Chapter 7: The Day I Left
That day, the village buzzed like a festive fair.
A grand tent stood proudly.
Soft dangdut music played from the speakers.
Jasmine flowers hung everywhere.
Everyone smiled… except one person: Aurel.
The white wedding dress clung to her body—beautiful, yet cold.
Makeup covered the dark circles under her eyes from a night spent crying.
She sat in the dressing room, surrounded by relatives.
But her eyes were empty, staring into the mirror.
"You look so beautiful, Aurel," an aunt praised.
Aurel gave a small, forced smile.
Inside her, a storm raged without end.
She was still hoping… that at the very last second… Rey would come.
But that hope was slowly dying.
Her mother stepped in.
"Come on, sweetheart. The guests are waiting. Damar is, too."
Aurel swallowed hard. She stood up slowly.
"If Rey comes… what will I do?" she whispered to herself.
But deep down, she knew…
Rey wouldn't come.
And even if he did…
It was already too late.