From Abandoned to Adored

“Everything will be alright, Juliet,” Penny, my best friend, said. She hugged me from the back as we both stared at the grave before us.

Tears formed in my eyes when I recalled my Mom collapsing next to me. I was standing in front of the church, wearing an expensive wedding gown, when my bridesmaid said my groom was nowhere to be found, and the ceremony couldn’t start without him.

Mom had been battling with breast cancer for months and she only had limited time left. Her ultimate wish was to see me get married to Samuel.

“Juliet, I want to see you marry the one you love before I leave this world,” Mom said after her diagnosis.

“Yes, mom. I will marry Samuel. He’s the one I love,” I said, hoping it will make her feel better.

Right after that, I pleaded with Samuel to marry me for my mother’s sake, just to put her mind at ease on her remaining days.

“Please, marry me. You can be with the one you love but I need us to get married,” I cried, kneeling in front of Samuel.

“Why do I have to do that? I don’t love you,” Samuel deadpanned. His cold gaze penetrated through my body.

“My mother is sick and her time left is short. She wishes to see us getting married before she dies. So, please… Just for my mother’s sake,” I continued with my head low.

Samuel agreed, although hesitantly, I was glad he listened to my request.

However, Samuel didn’t attend the wedding, causing my Mom to have a stroke. We tried to bring her to the hospital but she didn’t make it. I called Samuel and asked where he was, only to get told that he had something else important.

“What do you want? I’m busy right now, Juliet. Nora cut her finger while trying to cook something for me,” Samuel said with agitation in his voice.

“Samuel, wait—”

Samuel didn’t answer my call again after he hung up. I was pathetic to think that Samuel wouldn’t break the promise he made when agreeing to marry me.

After Mom died, Penny helped me process and finish the funeral. Everything happened so fast that I couldn’t still believe I lost my only family member. I was grateful to Penny who stayed and comforted me.

“Goodbye, Mom,” I said, holding my Mom’s picture close to my chest.

I went home after.

Samuel was not around when I arrived at the penthouse where we were living. I almost fainted as soon as I stepped inside. My body wouldn’t stop shaking and my tears kept flowing like waterfalls in my eyes.

I wasn’t surprised when he left me at the altar for Nora. She was all he could think of while still dating me. No matter what time of the day it was, he was always at her beck and call.

It was just I couldn’t accept that he had to leave on our wedding day. Perhaps my Mom would still have a few days or weeks left if Samuel married me. But all my hopes were gone as soon as she kicked the bucket when Samuel broke our promise.

I started packing my things after pulling myself together. If I wanted to live a life that my mother wished me to have, I should start by getting rid of the people who hurt me. I was almost done packing when the door to the bedroom opened, revealing Samuel with Nora who was clinging to his arm like a koala.

“Juliet, what are you doing?” Samuel asked, he frowned as he moved his gaze from me and my luggage.

“Why do you care?” I blurted out, even after telling myself not to speak with him again.

Samuel scoffed. “Ah. Is this because the ceremony was canceled? Look, I had to leave to take care of Nora. She was hurt and nobody was there for her so I came,” he explained, although it wasn’t necessary at all.

“Okay. But Samuel, I’m breaking up with you,” I said, looking straight into his eyes.

I couldn’t see anything wrong with Nora, except for the colorful bandaid wrapped around her finger. She looked fine and perfectly clinging to him to be hurt somewhere.

“You’re being childish, Juliet,” Samuel commented, shaking his head in disappointment.

I sneered.

Samuel always thought I was childish. Whenever I asked for a bit of his attention throughout our relationship, he would refer me to someone like a child. He said Nora was only like his sister so I paid no mind even though they were extremely close. I never complained even when people laughed behind me knowing what my boyfriend and his dear sister were doing when I wasn’t around.

He was the disrespectful one and yet he had the guts to call me childish!

“Enough,” I said through gritted teeth. “You can do whatever you want from now on, Samuel. I’m letting you go.”

I walked past them when Samuel suddenly pulled me back to face him.

“Is this because of your Mom? If she’s upset, I can explain to her,” he said.

If his explanation could bring my mother back to life, then yes. But whatever he tried to do now wouldn’t rewind the time before my Mom was gone.

I shrugged off his hand and replied, “There’s no need!”

Samuel was dumbfounded by my response. I used to be gentle and sweet when talking to him. Even if we argued before, I wouldn’t yell in his face.

I pulled my luggage and walked to the door when Samuel tried to stop me again but Nora stopped him.

“Let her be, Samuel. This isn’t your fault! If her mother didn’t pretend to be sick, you wouldn’t agree to marry her, right?” Nora said, stressing the fact that Samuel was only forced to marry me for the sake of my Mom’s health.

Indeed, Nora was right, but she got one thing wrong. My Mom didn’t pretend to be sick. She was sick and now she was gone!

I turned my heels around and without any words coming from my mouth, I slapped Nora on the face, hard.