A Dead Letter

Chapter 1: Some brides march, some brides run

Chapter 1

Some brides march, some brides run

New Humptston

A wedding is a special day for every person who has found the one whom they want to spend their lives with. It was a dream come true to every man and woman in love. In this small chapel in the small town of New Humptston, William Alexander Welton's dream wedding with the love of his life made him the happiest man on earth.

Warren was sweating like a pig near the altar, patiently waiting for his bride. He was nervous since the beginning of the ceremony. Clark Davyd Dawson, his best man, and best bud were constantly talking beside him. Even if his thoughtful friend was just doing it to ease his nerves, still he wasn't attentive. His eyeballs were glued on the door where the bride will enter for her bridal march.

'Clayd, shut that mouth of yours for heaven's sake. I can't concentrate.' Shayn complained as he moved close to the grand piano.

'Tch. Just start pressing those keys, Shayn. You bastard.' Clayd retorted.

The moment he was anticipating began when the first note of the song for the Bridal march resounded. The piano's sound was the only noise that covered the place as it was played by his bandmate since high school, Shaun Maynard Taylor. The music continues as Shayn pressed the keys, however, no one is entering nor walking down the aisle, who supposedly was the bride.

'Where is the bride?!'Someone from the audience shouted.

Warren could hear the inaudible whispering of the people. The tensed wedding organizer was walking briskly towards the groom.

'Where's Mary?' Warren asked the organizer the moment he stood in front of him.

The man shook his head. 'T-the b-bride is not coming.' The organizer whispered to the groom's ear.

'What?!' Warren seethed.

'S- she was not in her suite this morning, b-but we found this.' The wedding organizer's shivering hands presented a folded piece of paper and a small red velvet box. 'I will take care of the guests and explain to them what happened.' The organizer said, then left.

Logan and Karina, Warren's parents, who sat at the front benches rushed to Warren's side. They looked furious but tried to conceal the outburst.

'What's going on?' Warren's dad inquired.

'Warren, what's happening? Where's Mary?' Warren's mother asked him.

'Why? What happened?' Clayd asked.

Warren turned to Clayd. 'I'm not getting married today.' He said in low volume, but enough for them to hear. 'She ran away.' He added as he crumpled the note along with the ring inside his fist.

The piano released the wrong notes the moment Shayn heard Warren. Clayd's brows shot up and his mouth dropped.

'Mom, Dad. We should talk about this somewhere private. People are watching.' Warren suggested.

Logan sighed, then patted his shoulder. 'Good idea, son. We don't want to cause a scene here. It's all a disgrace already.'

When all the guests, except the bride's parents, left they proceeded to a small convention near the church

'I am sorry about this, Logan, Karina. We are trying to contact her, but she's not answering.' Mary's dad said.

'How could you not know where your daughter is?' Logan asked with a trace of anger.