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“Well, now’s a great time to tell me, isn’t it? When you could’ve told me before we stood in front of this congregation. Do you know how embarrassed I am? I flew my family here from Blizzard Bluff.”
He growls. “That’s part of the problem, Holly. They’re from a town called Blizzard Bluff. What the fuck does that even mean? My parents are from New York; we live in Boston. It’s like country came to town and has been here since your family showed up.”
That hurts more than I expect it to.
Since I moved to Boston after high school graduation, I’ve been trying to outrun where I came from. Trying to get rid of the stigma of small-town USA, the accent that plagued me in the first few years, and how I viewed everything in the big new world. Although I’d been excited to be in a big city and live what I saw as my brand new life, I’d been scared at the same time. Afraid I’d made the wrong decision.
I’d left everything I’d known, including my high school boyfriend.
Ironic because he’d had the same plans for me as I did for Camden. I guess the saying about what goes around comes back around is true.
Sniffing, I straighten my back up, forcing myself to look him in the eye. “Since most of those people out there are my family members and friends, I’ll go explain the wedding won’t be taking place today or any other day.”
“Holly, I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, me too,” I glance over at him. “But what I’m more sorry about is the fact you didn’t care about me enough to be honest with me. If you didn’t love me romantically, I wish you would’ve loved me enough as a friend to save me the embarrassment of what I’m about to do.”
“Holl,” he tries.
“No, I never wanna speak to you again.”
Letting out a slow breath, I walk out with my head held as high as I can. Stepping up to the pulpit, I wipe under my eyes. “I’m sorry to say there won’t be a wedding here today or any other time for the two of us. Please enjoy the food out in the dining hall.”
Before anyone can stop me, I’m gone. Dress hiked up to my knees, holding the white lace of my skirt in my hands. I run, run for my life and whatever future I may have. I don’t know what that looks like right now, but I have to get away.
Away from everything.
The man who broke me, the unsettled future, and the city that never quite felt like home.
I run to the edge of the sidewalk, hailing a taxi. Quickly, I give the driver my address. “Please take me there as soon as you can.”
“Are you okay?” He asks as he looks back at me.
“No,” I sob. “Not at all, but I will be.”
He’s quiet as he drives toward my apartment. Which is in boxes because I was supposed to move next week when we returned from our honeymoon.
“Don’t worry about the fare,” the taxi driver says as we pull up to my building.
“Thank you,” I cry. The truth is I don’t have any money. When I ran out, I didn’t grab my purse. Brought nothing but myself and my bruised pride.
“He’s crazy,” the guy says. “Whoever he was, he’s crazy.”
I nod, no longer trusting my voice. Not wanting to run into anyone, I bypass the elevator and go straight to the stairs, taking them as quickly as possible. My chest pumps harder the closer I get to my apartment. Tears are streaming down my cheeks, and I’m in the middle of a panic attack when I realize I don’t have keys.
When I left with no money, I left without my keys, too.
Leaning back against the door, I let my head hit it with a loud smack. Sighing, I close my eyes and wonder how much worse this day can get.
A piece of paper shoved under my door catches my eye, and I grab hold of it, tugging it toward me.
It’s a letter from my job.
Running my finger along the seal, I open it and take the paper out.
Notice of employment separation.
Those fuckers fired me on what was to be my wedding day/honeymoon. Sliding down the door, I fall into a heap. I’m unsure how what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life has turned into this.
