Bound To You

6 | wedding ring

B e l l a

My life has been spent in a gold gilded cage. Day and night, the little door that leads to freedom is closed, and I'm kept locked away behind the bars, watched but never seen.

I stare at the white diamond ring on my finger with so much disdain. He couldn't even be bothered to give me the ring in person. Instead, he shipped the two carrot Tiffany box to my father as a gift for my birthday.

My engagement ring.

I admit, it is a very beautiful ring. Oval halo cut with a diamond platinum band.

I should be thrilled. Excited. But I don't. I feel like a caged animal. The expensive ring symbolises a handcuff shackled to me for eternity. Soon I'll be married to a gangster. A devilishly handsome gangster who is rude, emotionless and cold.

How the hell am I supposed to live with him? Share a bed? Will he expect me to sleep with him every night?

I dread my wedding night the most. Will he force me to have sex with him so soon?

Could I be the obedient little housewife that tends to his every need?

"Is that the ring?" My sister walks into the room and sits comfortably on the couch beside me.

I brush a stray dark curl behind my ear, my eyes flicker to my sister as she looks at me with deep sadness in her eyes.

"Yeah." I reply emotionlessly, sliding the expensive jewellery off my finger and placing it back in the box. I won't be wearing the ring to school or around town. I'd rather wear my clothes inside out for my last week of school.

Sadness washes over me like a tidal wave and my little sister is forced to watch the misery build and build inside me every day.

"It looks pretty." she says as I snap the box closed.

My lips tighten. I wish I could burn the box. What difference would it make though? I'll still be expected to walk down that aisle in two weeks. "It's a beautiful ring."

Alyssa smiles grimly. "I wish you were marrying for love. I wish we could giggle and smile about your wedding day. I wish you didn't look sad all the time, Izzy."

My feelings didn't matter, they never had. We grew up in a world where no choices were given, especially to women.

Alyssa exhales, moving forward to grab the heavy present lying on the floor.

"Did you open my gift yet?"

I take the big box with a grateful smile and a quick thanks. I immediately tear the pretty floral pink paper, revealing a white box with a picture of a grey sewing machine.

My sister got me a brand-new sewing machine.

I offer a sincere smile, my eyes tearing up and my heart bursts with emotion. "Thank you, Lyssa. This is amazing."

"Don't thank me yet. My favourite leotard tore and needs repairing again."

She grins and I chuckle.

My sister knows how much I enjoy fashion and design. I'm forever sketching new designs in my room. I'm even taking a design class at school this year. I'm not the best at drawing but people always tell me I have excellent taste in fashion and designing outfits from scratch.

"You still have that thing? It's obviously too small. You've had it since you were like thirteen."

She shrugs a shoulder. "It was my first leotard. I don't want to throw it out. Will you fix it for me?"