Chapter 3 The wedding

Two years ago, Claire watched Elliot get married to Sarah while she sat there in the congregation with her heart pounding and broken at the same time ,she was not supposed to be there but she thought she could handle it , she had expected that watching him become legally and morally entwined with Sarah would break her denial phase ,she wouldn't have to feel like it was a dream  anymore but things didn't go as she had expected instead the view kept increasing the urge to go for what would have been , he had wanted to storm out and object their marriage when the reverend father asked in church , but what solid point did she have??

Claire woke up with swollen eyes, her face still heavy from crying herself to sleep the previous night after meeting with Elliot. He had visited her to seek closure, but he didn't even agree to come inside. He simply stood by the door, apologizing for everything, from his parents' disapproval of their relationship to the decision he had made to marry Sarah.

It was safe to say it was almost the hundredth time he had explained the situation to her.

He had hoped she would understand, but even he knew how impossible and selfish that expectation was. How could he expect her to understand that the man she had loved for four years was going to marry another woman because their families had business interests to protect and become she was black?

"My parents love her, Claire," he had said, his voice breaking. "They have always said I wouldn't marry a black girl, and with her father and mine having invested so much together, they believe bringing our families together is the best way to protect the business."

Claire had stared at him, struggling to understand how their love had become something so easily sacrificed.

"So that's it?" she had asked. "Your parents love her and  don't love me because I'm black ??Her parents are business partners with yours, and suddenly, everything we planned together means nothing?"

"That's not what I'm saying."

"Then what are you saying, Elliot? Because I don't understand how you can stand here and tell me you love me while preparing to marry another woman."

He had looked away, unable to answer her immediately.

"I never wanted things to happen this way."

"But they are happening this way."

"I'm sorry, Claire. I wish there were another way."

She had shaken her head, tears filling her eyes.

"You keep saying that. Why wasn't there another way? Why couldn't you stand up for us? We were supposed to get married, Elliot. We had plans. You promised me a future."

"I know, and I'm sorry."

He had tried to hold her hands, but she had pulled away, unable to bear the comfort of the same person who was causing her pain.

"Please don't make this harder for me than it already is," she had whispered.

Elliot stood there with tears in his eyes, apologizing again and again, until he finally turned and left.

Claire had watched him drive away, wondering why there hadn't been another way for them. Now, she was supposed to stay away from him because he was getting married, but how was she supposed to do that when her heart hadn't accepted that she had lost him?

She had walked into that venue and her presence surprised everyone, family members and friends from college didn't expect she would attend the wedding , she dressed elegantly in a silk dress , hoping that today she would teach her heart that reality had more power than delusion , the wedding was glamorous, though she came late but she still met the moment she had expected, she had wanted to wish Elliot and his bride a happy marriage with hope that she would move on .

She approached the newlyweds with a bouquet of beautiful, bright flowers, forcing a smile as she handed it to Sarah.

"Congratulations," she said. "You look beautiful."

Sarah smiled at her, although surprise was evident in her expression.

"Thank you, Claire. I didn't expect you to come."

Claire swallowed the lump in her throat.

"I just wanted to wish you both a happy marriage."

"That's very kind of you," Sarah replied.

Claire turned to Elliot, who had been staring at her silently.

"You make a handsome groom, Elliot."

He looked at her with an expression she couldn't quite understand.

"Claire..."

She quickly looked away before he could say anything else.

"Enjoy your day."

She walked away before the tears gathered in her eyes fell, She had barely made it to the bathroom before she broke down, rushing to the sink and splashing water over her face as she tried to control her emotions.

She had thought she could handle seeing him with another woman, but watching them sit hand in hand like two people deeply in love had been more painful than she had imagined.

She stared at herself in the mirror, wondering why she had put herself through this.

Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door.

"Claire, are you there?"

She quickly wiped her face before opening the door, and Elliot walked inside, looking worried as he examined her tear-stained face.

"Are you still crying?" he asked softly. "You look pale, Claire. You shouldn't be here. Coming here would break you, and I know how emotional you can get."

Claire moved backwards, trying to put some distance between them.

"You make a handsome groom, Elliot," she said again, forcing a smile as she struggled to hold back her tears.

He stared at her for a moment before reaching for her hands,took out a piece of white cloth and handed it to her.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "Please, go home. Don't do this to yourself."

Claire accepted the cloth and wiped her tears while he stood beside her, listening carefully for footsteps outside the door.

"I just wanted to congratulate you," she said, her voice trembling. "I thought if I came here and watched you get married, I would finally accept that it was over. I thought I could wish you a happy marriage and go home without feeling like my heart was being torn apart."

"Claire, you didn't have to do this."

"I know, but I wanted to. I wanted to see it for myself."

She looked at him, tears filling her eyes again.

"Maybe then I would finally understand that you're no longer mine."

He tightened his grip on her hands, his eyes growing moist.

"Please don't say that."

"Why shouldn't I? You're married now, Elliot. You stood before everyone and promised to love Sarah. What am I supposed to do with the promises you made to me?"

He lowered his head, unable to answer.

Claire let out a shaky breath and pulled her hands away.

"I should go."

"Please, Claire. I hate seeing you hurt like this."

She gave him a sad smile.

"Then you shouldn't have married her."