The Runaway Bride; No Longer The Shadow Of My Sister

AMELIA

I stood in front of the mirror, in my white floral wedding dress. Today I was going to be married, not to the love of my life, but to my sister’s husband.

“You look so beautiful Amy” my mother’s voice shone with excitement, but I knew that deep within, she was burning with rage.

I knew that she hated that I was in my twin sister’s place. I shouldn’t be the one walking down the aisle. It should be my sister, Mae.

But she was nowhere to be found. She had disappeared the night before, only leaving a piece of paper that read;

“I’m sorry my dear sister. Please cover up for me like you always have”

The vivid image of my shaky hands grabbing the thin piece of paper last night came flooding back.

Why would Mae do this? Why would she do this to me? I had questions. But no matter how I tried to rack my head around it, I couldn’t get an answer.

‘Did she not want to get married to Alex, her fiancé anymore?’ the question rang in my head.

But she loves him… or didn’t she?

A light tap on my shoulders brought me out of my thoughts.

“Smile Amelia.” She lightly grazed my cheeks.

“Remember. You have to make sure you act exactly like Mae. Cheerful, and happy. Not like your usual gloomy self” she held my shoulders as she said those words.

She was right. My life had always been gloomy and dark. I was the quiet twin, that barely ever got the attention of her parent, while Mae, was someone who everyone wanted to be around.

I turned my attention from the mirror to my mom, holding up a faint smile.

“Sure mom, as always, I have to cover my sister’s mess” I replied coldly, even though I held a smile on my face.

She dropped down her head, like as if she knew this wasn’t the first time I was cleaning up Mae’s mess.

One time, I had to go to school, posing as both Mae and I, just because she didn’t feel like it.

Another time, I had to go out in front of everyone at an event to sing, just because Mae had a sore throat that very day.

Sucks right? I was basically my sister’s shadow.

A mere substitute.

“Listen” my mom called, making me look at her.

“I’m not happy about this too. I mean, I would rather have Mae in a wedding dress…” her words cut deep into my chest. I could feel tears form at the corner of my eyes, but I quickly blinked them back. I slowly took her hands that were on my shoulders and dropped them down.

I held back that slight smile on my face “you don’t have to worry mom” I spoke, my voice threatening to break.

“I will handle it. I just have to get married to Alex right? Without him knowing” I muttered, and turned my attention back to the mirror.

I admired the person I was before the mirror. The floral wedding dress that hung on my slender shoulders made me look effortlessly beautiful.

I wore a light make up, just like Mae would, since she was all for the term that she looked beautiful even without make up.

I looked exactly like her. Except, i was never happy, neither was I cheerful.

“Here” my mother handed me the white bouquet of flowers.

I took it from her, and held it tightly. I stared back at the mirror. Somehow, my eyes kept ending up at this particular mirror.

Maybe because I was too stunned by the way I looked. I don’t think I have ever looked this beautiful in a very long time.

Not like I ever paid attention to how I looked. That was Mae’s thing. I was all about, just going about my day and avoiding conversations with people.

But now that I properly looked at myself in the mirror, I realized I was really beautiful.

“Amy?” My mother called.

“It is time” my heart sank.

My palms became sweaty and my chest heaved with rapid speed.

I was really doing this. I was getting married. I tried to take deep calculated breaths to calm me down, but nothing seemed to be working.

I looked at my mother, who held a excited smile. But once again I could feel that rage behind her eyes.

It wasn’t supposed to be me. It shouldn’t have been me.

My mother walked closer to me, and brought down the veil to cover my face. She spread out her right hand, and slightly lifted up her elbow. I took her hands, clenching her elbow tightly. She smiled and turned to the entrance of the room door.

“Let us go”

*****

We stood in front of the giant familiar door. In front of me was the hall where it would happen.

Where I would be married in my sister’s place.

I could hear the cheers of the congregation as the master of ceremonies asked them to welcome the bride.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please rise, the bride is making her entrance”

The cheers were loud, the solemn wedding music playing softly in the background. But I stood frozen in place. No matter how I tried I just couldn’t move.

“Amy…let’s go” my mother whispered, with a faint smile, her face holding worry.

She tried to lightly push me, but I wouldn’t budge. I just couldn’t.

I couldn’t see myself walking down the aisle to be married to the man that I barely knew. I couldn’t see myself agreeing to the vows to be happily married to the man I hated.

Yes I hated my sister’s fiancé.

Ever since the time he told me to my face that I was just my sister’s shadow. That I was just there to do things my sister wouldn’t willing do.

My mother tugged my arms roughly “what is wrong with you? Everyone is waiting for you to walk in” she held a frown.

At that moment, I changed my mind. I wasn’t going to.

I wasn’t going to walk down the aisle in my sister’s place.

“I’m sorry mom” I whispered to her, and lightly pulled her hands off me.

For the first time in my entire life, I wasn’t going to cover my sister’s mess. I turned around, and sprinted out of the hall, flinging the veil off my head.

AMELIA

The light breeze gently slapped my face, as I ran with the somewhat heavy wedding dress.

I was free. I was finally free. I had chosen to be free. And for once, I didn’t care about the consequences. I didn’t care about what I was going to face afterwards. The insults and constant talks from my mother and father. None of that mattered as I clenched tightly to the railing of the huge bridge.

This was something I have always wanted to do for ages.

Runaway. Run as far away as I could.

The bustling city, and the cars didn’t make me a tad bit concerned. The stares I got from people didn’t even bother me.

All I could think about was the bold step I had taken.

“Amelia, you are dead when you get back home” I muttered to myself, as I bursted out laughing.

“Your mom would kill you!” I screamed, as I continued laughing.

I had never fel