FREYA

It’s been twenty minutes since I walked down the aisle hoping to see my husband-to-be standing by the altar waiting for me but I was shocked to see he wasn't there. I've been waiting for five years. I guess a few minutes more wouldn't hurt.

But now as I stood and looked around the wedding hall that was supposed to be quiet it was filled with noise.

“What’s happening?!” I yelled out, trying to get their attention.

“You have to see this, Freya,” one of my bridesmaid said to me.

“It was posted in the wedding group chat a few minutes ago,” the bridesmaids said to me.

I stared at the phone she handed to me and my breathing seized. It was a message accompanied by various pictures that Raina had posted on the wedding group chat.

‘I’m sorry guys, I had an accident while arriving from the airport. Roy is with me at the hospital since I have no living relatives.’

Followed with the message were a series of pictures of Roy with Raina. It felt like my heart was ripping out of my chest as I stared at the pictures and I felt jealousy spreading through my veins like a disease.

Raina! It’s always about her!!

I felt my hand clench the phone as I stared at the way Roy was looking at her in those pictures. Why would he take pictures and post with another woman on the day of his wedding?

Raina was Roy’s ex-girlfriend from five years ago. When Roy wanted to marry her, Raina’s father refused and sent her abroad.

I met Roy two weeks after Raina left and I helped him heal. Shortly after that, we started dating and he asked me to marry him five years later, hence a wedding date was fixed.

Roy has always respected me and treated me right. But a few days before the wedding he started acting up. When I confronted him he told me about Raina.

Her father was dead and she wanted to return to New York and get married to him. My heart was broken at that moment because I was certain he’d leave her for me.

But he told me he had turned her down and she proposed for them to be friends instead. She even accepted the wedding invite he sent to her.

I knew Raina was flying in today to be at the wedding reception but I didn't know Roy would leave our wedding and go to save her from the ‘accident’ she claimed she had.

As far as I've known Raina she's always been manipulative and she had Roy wrapped around her little finger. I've always loved Roy from a distance so when Raina left I thought the hold she had on him had disappeared but I guess I was wrong.

“Freya?” the bridesmaid called and I blinked, “So what’s going to happen now?”

My phone beeped and I stared at it. It was a message from Roy.

‘Hey, Freya, Raina was involved in an accident and I have to be here for her. She doesn't have any family except me. We have to reschedule the wedding. I'm sure you understand.’

That was all the message he sent. Without another word, I ran out of the church with tears streaming down my eyes. I had no idea how I got to the apartment I shared with Roy but when I did I couldn't stop crying.

How could he do this to me? Embarrass me before everyone. He couldn't even call me to know how I was doing.

The tears kept flowing down my cheeks as a knock on my door interrupted my pity party.

“Come in,” I croaked out.

The door opened and Roy’s grandmother, Sarah, stepped inside.

“Oh, you poor thing. Come here,” she sighed.

I ran into her outstretched arms and started sobbing. She's always treated me like her granddaughter and she made me feel special.

“I’m sorry, Roy is such a fool who can't see that Raina is using him and he's so lucky to have you,” the woman said.

I felt relieved to know I wasn't the only one who was thinking the same thing.

“How can't he know Raina is faking it?” I asked, still teary.

“Because he's an idiot. You're strong, my child, you don't deserve this and I'm sure you'll figure out what to do.”

With those words, she left me. My phone rang immediately and I saw it was Ivan, Roy’s brother. I picked it up.

“I’m sorry, Freya, how are you feeling?” he asked me.

“What do you think?” I snapped at him.

Ivan sighed, “I’m sorry.”

“Whatever,” I sighed.

“Don’t take it out on Roy, you know how he and Raina have always been,” Ivan stressed.

“Yeah, I know!” I hissed and hung up.

My phone beeped and I saw it was a notification. The next minute messages and pictures flooded the group chat. It was from Raina.

‘I’m so sorry for causing trouble today, everyone, please forgive me. Don't be too upset with me, Freya, you know I have no one except Roy and he's making sure I'm alright.’

The pictures made me furious as I stared at them. Then people in the group reacted with love emojis and made comments about how good they looked together, it made my stomach churn.

I texted Roy and asked him to call me. After waiting for a while I dozed off only to be woken up by the buzzing of my phone.

“What is it, Freya?” he asked, his voice laced with irritation.

My heart broke at his words, “Is that all you have to say?”

He sighed, “I’m sorry, Freya, Raina is hurt and my brain is all scrambled.”

I scoffed, “Yeah, of course. You’re all she's got.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked me.

“It means we’re done!” I snapped and hung up before he could respond.

ROY

I frowned as the phone disconnected while I stared at it confused. Freya has never spoken to me like this before or hung up on me.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I stared at my phone. I tried to call her back but her number wasn't connecting.

I knew Freya would be upset with me but I hadn't expected her to react like this. I'd hoped she would understand that ever since I became Raina’s only friend and family I would always show up for her.

Raina and I have been through so much for me to just cast her aside. We grew up together and if her father hadn't denied me five years ago maybe we would have had our first kid by now.

But I was done regretting that because it gave me a chance to meet Freya and propose to her. I guess I should have handled things better and I should have called Freya. Maybe I should have asked for her opinion before canceling the wedding.

I grabbed my phone again and frowned when I saw a series of messages and pictures. The group was flowing with messages and there were various comments on the pictures.

“Shit!” I mumbled when I saw a picture of me looking at Raina with concern.

I'm sure Freya must have seen these pictures and that's why she's acting like this. Why did Raina have to post these pictures?

I ran a hand through my hair again and sighed as I stared at Raina who was sleeping. I was sitting outside her ward but I could see her through the transparent glass.

With these images and messages I've seen I knew I had to make things right with Freya. She's already threatening to end things with me but I couldn't let that happen, I love her too much to let her go.

“Hey, bro,” Ivan’s voice sounded before me, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I sighed and stared at Ivan as he sat beside me, “What’s up?”

“You look terrible,” Ivan said, laughing.

I shrugged, “Yeah, well, that's what happens when my wedding is interrupted by a call from the hospital.”

I had been heading to the wedding venue when Raina had managed to call me asking for help. The next call I received was from the ambulance team asking me to come to the hospital. That was how I reversed and headed to the hospital, terrified.

“How is she doing?” Ivan asked me.

I sighed, “The doctor says she’ll be alright after a day or two. She had a slight concussion thankfully and not brain damage.”

“That’s good. Why do you sound so sad?” Ivan asked.

“Because Freya is upset with me,” I sighed.

Ivan frowned, “Why? She ought to understand the type of relationship you have with Raina. You guys grew up together.”

“Yeah, but I canceled our wedding without consulting her,” I stated, “She has a right to be upset.”

“Well, yeah, but this is Raina we’re talking about. Everyone knows your history. If her father hadn't denied you five years ago I’m sure you'd both be happily married.”

“I don't want to marry Raina, Ivan. And saying that would only make Freya more furious and think I’m choosing Raina over her,” I warned him.

He nodded, “I know, bro. I'm just saying that Freya ought to have gotten used to these things by now.”

“This is different, Ivan, it was supposed to be our wedding,” I stressed.

Ivan shrugged, “It’s just a day or two late. I mean you guys have been together for five years. What's two more days to get hitched? Besides, you can't be in two places at the same time.”

“Remember, Raina’s father left you a note in his will asking you to take care of his only daughter after he died and the old man apologized,” Ivan added.

I nodded my mind finally at rest. I had been so worried before I had this conversation with Ivan.

“You’re right. I'm sure Freya would understand. I'll make it up to her,” I smiled.

Ivan nodded, “Yeah. It's your responsibility now, Roy. At least you owe it to the old man and the shares he transferred to your company.”

I chuckled, “This isn't about shares, but I do owe Raina for all her family did for us while we were growing up. Anyway, since you're here I need to go see Freya.”

Ivan nodded in agreement, “Go ahead. You don't have to worry about anything. Freya loves you and I'm sure she’d understand.”

“Thank you, Ivan, I feel so much better.”

Ivan smiled, “Anytime, bro.”

I walked out of the hospital and drove back to the apartment I shared with Freya.

“Baby, I'm home!” I called out.

I waited in the sitting room but there was no response. Everywhere was quiet – too quiet for my liking. I rushed into the bedroom and I was surprised to see the wardrobe was open. All of Freya’s clothes were gone. Freya had left me, I slumped to the floor in defeat.

FREYA

My heart broke into tiny pieces all over again as I stared at the empty closet. I had packed all my clothes into my box and now this room felt like a broken portrait of me and Roy.

It was like a shadow of what we had, a reminder that Roy would never value me as much as he valued Raina. I let out a small sigh and stared around the room. Who knew packing and leaving would be so hard?

Wiping off my tears, I grabbed my box and walked out of the house without a second glance. As I strolled downstairs to meet the Uber driver, my phone rang.

I frowned when I saw it was Ivan. It seems he still had a lot to say after the last time he called me.

“Don’t hang up, Freya,” he said the moment I picked up the call.

I sighed and sat down on the stairs, “What do you want?”

“I know you're upset but Roy is busy, he’ll be with you soon. Don't be angry,” Ivan said.

I scoffed, “I shouldn’t be angry. He canceled our wedding without even asking me! He didn't consider how I would feel.”

“I know you're upset, Freya, but I promise Roy will make it up to you. He's just very busy and he’ll soon come to you.”

“I don't need him to make it up to me any longer, Ivan, he can go ahead and keep taking care of Raina,” I snapped.

“Why do you sound like that, Freya?” Ivan asked, “Don’t do anything stupid, alright? Roy will be with you soon.”

“I’m done waiting around, Ivan, it’s time for me to love myself and always choose me since that's what Roy can't do.”

I hung up the phone without giving him any chance to reply then I walked out of the house. I dragged my box toward the car as the Uber driver helped me load it up.

My heart was heavy as the car drove off from the neighborhood but I bit back my cheeks to keep the tears at bay.

I know I should call Sarah and inform her that I've left her grandson but I was too weak to do that right now. All the memories I shared with Roy for the past five years flashed before my eyes and I let out a bitter smile.

The car pulled up in front of my old studio apartment and I dragged my box inside. My box felt lighter than the sadness in my mind.

I let out a sigh as I sat down in my old apartment. I had lived here before Roy asked me to move in with him. I could still recall how happy I had been when he asked me.

He had helped me pack and a few months after that he proposed to me. I had looked forward to a wonderful wedding. But Raina had to ruin it.

I could still remember how great my life had been with Roy before Raina entered the picture six months ago. She had used her father’s death as an excuse to get Roy to come to her aid every time. Especially when she asked him to marry her and he refused.

Despite Roy’s refusal, he couldn't refuse her request. For six months I have shared Roy with Raina as he was always traveling to assist her in the business, at home, when she had a minor accident abroad and now she's had another one coming to my wedding!

I had hoped that I would have just a day with Roy without Raina ruining and interrupting things but she's always around, sneaking and manipulating everything.

My phone beeped and a text message from Roy popped up.

‘We need to see.’

I scoffed, if he thinks a single message would solve what he's ruined then he's got another thing coming.

My phone rang immediately and I sighed when I saw it was Roy. I ignored it until it rang for the third time.

I picked it up, “What do you want?”

“Baby, we need to talk. I know you're angry but I’m sorry, I’ll make it up to you,” Roy’s voice filtered into the phone.

I sighed, I longed to hear him say these words but I knew he would always run back to Raina at the slightest worry so I was done.

“Never mind, Roy, you can focus on Raina,” I said with a resigned sigh.

“Why are you sounding like this, Freya? I thought you understood. Especially since you were with me when Raina’s family lawyer delivered the letter,” Roy sounded exasperated.

“A letter! That's what has been controlling our lives for the past six months. Raina is more important to you than I am. Haven't you found it weird that she's always hurt or needs you when we have something important going on?”

“What do you mean, Freya? Are you trying to say Raina is faking all these things? You know that's not possible. You know my history with Raina and she –”

“Right, your history!” I scoffed, interrupting him, “That’s why I’m the odd one out.”

“I didn't mean it like that, Freya, I'm sorry. Let me make things right,” he sighed.

“That’s what you keep saying and yet you don't do it!” I snapped.

“What do you want me to do, Freya? Disregard a dead man’s wishes after everything he's done for my family? You know I'm more honorable than that.”

I scoffed, “Right. Because your responsibilities and honor are more important than our relationship. I understand but it doesn't stop me from feeling neglected.”

“I’m sorry, baby. You know I love you, just give me a chance to make it up to you. We can fix this.”

I sighed, “I don't know anything anymore, Roy. I just want my peace of mind and I’m not getting it with Raina hanging around you.”

Without waiting for him to reply, I hung up the call. He called twice and I refused to pick him up. Instead, I switched off my phone.

Today I was choosing my sanity over everything else. I may love Roy but I wasn't going to let that love consume me and make me a shadow of myself.