PART 3

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Paul was still on one knee. "What did you say?" his voice was still trembling. But this time not because of the excitement, it was because of the shock he had.

"I..." took two steps back. "I can't marry you" I lowered my head so as not to see the disappointment in his eyes.

"Nat... What are you talking about?" he stood up and slowly closed the small box.

"Forgive me," I cleared my throat. "I've been trying to tell you this for a long time. But there was no right time. Or I could not dare. I don't know...I don't know Paul. Forgive me. But I can't continue with this lie "

"Natalie" approached and touched my face. "Are you drunk?" he asked, even though he knows I'm not drinking. Paul tried to find a reasonable meaning to what happened. I realized that he was trying to cover up all this for some meaningless or solvable reason: "Or are you offended? Did I do something wrong?"

When he tried to hold my hand, I stuttered and pulled my hand back. I gathered my courage and looked at his face. But I could not stop the sobs from my chest. I could not hold the tears "I don't love you. I am sorry but I can't love you"

Everything changed suddenly in an instant. The music stopped for a few seconds and then resumed. But the sound of the slap in my right ear cut off the surrounding sounds for a few seconds. The heat on my right cheek then spread throughout my body.

"Wake up, Natalie," he said in a low voice.

I didn't cry anymore. I think I was shocked. "You... Did you hit me? "

Ignoring my question, he said, "Let's go inside now. We are leaving today as if nothing had happened. Let's not spoil your brother's wedding day. You will think better tomorrow. I give you time to think what you are saying" Paul was breathing hard as if he had run a long distance. I've never seen him become such a monster.

He opened the small bowl and took out the ring He looked at my face for a few seconds and then glared at me angrily. He said quietly, "Give me your hand"

Gathering all my courage, I returned the slap that Paul had hit me on the cheek. But there was no reaction from Paul. He looked at my face, then lowered his head and opened the ring again. For a second I thought I deserve to die. The man I had recently felt sorry for, now became the one I feared. However, I was not a person who changed his mind about people so quickly.

"Will you force me to wear that ring?"

"I told you to put the ring on your finger. Stop pretending as a child. We are both adults. You are 27 years old "

I was horrified. A man who used to write love letters to me did not even apologize for the slap.

"I do not understand what you are trying to do. It Is insane" I yelled.

"This slap is nothing compared to what you are doing to me now," he said, calming his breath. "I'm telling you to put the ring on your finger."

I did not know when the word "you are sick" came out of my mouth. Involuntarily, I said my word very harshly. But in any case, it did not affect Paul. Then I tried to soften my word "I don't know how to explain it to you. But I'm doing you a favor right now. I am being honest right now so that you would not live a lie for the rest of your life. But you still don't want to understand "

" All around. All my friends. Everyone. Everyone knows we are getting married. And you are being honest with me now? Are you kidding?! There must be a reason for you ... "

"Paul, I don't love you anymore. I can't love you anymore. That's a pretty good reason" I interrupted.

Paul "What have I done to you?" "Answer me!" he shouted.

I jumped back.

Ignoring my fear, He continued, "Have I cheated on you? Or have I done something you tell me not to do" said in the same tone.

"There is no need for betrayal or other reasons for love to end. Sometimes you just don't love "

"This is the thinking of cowards"

"And now, You are trying insulting me"

"I am not trying. I am saying that. This is the name of the word to turn away from your promises "

"I have nothing else to say to you. Forgive me " I turned my back, He pulled me like a toy.

"It's not so easy" he murmured. Paul was a completely different person now. There was a shadow on his face. Like he is ruled by some dark being.

I freed my arm from his grasp and began to walk again. This time he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me towards him again. Then he grabbed me by the shoulders and hit me on the ground. My back hit the stone on the ground. I could not breathe and move. I did not feel any pain due to fear in my heart. It seems that now I should have thought about survival, not about getting injured. All I wanted was to get rid of Paul. I tried to get up. Paul grabbed me by the throat and lifted me to my feet. I began to scratch his hands. I could not say anything to him because I was choked. He pressed his lips to my left ear.

"Either you put the ring on your finger, we'll go into the restaurant, or I'll leave kill you and go in alone," he whispered. Paul did not smell alcohol. This scared me the most.

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