Chapter 4 Leaving

The sound of her phone ringing woke Serena up with a start. Serena moaned and rolled with eyes still closed, over to her nightstand in order for her to pick up her phone.

fortunately for her the call had already gotten disconnected before she had the chance to answer it. Seeing that there was no call Serena soon reverted back to her old gloomy demeanor.

She opened her eyes for the first time that morning and took a good look at her surroundings. It was a beautiful morning without even the slightest speck of darkness but for Serena the day could have been filled with ragging clouds and lightening because she could not feel any emotions what so ever.

Today was supposed to mark her second day as Mrs. Delaney if not for the turn of yesterday's events. It all still felt so surreal to her, as if she was in a dream and she couldn't wake up. Nothing seemed to quite make sense to her anymore.

She continued to look at her apartment as if really seeing it for the first time in a long while. Her eyes looked down to see something shimmering as light hit it in the corner of her room. She leaped of her bed and crept closer towards the shinning material. She reached out to grab it before pulling it close to her and realized that it was her wedding gown. The gown almost looked unrecognizable filled with stains of different sizes as it had been flung carelessly to the ground on her arrival, the day before.

She looked at the gown and felt sick to her stomach. This gown represented all her hopes and dreams that were dashed away by actions of the people who she had oh so dearly trusted. Serena felt a surged of anger course through her body as she squeezed the gown in her hands with all her might as if it had done her the greatest injustice. Pearls fell from the dress bit by bit before completely saturating the floor but she did not notice.

Serena continued to squeeze the dress until she realized the absurdity of what she was doing. Taking out her anger on an inanimate object, what was she? A petulant adolescent? She shook her head before crossing over to her wardrobe where she tossed the dress to the very back of it, hoping to never see it again for as long as she lived.

Serena took in a deep breath trying to alleviate her anger as she walked over to where her bed was. Sadly, she didn't look at where she was going and slipped on one of the pearls and crashed to the floor unexpectedly.

Feeling so agonized, Serena let out a low moan before raising herself to sit in a circle of pearls. She felt as if there was dark cloud over was placed over head and felt a wave of tears come upon her.

Serena closed her eyes and bit her lower lip as she willed herself not to cry.

"Don't cry Serena, those two don't deserve even an ounce of your tears." She muttered under her breath.

"Now get up and make yourself a nice cup of-"

The ringing of her phone for the second time today interrupted Serena's speech to herself midway.

"God damn it! I wonder who it could possibly be." Serena said to herself completely annoyed before lifting herself off the floor and onto the bed.

Serena reached for the phone beside her and answered.

"Hello. Who is this?" Serena asked the annoyance clear in her voice.

"Hello? Serena? It's me Vicky. Can you hear me?"

On hearing Vicky's concerned voice, Serena's anger completely disappeared. "Yes I can hear you perfectly. How are you? You sound concerned about something. What is it?"

"Well of course I'm concerned, judging from your tone of voice it means you haven't seen today's daily yet"

"Daily? No I haven't. It really hasn't been quite long since I woke up. Let me go have a look." Serena said as she got up from the bed and headed down the stairs.

"No!" Vicky shouted over the phone.

"No? What do you mean Victoria?" Serena asked as she opened her front door to retrieve the morning's paper.

"Nothing. Just promise me that when you see the daily you won't freak out."

"Freak out? Why would I...." Serena's voice trailed off as she looked at first page of the newspaper. Titled on the front page was the caption 'The Neighborhood's Jilted Bride' with her picture on the right and Melvin & Bebe's photo on the left. It read

The Daily Carpe Diem

Dec 18th 2020

It actually happened ladies and gentlemen... the wedding of the century was called off!

Celebrity wedding planner Serena Asher and her college sweetheart turned business man Melvin Delaney were set to get married at the Way field minstrel chapel on Saturday but things took a turn for the worse when the groom in question didn't show up.

The wedding was supposed to be the biggest social event to mark the end of the year with pomp and pageantry with any everyone in the event planning industry in attendance but sadly our poor bride was left at the altar... jilted for reasons undisclosed.

The public are speculating that the groom has made off with the maid of honor Bebe who is renowned and well known model in the country who also happens to be best friends with the would have been bride to be.

Surprisingly the bride took it on with a big smile and was able to assure the guests that everything was under control. Good for her and we at the Daily Carpe Diem deeply wish her the best of luck.

--Vanessa Eden

Editor in chief

"Hello? Serena? Are you still there?" Vicky's voice called out from the phone in her hand but Serena could barely hear her as her mind swam in all different directions.

'The whole town probably, the entire city even probably knew what had happened to her on her wedding day by now.' thought Serena

Serena looked around her little apartment; each room reminding her of painful memories which she was trying desperately to forget and knew that she had to get out of town before she drove herself crazy.

She knew that the local reporters would be at her door step any minute now asking her about the after math of the event.

She had to leave and she had to leave now!