Seven Times I Came, Seven Times You Didn't

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

During that period, Joseph was busy finishing the documentary. He never came to see me again. Sometimes, when he saw me from a distance, all that remained in his eyes was disgust.

I stopped explaining myself to him.

On the day of my wedding, the sky was only beginning to brighten when Grandma woke me up. She did my hair and helped me put on my wedding clothes.

The heavy, traditional Arin wedding dress settled onto my clothes. It felt so heavy that I could barely breathe.

Grandma held my hand and gently patted it. "Ladies from our mountains, marriage is where we find our home. Once you live a steady life, things won't feel as hard anymore."

I nodded.

When I stepped out of the doorway, the loud sound of cheering filled the air. "May the bride now step into the bridal carriage!"

…

As the carriage was wheeled forward, my phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket. The screen lit up with an incoming call from Joseph.

I stared at it for a long time, so long that the carriage had moved at a uniform speed before I slowly answered.

"Where are you?"

"In the bridal carriage."

He seemed not to hear me clearly. Before he could respond, a staff member's voice came through the phone.

"Mr. Kingsley, a traditional Arin is happening up ahead. It's very authentic. We just made it in time for the final shoot. If we film this, it'll be the perfect closing scene for the documentary."

Joseph chuckled. "Sure. We'll film the wedding."

Then came his nonchalant voice. "We're getting the final shot, Caroline. The documentary is almost done. You can wrap up your little jealousy act and all. Once this is over, we're getting married."

I sat inside the gently rocking coach and listened quietly. Then, the call ended just like that.

The bridal carriage continued forward, rocking along the mountain path. Before long, it came to a sudden stop. I could hear footsteps and the sound of a camera being adjusted outside.

Then, I heard Joseph's bright voice. "We're filming local customs and daily life in Pine Ridge. We'd appreciate your cooperation for a few shots. This will be the final footage for our documentary."

A hand with distinct knuckles opened the coach door. Blinding sunlight poured into the tiny space.

I looked up and met Joseph's frozen gaze. He was still holding the camera, a smile frozen on his lips. The lens slowly adjusted focus, locking in on me in my wedding dress, perfectly and unmistakably.