Summary: What if you have a chance to go back to your past and change your life? What if you can live your life differently, make new choices? Will it make a difference? Or will making a different choice still take you down the same route? What if your decision changes the rest of your life and everything is different from what it is supposed to be? What would happen if you make the wrong choice?
The church was silent as its occupants gaze upon the bride's lovely profile and the groom's handsome mien. Theirs are two faces that are frequently seen on TV and magazine covers and all in the church that day thought that they are the most perfect couple. There were a couple of tear-filled eyes, especially from the bride and groom's family. The bride's father had just returned to the bench after giving the bride away, even now he put his arm around his wife who gave him a look filled to brim with love. He merely smiled and pulled her closer to him and together they turned their attention to the glowing couple standing in front of the church.
No one noticed the bridesmaid, a lovely woman standing beside the bride, wearing a look that utterly concealed every emotion she felt. Despite her outward coolness, inside her feelings was rioting out of control. All she could hear was her heart thundering in her ears, all she could see was her perfect cousin standing beside the man she had loved since the first moment she had set her eyes on him, looking so right together. There wasn't a moment when she didn't hate herself for coveting her cousin's boyfriend and soon-to-be husband. She knew it wasn't right, yet she couldn't help herself.
The minister spoke up then, his words piercing through the veil of denial she cloaked herself with and into her conscious.
"We are gathered here today in the sight of God and angels, and the presence of friends and loved ones, to celebrate one of life's greatest moments…" the bride and groom were oblivious to the audience, they were only aware of each other. The bridesmaid averted her eyes from the loving couple and forced tears down the back of her throat. She must not make a fool of herself at her cousin's wedding. She must not.
"… so too may this marriage be adorned by true and abiding love." The minister finished and looked up at the beaming couple and he smiled, continuing. "Should there be anyone who has cause why this couple should not be united in marriage, they must speak now or forever hold their peace." He waited for a second and then when no protest came, he continued with the ceremony.
The bridesmaid almost shouted for the minister to halt the ceremony. She wanted to yell to the world that she loved the groom, but she couldn't bring herself to ruin the best day of her cousin's life. She was nothing compared to her cousin. Her cousin was the charming one, the beautiful one. That was why he loved her, that was why everyone who ever met her fell in love with her.
The bridesmaid clutched the bunch of lilies in her fists tightly and stared straight ahead so she didn't have to look at the happy couple. She cried so much ever since she heard the 'wonderful' news that it was a wonder she had any tears.
"Do you promise to…" the minister was saying, but the bridesmaid wasn't aware of that; all she was aware of was the approval of the audience, the love between the bride and groom and her heart shattering. In the midst of it all, she was feeling another thing entirely.
She felt strange, like she had suddenly became a spectator instead of a participant of the action swirling around her. She closed her eyes, hoping that the feeling would go away and leave her to mope in peace, but when she closed her eyes, darkness grabbed at her and claimed her. The last thing she heard was him repeating his vows, "I d-, SAKURA!"
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Author's Note: How do you like it everyone? Does it keep you in enough suspense? First chapter is kind of short, but I'm working on a longer 2nd one, so sit still! Please review and tell me what you think! Sorry if it's a little confusing, if you're not sure who's who for now, things will become clearer later on.