"You shouldn't be here. What kind of a hostess are you?" He said wryly.

"You shouldn't have come then. What kind of a man does that make you?" I asked, wishing he was joking. He eyed me.

"You look very beautiful, by the way,"

I smiled. I didn't expect to look any less in my custom wedding reception dress. I moved close to the lovechair he sat in in the garden of the same hotel that housed the hall where my wedding was taking place . I asked him to meet me there because it was the least open part of the hotel, I didn't want to be seen.

"Why did you send me that text right at my wedding. You could have waited"

"What difference would it make? You are married now, so we are over. It's that simple. How did you even get away?"

"I said I had to use the restroom. Are you breaking up with me?"

He burst into mirthless laughter

"Cheryl, what am I supposed to do? You are the one who went and got married, remember? And why did no one offer to come with you to the "restroom" , like a bridesmaid?"

I ignored the sarcasm

" I wanted stability. I want a family, a home. Gary offered that"

I blamed him. It was his fault for being so indecisive. With him, there was no assurance of a future together. One just had to enjoy the moment, not knowing what next laid in wait. But I loved him.

"That's my point, Cheryl. You chose him, so you have to let this 'unstable' guy go. That's what I am helping you do. That's why I sent the text."

"It doesn't have to be this way. I dont want to lose you. We could have secret meetings like this. I miss your touch. I miss you. I..."

"Cheryl!!" I heard my name being called. It sounded like the voice of Bridget, my maid of honour.

"We better leave, I think it's time for your first dance. I will go first. Please, don't text again. It was nice knowing you, Cheryl." He walked out before I could say any more.

"Cheryl, where have you been? Gary was worried. He thought you had slipped in the bathroom or something from the weight of that dress, " Bridget said, laughing.

"I'm sorry, the pianist wanted to know what song to play for our dance," I said the first lie I could think of.

Bridget hissed

"And he couldn't do that inside? I thought that had been discussed already."

I shook my head, fighting back tears.

" Last minute changes," I said

How could I tell Bridget, my new friend who was also Gary's sister, that I was hurting because my ex, the pianist, just cut ties with me.

In this land, you don't speak about religion outside because one minute you're having an argument with your friend, next, you're on the ground- knife to your belly, curved so that your intestines gushed alongside blood whilst your lifeless eyes stared at the bloodbath happening because you couldn't keep shut.