*clink clink*
"Excuse me everyone. I'd like to ask for silence as friends and family of the bride and groom present their speeches."
The loud room goes quiet in an instant. All that is left to hear is the noise of a chair sliding back on the shiny marble floor: "So...", Phil clears his throat, "Ladies, gentlemen and those who have yet to make up their minds but still scored an invite and are sitting here on their behinds."
The crowd laughs and a hilarious, heartfelt and emotional best-man speech that leaves everyone in tears of laughter and happiness follows. Dan especially has tears streaming down his face as his best friend talks about how proud he is, how much he loves both of us and our relationship, the past, the future and the present.
At first Phil wanted to speak last, just like most best-men do, but after a while of thinking he decided he wants to go first because he wants everyone's full attention since what he had to say is very close to his heart. Instead, the parents hold a quick speech at the end, after friends held theirs. Just as Dan's Dad comes to an end, another person stands up.
Joe excuses himself, cuts off what Mr. Howell is saying and stands up: "I wasn't planning on speaking today. I didn't think I'd have to at this point. But, not like I expected or wanted to, Y/N still hasn't seen the truth. I thought that the countless people before me would say something. Anyone. To help the bride and show who the groom really is. But no one has. And as sorry as I am, I can't let the love of my life leave on a ten day honeymoon to a fucking tropical paradise with a fucking cheater."
The crowd begins to mumble and Dan is about to stand up but I hold onto his sleeve so he can't. I want to hear this so called 'truth': "Yes, you all heard right. Daniel fucking James Howell cheated on her. Not once, not twice. More than that. Far more than that. And I am not the only one who knows. Phil, Louise, Zoe, Alfie. You name them, they know. But again, no one said anything. And I'm sick of it. I'm sick of these people pretending that this is an oh-so-beautiful wedding with a beautiful couple and a beautiful future ahead of them. The only thing that is beautiful here is Y/N."
"Joe...", I begin and look at Dan in panic. He holds his head down and lets go of my hand. His wedding ring is laying in front of him.
"No, no. I have to say this.", Joe says and turns to me, "I've been in love with you for the longest time. Why won't you marry someone that is in love with you. Not someone like him that was in bed with another person a week ago and whenever he told you he went over to Zoe's to work. Why do you choose to keep toxic people like that in your life? People that have lied to you and have completely used you. Why? Please just love me. I beg you. Please, I..." "Alright that's enough, get him out of here.", Mr. Howell, who is still standing up, says and a few tall guys escort the now screaming Joe.
It feel like a volcano exploded right before my eyes. It destroyed my whole life. Not only my relationship, but my ability to trust and to love. I don't know what to believe. Do I believe my begging husband who is trying to talk to me? My mother who is trying to get him off of me and is cursing like I've never heard her curse? The man that just told me the truth about my life or my so called friends that are sitting at the table with shocked expressions and pale faces?
I push away the hands that are holding me. I push away my mother, my husband and friends, all throwing their version of the truth at me. I fight through the crowd of people who are standing in the middle of a big and beautiful hall in disbelieve. All I want is fresh air. I want it to fill my lungs and make my head clear. I want it to take me to a new life that isn't a huge mess.
Everyone follows me. I can't get away from them or the problems that are thrown at me. I begin to run as fast as I can until I know that they don't follow me anymore. Once I enter the city, people begin to stare at me, a bride in wedding attire and red eyes from crying. I imagine how tragic it must look from the outside and practically wait to become a sad post on Facebook about a bride running from her wedding in London.
So caught up with my thoughts and worries, I don't notice the car coming at me when I cross the road. I look at the rushing vehicle that I am about collide with and right at the drivers face.
Just when I realize it is Joe, he hits me and all I remember is laying on the floor in total blackness with a loud beeping noice in my ears and someone shaking me: "Y/N? Y/N? Hello?"
