my

purse, “$5000 really?” I asked looking at him in disbelief. “What you want more money?” he

asked as he huffed under his breath, “I don’t want your money Lewis, I just want you to show

me a little bit of appreciation” I stated and he narrowed his eyes at me.

“Listen here and listen carefully, we’re only married on paper I don’t care what happens to you

so don’t expect any attention of affection from me” he said coldly and my expression turned

from frustrated to sadness as I leaned back in the car seat observing the silence in the air.