The church was packed, and guests were seated. The groom stood at the altar, waiting patiently for the entrance of his bride.
Anyone could see the joy and happiness radiating on his face from a mile away.
The music began to play, signaling the entrance of the bride.
"Imani, come sit. The wedding is about to start," Aunt Imelda called out to her 5-year-old daughter.
The church doors swung open, and the bride walked in. Gasps and murmurs were heard everywhere as the bride walks down the aisle. Not because she looks pretty—no, not that. Not because she looks spectacular or amazing—no, that's not it. But because she looks like the opposite of a bride. The crowd started to whisper.
Her veil, torn on her head, mascara running down her face from crying, her dress torn at the bottom, and her lipstick smeared on her lips and cheeks. If anything, Lyra most certainly did not look like a bride. She walked slowly and solemnly to the altar, sniffling.
Lyra's father, who was seated at the front of the church, ran to meet her halfway down the aisle.
"Lyra, sweetie, what's wrong? Why do you look this way?" Gabriel asked, standing in front of his daughter.
Lyra stepped aside and continued walking down the aisle.
Reaching the altar, she stooped and looked at her fiancé, Lucas Grimstone. Tears brimmed in her eyes. Oh, the pain and hurt she felt from just looking at him. She was about to become Mrs. Grimstone, and yet she couldn't do it. She couldn't marry him.
Lyra's mind wandered back to the moment she said yes to his proposal—the joy, the excitement, and promise of forever. It was everything she hoped and dreamed of, yet it all came crashing down.
"Ly, what's going on? Why do you look this way?" Lucas asked, running down the altar and holding her.
Lyra scoffed. Ly—he always called her that, and she loved that he called her that. But not today.
To her left stood her three bridesmaids and best friends—Chloe, Talia, Sapphire—her ride-or-die girls. They had met in high school and had been best friends since then.
If anything, these girls understood her, and seeing her this way, they knew something was up. Talia, the daring and bold one, walked up to the priest and took the mic from him.
She walked up to Lyra, giving her the mic and lightly squeezing her shoulder.
Lyra smiled sadly at Talia, tears finally escaping her eyes.
"Thanks, Talia," Lyra said with a hoarse voice.
"No problem, love. Just give me the go-ahead and I'll beat his ass up," Talia said, growling at Lucas and sizing him up.
Lyra just nodded and turned to face the crowd. She looked at her mother, Renee, who had tears also brimming in her eyes. Her older brother, Alexander, stood beside their mother, holding her up.
She could only smile brokenly at them, mouthing, "I love you." She had already made up her mind, and no one could stop her.
Gritting her teeth and clenching her fists, she faced the church head-on.
"I'm sorry, everyone, but there won't be a wedding today," Lyra said, exhaling deeply.