Sunrise in the East, Rain in the West

On my wedding day, I walked there on foot.

The driver they'd arranged for me dumped me in a ditch and drove off alone.

Sorry, Cathy got the address wrong. I just sent you the right location. Hurry up and call a car.

By the time I limped up to the hotel, the ceremony was about to start.

My best friend was wearing my wedding gown, pressed close against my fianc's arm.

"Sara Winfield, you got here too late. So I'll go up in your place in a bit. You won't be mad, will you?"

My fianc held her hand, a helpless smile on his face.

"Too many guests came today. Cathy just slipped up for a second and got it wrong, that's all."

"But don't worry, Sara. The ceremony is Cathy's. The marriage license is still yours."

Watching the two of them stand there so close, I pulled the engagement ring off my finger.

If the bride could be replaced, then so could the groom.

I lowered my head and sent a message.

"Still want to marry me? Come now."

......

Barely three seconds later, my phone buzzed.

"Wait for me."

I put my phone away and looked at them, calm.

"It's fine. The marriage license can be hers too."

Val Sanchez froze for a moment, then decided I was just throwing a little tantrum, and shook his head helplessly.

"Sara, I keep my word."

"We've been together eight years. I won't do you wrong."

Catherine Summers's eyes reddened.

"Sara, is it because I'm wearing the gown that you're upset?"

The hotel corridor was full of people coming and going, and the earlier argument had already drawn plenty of eyes.

"Then I'll give it back to you. This gown doesn't fit me anyway. I nearly had a wardrobe slip just now."

And with that, she moved to strip the gown off right there in front of everyone.

"Cathy!"

Ignoring her struggling, Val pulled her tight against his chest.

"Sara, apologize to Cathy right now."

"...Why should I?"

My throat was so dry it hurt, like I'd swallowed a thousand razor blades.

Val's brow furrowed.

"Do you not understand? Cathy has never had a boyfriend."

"But for your sake, she was willing to throw away her own reputation and stand in as your bride. How is she supposed to marry anyone after this? Did you even think about that?"

Catherine lay against his chest and gave his chest two token little thumps.

The murmurs around me landed in my ears.

"I've been watching this whole time and I still can't tell. Which one's the mistress?"

"Isn't it the one with mud all over her pants, the one who looks so fierce? And the bride's still offering to hand over the gown to her."

"Tsk, tsk. The wronged wife stepping aside for the lucky one. What is the world coming to?"

Val had clearly heard those comments too.

But all he did was wipe Catherine's tears. Not a word of explanation.

I let out a breath. The pain kept shooting up from the soles of my feet.

The path down the hill was rough. I'd had to take off my heels and walk barefoot for almost an hour before I could flag down a taxi.

The soles of my feet were raw and aching, every step like walking on knife points.

"You two go ahead and get married. I'm leaving."

Only then did Catherine lift her head from Val's chest, her eyes red-rimmed, as if she'd suffered some enormous injustice.

"Sara, I know you're angry with me. But you won't even stay long enough to take one photo with me?"

Val chimed in.

"Today is the most beautiful day of Cathy's life. You were always taking her photos before. Why won't you today?"

"Because I'm going to the hospital."

My voice came out flat, like I'd spent every last bit of strength I had.

"That driver Catherine arranged followed the address and dropped me straight into a ditch."

"There were no cars up on the hill. I walked a long way before I could flag down a taxi."

"My feet hurt now. So I'm going to the hospital."

Val paused, and only then did he notice the strands of hair stuck to my face and my legs that wouldn't stop shaking.

"In a bit... let me take you."

Catherine's head snapped up, tears spilling out at once.

"So your girlfriend still matters most, is that it?"

She tugged at the gown that so obviously didn't fit her, several safety pins fastened along the waist.

"So many people came today. You said Sara hadn't shown up for so long, that it would be hard to save face."

"So I ruined my own reputation, put on someone else's gown, and out of the goodness of my heart went to hold things together for you."

"And now, just because Sara's feet hurt, you're going to make me walk through the whole wedding alone"

She stopped. Tears fell in big heavy drops onto the gown, and a bleak little smile crossed her face.

"It's not like I'm someone who can stand in the light anyway. Go on, keep her company."

Val's face changed in an instant.

"Cathy, don't talk about yourself like that."

He gathered Catherine against him and murmured something in her ear, and her tears stopped at once.

"Rudolph Finch, push the ceremony back thirty minutes. Sara's hurt, I need to take her to the hospital."

I went still for a moment.

Back before, when I was even ten minutes late to a date, he'd complain that I wasn't giving him face, that I'd left him sitting alone in the restaurant.

But today...

Val kept his voice low, coaxing Catherine until she laughed, and only then did he lift his head to look at me.

"Sara, let's go."

I nodded.

Then I opened my phone and canceled the afternoon marriage-license appointment at the county clerk's office.

Val slammed the gas pedal down, and the car shot forward fast enough to frighten me.

I gripped the seatbelt and pressed my back hard against the seat.

"Val, slow down."

I couldn't help saying it.

But he acted like he hadn't heard, not easing off at all.

I don't know how long we drove before the car finally stopped.

I glanced out the window and saw we were still a good distance from the hospital.

"There's no parking near the hospital."

Val unbuckled his belt and pushed the door open.

"Sit here, don't move. I'll go borrow a wheelchair inside, then come back for you and take you to the hospital."

The car went quiet.

The minutes crawled by, the sun grew fiercer, and the inside of the car turned into an oven.

The cuts on the soles of my feet burned like someone had rubbed salt into them, and I hissed at the pain.

Ten minutes until the wedding was set to start, and Val still hadn't come back.

I took out my phone and called him.

"Why aren't you back ye"

"Right, that's the gown. Get it to the hotel for me, rush it."

My hand froze in midair.

Then Val's delighted voice came through the phone again.

"Cathy, the gown you tried on before, I've already had someone rush it over, so don't wor"

I hung up.

Five minutes later, Val got back in the car carrying an elegant dessert box.

"Sorry, Sara. Cathy came without eating breakfast this morning, and I was afraid her blood sugar would drop again, so I went and got her a little cake."

He set a box of macarons on my lap.

"These macarons are for you. Go on, eat."

I opened the box and looked at the strawberries on top, red enough to sting my eyes, and my stomach churned.

Catherine loves strawberries. And I'm allergic to them.

"I don't eat strawberries."

Val started, then sheepishly took the box of macarons back.

"Sorry, that was careless of me."

"Next time, I'll definitely get you your favorite, the blueberry ones."

Next time.

It was always next time.

Before, on my birthday, I'd stepped into the kitchen just long enough to bring out some fruit, and by the time I came back the cake was smeared halfway across the table.

Catherine had a fistful of it and was chasing Val around the room.

Both of them with cream all over their hands, sprawled on the floor, laughing themselves into a heap.

And the pack of candles on the table hadn't even been unwrapped.

I was so upset I burst into tears right there.

Val pulled me into his arms and soothed me, promising he'd make it up with a better, bigger, prettier cake.

But by the day the cake arrived, my birthday was already over.

It wasn't until the car was about to turn that I spoke.

"Val."

"What is it?"

"Aren't we going to the hospital?"

The car braked hard and stopped in the middle of the lane.

"I forgot."

Val glanced down at my feet, then quickly looked away.

"But the wedding's about to start. How about this, I'll buy you a bandage first, and after the wedding I'll take you to the hospital, all right?"

"No need."

I leaned against the window and let the words out like a slow breath.

"Don't let it hold up your wedding."

Behind us, impatient horns blared like mad.

Val's hand stayed on the wheel, unmoving.

"Sara, I've always thought of Cathy as a little sister. Don't read into it."

"She can be scatterbrained sometimes, yes, but when something comes up she really is willing to help. Look at today"

"Val."

I cut him off.

"Are you postponing the wedding to take me to the hospital, or to go fetch Catherine's gown?"

Val started, and stayed silent for a long time.

Until his phone rang.

"Val, why aren't you here yet? The wedding's about to start."

"I'll be there right away."

Val stepped on the gas, and the car shot forward.

"Sara, I'll give you another wedding."

"I promise, the bride will only ever be you. There'll never be anyone else."

The scenery outside tore past in reverse, and my chest ached, tight and heavy.

Val, I don't want your promise anymore.

There will never be an us again.

"Val, look at me! Do I look good?"

Catherine had changed into a new gown, and she spun in front of Val, once and then again.

"Beautiful. Cathy's always the most beautiful."

Val was leaning against the arm of the sofa, a smile tugging at his mouth.

I sat by the door, checking my phone and refreshing it again and again.

I'd ordered some antiseptic and gauze. The delivery app showed a courier had accepted it, estimated fifteen minutes.

He wouldn't take me to the hospital, so I'd handle it myself.

"Oh, right."

Catherine stopped suddenly and flicked the train out behind her so it fanned open.

"This train is two meters long. It'd look amazing if two flower girls carried it."

"Cathy, the flower girls had something come up at the last minute. They can't make it," Val said.

"Then what are we supposed to do"

Catherine pouted, lifting the hem and pacing back and forth, and then her eyes landed on me.

"Sara, come carry my train for me."

Catherine smiled, innocent and bright, clean as a white lotus.

"My foot hurts."

My voice was flat as dead water, without a ripple.

Catherine's eyes went wide, and she tilted her head at me.

"Didn't Val take you to the hospital? Still hurting? You only walked a few steps. Do you really have to be this dramatic?"

Val stood up quickly to soothe her.

"Cathy, Sara's foot really is a problem right now. Let me find two of the staff to help you, all right?"

"I don't want anyone else."

Catherine blinked, all wounded and small.

"I I just kept thinking, it was always Val going with me to fool around at the bridal shops before. But today's the first time I'm standing at the venue in a wedding gown. I want my best friend here to see all of it"

She walked up to me, her eyes full of expectation.

"And besides, Sara, your mom can't get around well, she's stuck in a wheelchair. If you don't go in, she has no way to get out on her own."

The air went quiet for two seconds.

Val's mouth opened and closed, and not a single word came out.

"Fine."

"Sara, you" Something startled flashed through Val's eyes.

I crouched down and gathered up that two-meter train.

The soles of my feet stung again, and blood seeped back through the dried scabs.

"Yay, wonderful!"

Catherine clapped her hands, cheering.

"I knew it. Sara, your foot pain was definitely fake!"

"But I have one condition."

I lifted my eyes to Val.

"When this wedding is over, let's break up."

Val's face turned ugly in an instant.

"Sara, I"

"Why aren't you two ready yet? We can't push it back any longer, the guests are getting anxious!"

Rudolph came jogging over, a sheen of sweat on his forehead, looking at us urgently.

Catherine gave Val a dazzling smile.

"Val, Sara's just throwing a little tantrum. She'd never actually break up with you. Go on, hurry, don't miss the lucky hour."

Val looked at me, long and hard.

"Sara, once the wedding's over, let's talk it through properly."

After he left, only Catherine and I were left in the corridor.

She took a few steps, then stopped and looked at me.

"Sara, you've been with Val for eight years. It's my turn now. You didn't really think I was that stupid, did you?"

Catherine's ambition was naked in her eyes, laid bare in front of me without the slightest cover.

The doors swung slowly open, and the officiant's booming voice drifted to my ears.

"Sure. He's yours."

Either way, out of every choice Val ever made, I was always the last one.

So I wouldn't choose him either.

"Why isn't your daughter out yet? I'd love to see what the bride looks like."

"Soon, soon. My little girl wasn't feeling well earlier, so Sidney took her to the hospital. We had to push the ceremony back. Please bear with us, everyone."

"Oh my, your daughter is truly blessed, marrying such a wonderful man."

"She is. As long as the two of them are happy, I can rest easy."

My mother sat in her wheelchair, chatting cheerfully with the people around her.

The emcee cleared his throat, his voice ringing out.

"The auspicious hour has arrived. Please welcome the bride!"

The double doors swung slowly open.

The woman who'd just been talking to my mother shot to her feet, staring straight at the doorway.

"Careful, don't throw your back out."

My mother said it half in warning, but she was craning her own neck too, eyes fixed on the door without blinking.

"The bride's coming out! Look at that fair skin, your daughter is so pretty!"

My mother narrowed her eyes, her brow drawing tight.

"That... with all that makeup on, she looks like a completely different person."

As Catherine drew closer, the color drained from my mother's face bit by bit.

"You... who are you? My daughter"

My mother's voice cut off.

I stood behind Catherine holding the train, not a trace of powder on my face, dark shadows under my eyes, like a withered tree.

"Sara, you"

My mother clutched her chest, barely able to draw a breath.

"Mom, are you all right?"

Val patted her back, only to be met with a glare that shoved him back.

"What is going on? Isn't today my daughter's wedding? Who is this woman?"

"Mom, keep your voice down. A lot of my business associates are here today, don't let them hear"

"Don't you call me Mom!"

Fury churned in my mother's eyes as she jabbed a finger at Val's face.

"You're going to explain yourself today, or you can forget about marrying any other woman!"

"Explain what?"

A shrill female voice cut out of the crowd.

Catherine's mother strode forward on sky-high heels, the fat on her body quivering like jelly, piling up on her face.

She looked me up and down and clicked her tongue.

"Whoever's wearing the gown is the bride. It's that simple. Do I really need to spell it out?"

"Mom..."

Catherine tugged at her mother's sleeve, her voice hurried, though her hand put no real force into it.

"It's the truth!"

Janice Summers shook off her hand, her gaze sweeping over my pale face, a mocking smile pulling at her lips.

"Look at this gown, how beautifully it fits my Cathy."

"Then look at your daughter. She couldn't even land a bridesmaid's dress?"

My mother trembled all over, the armrests of her wheelchair creaking under her grip.

"You... all of you..."

I crouched down and gripped her hand tight.

"It's all right, Mom, it's all right..."

"How is this all right?"

My mother's voice shook so hard it broke, her eyes red enough to bleed.

"They've ganged up to bully you, just you alone, and you call that all right?"

"Am I wrong?"

Janice's voice dropped low again.

"The one who isn't loved is the outsider."

"My Cathy just mentioned once, offhand, that she was craving the red bean pastry from back home. Sidney booked a flight and went to buy it the same day. They were still warm when he got back."

"And your daughter, eight years with Sidney. Did he take her to a single event? No, your daughter drudged around like a housekeeper, not half as polished or pretty as my girl."

She paused, her voice climbing another notch.

"While Sidney was helping Cathy try on wedding gowns, your daughter was at home Photoshopping her own wedding photos."

"Who Sidney really wants, isn't that clear enough?"

My mother's tears finally fell, one after another, striking the backs of our joined hands.

Janice looked at my mother, smug, and delivered her verdict at a leisurely pace.

"This wedding has to be my daughter's."

Confetti rained down out of nowhere, drifting over everyone's heads.

I let my gaze move slowly around the room.

This wedding, I had planned every bit of it for a whole year.

From choosing the venue to the setup, from the menu tasting down to the wrapping on the wedding favors, I had done all of it alone.

Catherine plucked the confetti from her hair, took a close look, then happily wrapped herself around Val's arm.

"Val! Look, it says 'a hundred years of happiness together'!"

I fought the tears back, refusing to let them fall.

"Mom, don't worry. I'll have my own wedding."

"That's right."

Val, silent until now, suddenly spoke.

"Sara will have a wedding of her own. I promise."

His eyes churned with guilt when they turned to me.

Only for it to vanish the moment he lifted his head toward the crowd of guests.

"Sorry to keep everyone waiting. Let's carry on with the ceremony."

A message came in on my phone.

"Sara, I'm here. I'm waiting for you outside."

Just like that, my spirits lifted.

"Mom, let's go."

Janice sneered, "Should've cleared out ages ago. Stop getting in the way of my daughter's wedding."

The ceremony went on as usual.

At the moment the rings were exchanged, Val's heart ached for no reason he could name.

He looked at Catherine, beaming in front of him, and felt suddenly restless.

Why wasn't the wedding over yet?

By the time the toasts came around, it was already one in the afternoon.

Val glanced at his watch, grabbed his coat, and moved to rush out.

"Val, where are you going? We haven't done the toasts yet."

Val didn't look back, already pulling out his phone to make a call.

"The wedding's over. Of course I'm going to"

A notification popped up on his phone.

Your marriage-license appointment has been canceled