"And How long were you planning on waiting before getting back with him?" I decided to entertain her self-centered ego.
"Well that's the thing. I expected him to get over the betrayal, I expected him to stop licking his wound, swallow his pride, and crawl back to me. If he wanted to have me, he would learn to live with my faults and decisions." Christina spoke selfishly, and I smiled and said, "unless he found someone to treat him like a king and love him as he equally as he does of course." I couldn't help the proud and slight sarcastic smile on my lips.
"Of course." Christina said, with a bitter chuckle.
"Guess the latter came true." I pointed, unable to stop the soft smile which covered my lips in that moment from widening even more.
"I guess so." Christina hummed, then she nodded as she added, "you take care of him, he deserves that."
When she said, this, I felt the urge to shut her up by saying 'don't tell me how to treat my husband', but I figured she was already suffering enough, rubbing it in her face would not make her feel any better, so instead, I nodded softly and smiled as I said, "I will."
Christina nodded, then without saying another word, she stood up, though slightly unsteady, she began making her way towards the door. The closer she got to the exit, the more I felt a sudden pressure weigh on my mind. A feeling so suffocating, that I did not feel relief until from my lips blurted the words, "Christina, would you like me to pray with you before you leave?"
At my words, Christina froze in her steps. Her shoulders stiffened, and she turned with an erect posture while asking with a disgusted scowl, "Why? What are you a Saint or something?" and I shook my head and replying, "No, none of that. But I want to pray with you anyway. I can tell that you are not okay, and I just want to help you find some comfort. In a sense, I owe you Christina." I admitted, and she frowned and asked, reluctantly, "what are you on about?"
With a sigh, I stood up with relaxed shoulders, and decided to approach her. When I felt close enough that she wouldn't be able to hit me, I clasped my hands together while saying, "believe it or not, you Christina, were my blessing in disguise. Without knowing it, you helped me find the love of my life. And now I want to help you. If you will accept it." I explained, and Christina scoffed before she crossed her arms and looked away.
"I don't need any help. I am perfectly fine. I am doing great." She declared, but it felt forced, and I frowned. I didn't speak, and for a moment, neither did she. I wasn't sure for how long we stood there in complete silence, but eventually I began feeling a bit sleepy.
"Well I should probably let you rest for your big day. Have a good life." Christina suddenly declared, then she turned sharply as she swung the door open and led herself out in haste.
"God be with you Christina..." I whispered quietly as I looked after her until she disappeared into the elevator, without turning around. I closed the door and leaned my head against the surface. I closed my eyes, and my heart no longer felt heavy, yet I couldn't help it when a lone tear escaped my right eye. I breathed out a shaky breath, before I locked the door, and finally felt ready for bed.
The next morning I was startled awake by the arrival of Sandra and Mario. Sandra's boisterous tone downstairs managed to find its way to my ears as she spoke loudly, "Where is the bride? Bring me the bride!"
Then a few moments later, I heard a set of steps climbing the stairs, then my door burst open as Sandra made her way into the room. I wasn't ready to leave my bed. I felt so tired, an aftermath of heading to bed late last night. It was already 12:00 PM, and the wedding was at 3:00 PM. I couldn't believe that I slept for over ten hours, and yet I still felt tired. I guess it explains why Sandra was so close to having a heart attack.
"Oh my!" She said, in an appalled tone, "Darling what are you doing?" She asked, as she began ripping the sheets away from me, taking away my warmth, causing the cold to freeze away any remaining ounce of sleep I had left in my body. My mom appeared in the doorway and shrugged apologetically as Sandra began to rush me out of bed.
"Do you know what time it is? You're getting married in less than three hours and you're still in bed? Now straight to the shower young lady, I need to have you so smoking that Frantz will sin in front of the priest." She babbled on and on as she shoved me towards the bathroom before I could even blink properly.
When Sandra closed me in the bathroom, I placed my head against the door and muttered a quick morning prayer. Once I was done, I headed to the sink to brush my teeth, and then I saw my reflection, then my heart jumped out of my chest as my eyes widened.
Today was the day.
Holy cow!
I am getting married today.
Before I knew it, I pulled the door open in haste, and found my mom still standing at the door. I lifted my arms above my head as I screamed, "I'M GETTING MARRIED TODAY!"
I began cheering out of nowhere, and my mom joined in. The noise attracted Mariella and Chamille, and when they walked through the door, I screamed again, "I AM GETTING MARRIED TODAY!" Then my mom added, "SHE'S GETTING MARRIED TODAY!"
Then Chamille jumped in, "YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED TODAY!"
And I screamed back, "YEAH!" and we I started jumping up and down feeling like a kid on Christmas morning. Sandra looked at the watch on her wrist, then back up at me in horror. I know how she loved working on schedule, but I just had to let the adrenaline loose.
I'm getting married today!
And then it hit me.
I'm getting married... today. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, and it's as if all the energy left my body in a flash, and I stopped jumping, my bones suddenly feeling like a heavy burden for my skin and muscles. My entourage noticed the change in my energy level, and I heard Chamille mutter, "uh oh..."
"She's going down." Mariella pointed, and I felt myself sway from left to right in a dizzy manner before I finally swayed far enough that I fell into my mom's arms.
My mom laughed as she said, "Well at least we know she's having the proper reactions. Come on honey, get it together. A nice warm shower, and you'll feel much better." Then my mom ushered me back to the bathroom. Back in the bathroom, I looked at my reflection again, feeling overwhelmed with feelings, and yet completely numb all at once. My head was heavy, my heart was pumping faster than that of a car's piston, my stomach was boiling with a tornado of butterflies, and my skin felt clammy and damp. But then, all these feelings seem to cancel each other out, and now I felt as if I was floating. It was hard to get in touch with my nerves at this point, so without wasting any more time, I brushed my teeth, then headed in for a shower.
When I stepped out of the shower with a bathrobe around me, Sandra rushed me to the closet, where I put on my underwear, and a garter, which caused me to blush at the idea of what would happen because of this garter. Once I was done, I applied lotion and spray that Chamille had purchased on my skin, then still in my bathrobe, I was once again rushed downstairs where I found my moms and Chamille with their hair already done by Mario's team.
My mom had managed to find two of my little cousins to be flower girls, and they looked so cute in their buns, and white dresses. I smiled as they ran about, and Mario ushered me to his chair. As soon as I sat down, one of his team members began working on my feet, while another group member worked on my hands, and Marco started with the hair pulling. With the dress I had chosen, Mario decided to go with a fancy low bun, as I'd like to describe it, and once he was finished, he saw to my makeup.
Narrator-
While Liliana and her wedding party were getting groomed upstairs, Frantz a floor below was fidgeting with his bow tie. Frantz woke up earlier that morning. He had already run in the gym, lifted a few weights, ate a hearty breakfast just to past the time, and now the clock was winding down and he was starting to become nervous.
His father who had watched him for a while called out to him, and Frantz went over to his father who began fixing his tie.
"Alright son, just breathe alright? Everything is going to be fine. Now have a shot of scotch, and let's do this." His father pepped, and Frantz breathed slowly before nodding and flashing a tight-lipped smile to his dad.
Back upstairs, Liliana was getting ready to put her dress on. After Mario had finished her hair, nails and makeup, Liliana was able to stomach a small lunch made of a fruit salad, and a small sandwich. She munched on her small lunch with a nervous stomach. Every tick of the clock, and Lili felt herself becoming more and more of a nervous wreck. She nibbled on her bottom lip, she cracked her knuckles constantly, she shook her fingers nervously, and she could barely sit still.
When Liliana was finally in her dress, and had her shoes on, she felt as though she was barely breathing.
"Mom..." Liliana called out with a frown, feeling as though she was going to suffocate. Mrs. Chavez noticing her daughter's frown and pale skin sighed and nodded.
"Alright, give me a moment with her." Mrs. Chavez spoke up, and in a few minutes, the wedding party and stylist team were all outside in the hall, while Liliana sat hand in hand in with her mom. It was now two in the afternoon, and soon they'd have to head to the church.
Liliana-
"How are you feeling?" my mom asked, and I sighed and frowned breathing shakily, "I'm so nervous... I Just, I d-don't-" I couldn't even finish my sentence without feeling my bottom lip quiver.
"What is it that scares you so much?" She asked, me in a soft whisper.
"Not knowing what's going to happen tomorrow." I admitted, and my mom smiled as she said, "Well that's what's fun about it isn't it? The mystery, the unknown? It’s okay." She cheered, then she pulled me close, "come here."
She placed out head together, and I closed my eyes as she prompted, "Psalm 23," then we recited it together, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness, For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord, Forever. Amen."
"Amen." I spoke once more, then she kissed my nose swiftly before saying, "I am so proud of you my love, everything is going to be okay." And I smiled, thankful for everything that has led up to today, as well as for my mom, and my very supportive entourage.