*****

You were never mine, but loosing you broke my heart."

*****

While Devlin could not wait for the days to go faster, for Sharleen it was the complete opposite. She wanted every second to count like a minute and every minute like an hour.

Every morning she prayed for the sun not to rise and every evening she prayed for it not to set.

Most of Sharleen's time was either spent with her friend at her place or with her family at home.

Sharleen saw in their eyes that her parents were sad that she was soon leaving them although they did a good job at hiding it. Were it not for the frequent hugs and smiles she was receiving recently Sharleen would have not guessed.

Her friend Nicole was a different story though. As she promised on that day when Sharleen chased her out of her room, Nicole made Sharleen do all the house chores whenever she went over.

Sharleen cooked, cleaned and even washed the dishes while all Nicole did was watch Netflix with popcorns by her side.

Sharleen did not mind though. She did all that without a single complaint, something which surprisingly angered Nicole.

It seemed as though Nicole wanted her to complain so that the can have their usual fights with words that would obviously be won by Nicole by the end of the day.

In those days Sharleen avoided her phone like a plague. Unlike Devlin who just deleted her number, Sharleen made sure to stay as far from her phone as possible since that stupid thing was the only channel that Devlin could easily find her with if he wanted.

When the morning of the not awaited day arrived Sharleen curled herself comfortably in her bed and adjusted her blanket so that even her head was covered.

"Sharleen! Wake the fuck up. We have a lot to do before we go to church and we can't afford to be late because of your sleeping sickness." Nicole yelled by the door after opening and peeping to see a sleeping Sharleen.

The previous day Nicole had decided to come over so they could spend more time before Sharleen would become busy with making babies and have no time for her best friend.

"Just five minutes please." Sharleen begged. Not because she was sleepy but because she dreaded going to the wedding.

What an irony! Bride fearing her own wedding!

"No can do sleepy head. I am coming back after two minutes with a bucket of water. Its your choice on whether you want to bathe on the bed or in the bathroom. Bye." Nicole threatened and left.

Sharleen sighed and got out of the bed. Nicole's threats were never empty, if she says something then she would surely do it and Sharleen did not look forward to someone socking her and her bed.

Especially not this day of all days.

Sharleen entered the bathroom, showered and did her business and then stepped out only to find Nicole and her mother waiting for her on her bed.

This is not good...

Sharleen eyed the two curiously waiting for an explanation as to why they were in her room. Her mother just shrugged her shoulders while Nicole rolled her eyes at her.

"What are you two doing in my room?" Sharleen decided to ask verbally after the non verbal way bore no fruits.

"We came to make you look like a bride honey." Her mother answered happily.

"Even Kevin won't be able to recognize you." Nicole added with a wink.

Her mother and Nicole ganging up on her. Fucking great.

"Ahhh... I don't think this is a good idea. If my husband won't be able to recognize me then that means i will be left alone at the pulpit." Sharleen tried to reason with the two definitely not on board with their plans.

"Hush! You only get married once in this lifetime and i want my baby to look her best." Maggy brushed off her daughter's complains.

"Time is not on our side so may you kindly sit down and let us do what we do best." Nicole added and smile sweetly at her friend who replied by glaring daggers at her.

"But mom, i know how to get myself ready! And besides, you need to prepare too so if everyone gets ready by themselves we will save so much time." Sharleen tried reasoning with her mum using her puppy eyes.

"No can do young lady. Sit down right now or i will tell Nicole to make you sit." Maggy said knowing too well her daughter was manipulating her with the puppy eyes.

"I would gladly make her sit Aunt Maggy." Nicole said throwing an evil smile towards Sharleen.

"Nicole! I thought you were my friend! Mom! I thought you loved me!" Sharleen pretended to be hurt. "Have the two of you now combined forces to destroy me?"

Maggy just sighed heavily and Nicole rolled her eyes once more at her friend's lame tactics of getting some sympathy.

Five minutes later, Nicole was forced to drag an unwilling Sharleen to her bedroom chair in front of a big mirror and they started their work.

The thirty minutes after her sitting on the chair were just pure torture for Sharleen. Her hair was pulled, her face felt like it was being scrubbed continuously and her eyes were heavier than usual.

"You can now look." Her mother broke the silence after they were satisfied with their torture.

Sharleen took in a deep breath and then slowly opened her eyes praying so hard that she did not look like a stupid barbie doll.

"See, you look beautiful." Nicole commented after seeing a small smile on Sharleen's lips.

Indeed she looked beautiful. Her hair was perfectly done, her face was smooth and sexy thanks to the lipstick and whatever they did to her eyes and cheeks.

Sharleen was never one to use makeups but if this was how she would look after the torture then she wouldn't mind doing it again.

"I told you you would look great." Her mother said, looking at her eyes through the mirror in front of them. "Now we just have to put you in your wedding dress and you are good to go." Maggy continued.

"No mom. I can manage with that." Sharleen replied quickly declining her mother's offer.

"But..." Maggy tried to argue but was cut off.

"Mum, i can put on my clothes perfectly fine! You two need to get ready or else we might be late." Sharleen said with a voice that meant her decision was final.

What would be the next thing? Helping me with my panty too?

Nicole and Maggy at last left Sharleen alone to go and prepare themselves making her to release a breath that she did not even know she was holding.

An hour later they were all ready to head to church. The vehicles were already at the front door just waiting for them to get in.

"Are you ready dear?" Nelson asked his daughter excitedly.

No. She wanted to answer that but instead she just nodded her head and they headed to their vehicle which drove them to the last place she wanted to be.

The atmosphere changed the moment the vehicles came to a halt. Sharleen did not have to look through the window to confirm that they had indeed arrived their destination.

The sweet smell of flowers, the distance slow music and the happy audible murmurs from the church was all she needed to make a conclusion.

They were at the church.

"Come on, let's not keep the groom waiting any longer." Maggy, Sharleen's mother said excitedly.

Sharleen had shared a vehicle with her parents together with her best friend Nicole. Not willingly though. Of course they forced her and with some absurd threats from non other than Nicole.

"Guess what! One of my informants has texted me that Devlin is the best man! Exciting right! Best man and best lady!" Nicole informed her friend with a wide smile.

Of course Nicole still did not know that Devlin and Kevin were best friends. Sharleen had decided to keep that information to herself not because she was greedy but because just the mention of his name was like adding salt to a fresh wound.

"Who knows? Now we might be best man and best lady then tomorrow we are bride and groom." Nicole continued dreamingly.

Sharleen just looked at her friend and swallowed the harsh comment that was ready to leave her mouth.

"Sharleen dear, please put up that pretty smile of yours. A frown does not suit you with how gorgeous you look." Nelson came to his daughter's side.

"Come on, let's take you to your man." Nelson said taking his daughter's hand.

With her dad on one hand, Nicole on the other and her mother just in front of her, Sharleen was led into the church slowly and gracefully.

The smile on people's faces as she walked through made her have a smile of her own. The way her relatives and friends beamed as they saw her made her forget about her sour mood and smile back.

The walk did not last long though, she soon was on the pulpit. Her eyes found Kevin's and she automatically decided to lock them there. She did not trust herself to look somewhere else lest she get carried away by a certain someone.

Sharleen felt as her dad slowly left her arm, hugged Kevin and went down to his seat. She wanted to call him back but she knew she could not. She was happy though that Nicole was still with her.

The priest spoke but not once did Sharleen concentrate on his words. Her eyes were glued on Kevin while she tried to make her mind as blank as she could.

"Sharleen Nelson, Do you take Kevin Murray to be your lawfully wedded husband. For rich and for poor, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"

That long question from the priest brought her back. Sharleen took a deep breath, looked at her soon to be husband for some seconds and said the words that sealed her future forever.

"I do."

Claps, cheers and whistles filled the church but Sharleen just looked at her husband who was grinning from ear to ear.

Right there and then Sharleen knew that she made the right choice. Everyone was happy, her husband, her parents and even the congregation was happy.

I will be happy too. With time. She hoped.

The 'I do' from Kevin, the exchange of rings and the first kiss they shared in front of everyone officially made her a married woman and as a married woman she now had principles and responsibilities.

And her first responsibility was her husband.

---

"Devlin, where are you going? The party has just started." Sharleen heard Nicole call but she did not dare look.

They were leaving the church to go to Kevin's house to continue the celebration but it seemed Devlin had other plans since he was going towards the opposite direction.

"Oh. Sorry but i will miss my flight if i stay any longer." Devlin's voice replied.

Those words made Sharleen to look at Devlin even though she did not want to.

He was leaving? Why did she not know that? And why was it painful?

"What? Why? Can't you stay any longer?" Nicole begged making Sharleen's heart clench.

"Am sorry but duty calls. I have talked to Kevin already and the newlyweds have my blessings." Devlin said to which Kevin nodded.

"Okay. Come back soon, okay?" Nicole said with sadness but with some hope in it.

"Take care of yourselves guys. Nicole it has been nice to know you." Devlin said more of a goodbye than a see you soon.

Nicole could not help it but shed some tears as she watched Devlin's retreating body.

Sharleen on the other hand tried her best to stay unaffected. She was in her husband's arm now and crying for another man would not seem proper.

But her heart cried. Cried tears of blood.

Maybe he will find someone wherever he was going that could heal his heart. Devlin was a good man. He deserved more. Not her.

He fell for the wrong girl.

*****