#Prologue - Fake love

On the afternoon of November 20, 2021, at 6:10 PM, the gentle rays of the sunset painted a stunning sky. The colors blended harmoniously with the decor in toasted yellow and black tones, Bráulio favorite. The garden surrounding the altar held two impressive trees, their roots intertwined, symbolizing the deep connection about to be celebrated.

    From the room, I observed the lively activity through the windows as my Aunt Victoria and my mother welcomed the guests with warm smiles. The contagious energy in the air promised memorable moments.

    "And so, dear, are you ready?" My mom asked minutes later, entering the room with a sparkle in her eyes. She approached me with a smile. "You look like a princess, daughter," she said, stepping back a bit to give me a twirl.

    "I was thinking about you just now. I'm nervous, afraid I might stumble while walking down the aisle," I spoke, expressing my concern.

    "Well, that can happen," she said with a restrained smile. "But it's alright, the important thing is to get back up, isn't it?! It's just nerves, it's normal. Don't worry, everything will go smoothly," I nodded in agreement.

    "Hey, mariposa, don't cry, you'll smudge your makeup," I joked, using my fingers to wipe away the tears forming at the corners of her brown eyes. "I know something is bothering you. Please, tell me what it is."

Mom opened her mouth as if she was about to say something, but she was interrupted by the knocks echoing from the other side of the door.

    "This conversation isn't over yet," I said, gently releasing her hands from mine.

    "Can we come in?" Quezia asked, peeking through the door, alongside Nilza, my best friend.

    "Of course, come in, girls," Mom consented, stepping out of the room where I was getting ready for the wedding.

    "Wow, how are you..." Nilza looked at me up and down as Quezia stood frozen with her mouth open. "Incredible, this dress is wonderful, and you look absolutely stunning

    "Really? Do you like it? And do you think everything matches?" I asked with a smile, extending my left foot out of the dress so that they could see the blue high-heeled boot that I had desired so much. Until that moment, neither none of them seen the complete ensemble that I had chosen on my own. I couldn't deal with all the differing opinions about what to wear, That's why I chose to surprise them. And apparently, I succeeded, considering them reaction.

    "It couldn't have been better chosen. The white dress with lace on the shoulders, long sleeves, and butterfly details embroidered on the headpiece, and those shoes..." Nilza paused, putting her hands on the sides of her face. "And those shoes added the final touch. Certainly, you are the most beautiful bride I've ever seen in my life. Aren't you, Quezia?"

    Quezia agreed with an enthusiastic nod.

    "Definitely, the most beautiful. I'm speechless, sister."

    "Alright, enough with the compliments, folks. Let's go, it's time. I promised Braulio I wouldn't keep him waiting for too long."

    "You still have time to turn around, you know?" Nilza said with a mischievous look.

She had never hidden the fact that she didn't like my relationship with Braulio, but she had never explained why.

    "Oh, come on," I said, playfully pushing her forward, so we could start walking.

***

I walked up to the altar, my arm intertwined with that of my older brother. Unfortunately, my father couldn't attend due to work commitments. All eyes turned to me as we approached. Upon reaching the altar, my brother handed me over to my future husband, whose smile lit up his face. I smiled back at him, my eyes slightly teary, and I noticed that his brownish-yellow eyes were also moist.

    "We are here to celebrate the love between this young couple..." the priest began.  "They have expressed the desire to join in matrimony of their own free will and consent." Braulio was looking at me with tenderness, and I could hardly wait to become Mrs. Torres.

    When the priest announced the vows, I looked at my longtime friends. My sister and my best friend were her, supporting me. Despite Nilza's disapproval of Braulio, she had been kind in her suggestions for my vows. On the other hand, Quezia seemed nervous, pale, and trembling, focused on something on her phone. The situation worried me, but I turned my attention back to Braulio's vows again.

    "I used to think that love was for the weak, until my eyes met yours," he paused, holding my hands. In an instant, I noticed Quezia rushing toward us, with a furious expression on her face, fuming with anger. I had never seen her like this before, what could have put her in this state? That question formed in my mind as Braulio continued speaking his vows.

    The guests began to whisper to each other, confused and bewildered. The murmurs intensified as Quezia reached the altar, pushed me slightly to the side, and suddenly delivered a strong slap to the left side of my fiancé's face. Everyone froze, trying to process what they had just witnessed.

    "Daughter, please calm down. Things aren't resolved with violence," the priest pleaded, holding her arm firmly.

    "What the hell, Quezia! Have you gone mad? Why did you do that?" Braulio demanded angrily, while soothing the spot on his face where the blow had landed.    

    "Hey, little sister, what's happening? What did Braulio do?" I asked, still stunned by the scene I had just witnessed. My sister was known for her peaceful approach, always seeking to resolve things through dialogue.

    "He knows damn well what this is about, shameless man! What did you think, after all?" Quezia shouted, struggling to break free from the priest's firm grip. "You thought you could deceive us, that you could make my sister a fool? Did you think we'd never be able to find out?"

    Nilza glared at Braulio, making it clear that she had never liked him from the start...

    "Find out what?" I looked back and forth between the two, confused and anxious for an answer, though secretly hoping my intuition was wrong.

    "I have no idea what she's talking about, Nihara, I swear I don't understand what's happening," Braulio protested, approaching me and holding my hands.

    "Sister, I'm so sorry, but you won't want to go through with this marriage when you find out about this betrayal from this..." Quezia began to say, but her voice abruptly faded.

    She handed me the phone, her hands trembling. I looked at the screen hesitantly, as I was already starting to suspect what it could be. I unlocked the device and immediately saw two photos side by side. In the first one, Braulio was passionately kissing a woman whose face I couldn't discern. In the second, smiling, embracing the same woman from behind and gently holding her belly. The caption added a final blow to my confusion: "The fruit of our love is on the way. Mom and Dad are too excited."

    A whirlwind of emotions overtook me, and I looked at Braulio in shock, seeking an explanation that I didn't want to believe was true.

In that instant, tears welled up without permission, blurring my vision. I felt my face go pale, and I became unresponsive, dropping the phone on the ground without realizing it. My eyes locked onto Braulio, a mixture of anger and hatred bubbling within me. All I wanted was to knock him off that altar, to taste revenge. I felt humiliated, like a fool for not seeing the signs of his betrayal.

    He tried to approach me after pushing my sister away, asking to explain, but I pushed him forcefully, wanting distance. My heart was racing, as if it wanted to escape my chest. I placed my hand on my chest, distressed, struggling to breathe as a feeling of suffocation took over me.

    The last thing needed now was a panic attack, right in the middle of this crowd. I tried to focus, forcing myself to regulate my breathing, struggling to prevent the impending crisis.

    "Nihara, please, let me explain. Things aren't as they seem," he insisted, getting closer.

    "Don't you dare touch me," I yelled, my breath interrupted by anguish.

My mother approached, concerned, and gently led me away from the altar, taking me to a quieter place. She was clearly alarmed by my state.

***

    My head throbbed, cloudy thoughts swirling incessantly. All I wished for at that moment was to fade away, I didn't deserve to go through that torment. He couldn't have committed this betrayal, this cruelty to me. To what extent and for how long had he planned to hide this betrayal? 

    Tears fell uncontrollably, staining my pale face with a mask of sorrow. My friends, my confidantes, reluctantly agreed to leave me alone, understanding that I needed this space. I grabbed my diary and wrote compulsively, seeking refuge in words, a sanctuary where I didn't have to face anyone.

    Sadness and pain consumed me to a degree that there seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel. I doubted if I'd ever recover, or if I could ever trust someone to love again. After all, I had believed in us, believed that the love between us was true and loyal. Now, I realized how naive I had been, how I had deceived myself by trusting in his sweet, but empty words.

    But one thing was certain: I wouldn't let myself be deceived again. I would learn from this experience, grow from it, and not allow my heart to be thrown into the abyss of illusion once more.