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Exhausted, I go to turn the door key. Just as I enter, I hear the sound of the headboard banging against the wall and low grunts that sound like Mike's.
"Hell yes, Mike. Don't stop!"
I rush to my bedroom and there they are. Sarah, my maid of honor, and my soon-to-be husband Mike. Screwing in our bed.
I feel Christina shaking me gently. "Uh, Alyssa? You all right?" The sound of my name breaks through my daze. "Oh my gosh, I think she's about to faint. Get her some water!" A bridesmaid's voice rings out in concern.
Shaking my head, I work to bring myself back to the present, and a cup of water is placed in my hand. I hadn't even realized I'd drifted off so deeply, and the aftermath fills me with embarrassment.
I lift the cup to my lips, taking a long sip before responding. "Oh, sorry. I'm alright… I just need to use the restroom," I mutter. I manage to give a faint smile as I try to compose myself.
"Sure, it's just down the hallway," Christina responds, her expression slightly puzzled.
I make a quick escape to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face. "Crap," I mutter. This can't be my reaction every time I'm invited to stay at a wedding.
It's been four years since that traumatic experience, yet it feels like it's happening all over again whenever I'm around weddings. And to add insult to injury, the aftermath of that disaster is still haunting me.
In those days, I was incredibly naive. We financed the entire wedding using credit cards. My mom had casually mentioned reward points, but I was clueless about the intricacies of credit. I had assumed Mike would share the burden of paying it off, but when I didn't grant him a second chance, he walked away, leaving me to sort it out alone. My credit's gone to shit and I could barely keep up with minimum payments.
Now, here I am, taking on wedding gigs to chip away at the debt from a wedding that never came to fruition. Sounds like a recipe for misery, doesn't it?
I haven't been able to trust anyone enough to date them since then.
Aware that I have six more faces to paint, I swiftly regain my composure.
This isn't the time to dwell on my emotions – today is about the bride, not me.
I inhale deeply, silently motivating myself as I look at my reflection in the mirror.You've got this, you're a badass.
I make my way back down the hall and enter the room with confidence. I catch the ladies exchanging hushed words, their eyes widening at my return.
Their whispers don't faze me; I'd be wondering too. Sporting a bright smile, I head back to my station. "So, who's up next?"
Loading my makeup supplies into my car, I feel a wave of exhaustion wash over me, both mentally and physically.
"Maybe I should just stick to baby showers and graduation gigs," I mutter to myself as I settle into the driver's seat. Makeup isn't my true passion, but somehow, I've managed to excel at it.
If I were to pinpoint my talents, I'd say makeup and marketing.
Marketing is what I'm studying in college, and I've been applying for paid internships to gain experience and hopefully make ends meet.
Thankfully, I'm currently living with my good friend Jessica, which eases the financial burden a bit. The thought of moving back in with my mom has crossed my mind, but I'm not in the mood for the constant barrage of "I told you so." So, I do my best to avoid that scenario and her altogether.
Just as I insert the key into the ignition, my phone lights up with an incoming call from Alan. He's a part of my friend group, and while we've never been particularly close, he's always struck me as a laid-back, and friendly guy whenever we've hung out.
I bring the phone to my ear. "Hello?"
"Hey, Alyssa, how's life been treating you?"
A smile creeps onto my face. "Hey Alan, I've been keeping busy with work, juggling college and paying off debt."
He chuckles on the other end. "Sounds like the American dream."
I laugh. "Don't get much better than this, right?"
"So, are you still on the lookout for an internship?"
I feel a spark of interest. "Yes, I am."
