The Best Man novel Chapter 60

The shocking sudden twist of events and looks of disbelief I could read on the guest's faces when I walked away from the altar. They didn't know, they wouldn't either because I was good at sweeping things under the rug and acting like everything was okay and perfect.

I was just so good at hiding what was actually going on under the accounts of being private to a point that no one could even suspect the tiniest of what I could call a cry for help. The truth was no one could save me, no one but me.

Walking away from the wedding was yet by far the hardest decisions I've ever made in my life, but I felt relieved, almost like a heavy load has been lifted of my shoulders since I've been suffocating in silence for so long; I felt like I could breathe again, I'm gaining my life back

I know what I did was uncalled-for, and I'm convinced that no one was expecting everything to go down like that. I didn't either, but it was just something that didn't sit right with my soul.

When it started getting darker, I saw the bright flickering headlights and I turned to see Olivia getting out of her car. She must have known I was here. This was the only place I came to when I just needed time away from the outside world.

"So this is where the runaway groom has been all along", she quizzed jokingly as she sat beside me

"I didn't actually run away, I walked away, which makes me the walkaway groom", I smiled faintly as I entwined our arms together, and she chucked softly

"Tell me, how are you feeling?", her gaze fixed into me and I just shrugged my shoulders

"I mean, what can I say except that pain is an understatement", I shrugged again and her featured started to soften

"Don't say that", her voice was soothing and gentle as she wrapped her arm around me

"What more can I say?", I shrugged again. "It is what it is"

She remained quiet, studying me with her eyes and I could tell she wished she could see right through me and how I really felt. I wasn't going to break in front of her.

"What I don't get though is why you never said anything?", she asked, her eyes still searching for mine

"I thought things would get better as time went on, you know? I just wanted to make things work, every time it was just about making things work, and I didn't even realize that I was drowning in a shallow pit of despair for the sake of someone I loved".

"Well that was certainly the wedding of the century", I said sarcastically as Mellisa would call it

"No kidding", she laughed a little before she turned to face me, "I have to say though, what you did today must have taken a lot of guts, and I'm really proud that you were brave enough to speak up and walk away", she brushed her hand up and down my arm

"I'm glad too", I coughed out to cover up a cry that was threatening to escape from my mouth and concern started raining on her face when she probably saw how sad I looked, and she stretched out her arms

"Come here, let me give you a hug", she smiled warmly, and I drew closer to her so that she could wrap her arms around me and I hugged her back. Her hugs were the best, besides the ones she would squeeze the life out of me to a point that I could feel my bones crushing into pieces underneath my skin.

"I needed this", I whispered as my grip around her tightened a little, breathing out a sigh of relieve as she ran her hands up and down my back, suddenly becoming a cuddle bear and I could feel the warmth of her body

"You're going to be okay", she whispered back, and we stayed silent for a few more minutes before we finally broke away from the hug, and she cupped my face in her hands, her featured softening as she wiped off the tears I didn't even realize where streaming down my face