NO GUESTS AT THE WEDDING

It was a bright beautiful morning as the sun was just beginning to rise over the sea.
She got up from bed just in time to prepare for her wedding that was to hold that day.

As was her routine, she stood by her window overviewing the major road to cast her glares of the first morning vibes of men in canvasses running on the sidewalk.
Today, just like any other day for years she's been standing by the window was no different except for the constant thought that she'll be married to the man of her dream in less than four hours from the moment she was out of her bed.
Today she didn't see men in canvasses running through the walkway, but was seeing a man walking towards her down the aisle as she approached the altar to be joined in marriage to him. She was just staring into space, she didn't notice the paper that was stamped to the side of the window close to the wall where the shutter was inclined to keep it from being tossed by the winds.

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Joy!
Joy.... Joy..... Joy are you ready?
She didn't hear nor realize that for the past two minutes her father had been calling her as he knocked on the door of her bedroom, because she was lost in the reverie of how she would vow to love her soon would be husband for the rest of their lives. She was practically rehearsing her lines in her mind such that her lips read along even when she didn't say out a word anyone who was watching her could make out what she was saying...
She was about to kiss him in her mind when she felt a touch on her shoulder which startled her and almost sent the make-up kit on her thighs flying to the floor...Then she suddenly perceived the familiar scent of her father's perfume and gave a sigh of relief as she made a side turn to see her father, well-dressed and standing there for her... She smiled looking up at his face.
It all came back to her, how through the years the father had been double playing the role of both mommy and daddy. The love, the moments they've shared together, nights they slept in hunger for lack of food, days she stayed home from school for lack of tuition fees, hours she spent on the hospital bed to look after her only sister who eventually passed away, two years exact after the death of their mother. Tears trekked down her cheeks, she made no attempt to stop it from running down her neck. Her father moved closer to her, used his both thumbs to clean the tears from her face as his other fingers, supported by his palms held her face firmly as if to stop it from shattering. He pulled her closer to himself and embraced her as he rubbed his palms on her back in an up and down motion. She knew that she would miss him a lot more than she had anticipated. This man who had sacrificed so much to give her education, this man who understands her and was always there for her and never allowed her to abused or be unfairly used by anyone irrespective of their status. She hugged him, held him tighter and then said to him, "I love you father, and would not have consented to marrying him if you hadn't told me so, if you hadn't assured me that he was good for me, if you so wish for us to come stay here with you after our marriage, we will ,so that I can be seeing you always and also take care of you."
"You took care of me since moth...since childhood. It's now my turn to take care of you, please don't ever hesitate to let me know anything you need. Am sure Imo will not deny you anything neither will I."
Mr. Williams just shook his head as he smiled and checked the tear that threatened to drop from his eyes. He understood everything his daughter was talking about, and couldn't help but felt a sharp pain of awareness that his daughter for years has been avoiding mentioning his wife's name, her mother, for fear of awakening his sense of loss, of his beautiful wife; to the unfriendly hands of death. He looked at her and saw for the first time, that her daughter standing there in that wedding dress resembles her mother except for the pointed nose which she takes after him. He held back his tears as he swallowed the hard lump of saliva in his mouth and turned around to face her completely before he spoke. "Get ready Joy, all of that is in the past now...hurry up, so you won't be late to your wedding like you're always late to your piano lessons". She smiled and said "father, should all the guests leave the hall, Imo will wait for me".

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The wedding hall was well decorated with roses of reds and whites, a green Cashmire carpet laced by the sides with yellow petals and marked as entrance for the bride and groom.
Guests came in in pairs and some alone, others as groups. The hall was filled to capacity.
Lights of various spectrum reflected on the glasswares from the ceiling and walls which were used as part of the decorations on the table. This gave the hall an overwhelming view as the lights reflected different colours in a circular motion round the tables draped with white and purple linens. There was a soft music playing at the background as they awaited the arrival of the bride and groom.
The preacher arrived and was conducted to a sit by the protocol officers in charge of guests.
There was no argument about the source of funds for such an extravagant wedding, as the groom was famous for his conglomerates all over the coasts of Africa and the bride, for her Television Show. There was no doubts that the wedding was a talk of the city. Not that the hypes that the social media platforms and news reporters made meant anything to Joy and Imo. Their happiness was that they were compatible and complimented each other in many ways.

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A guest on one of seats in the front rows stood up, stretched her gown and gele a
nd looked apologetically at Imo as she left.

Night was drawing near, one after the other the guests excused themselves and left... While some looked at Imo with pity as they left, others: their faces were just expressionless.
The preacher was tired of praying, he didn't want to be the one to call off the wedding by announcing that he's leaving since it's already late and the bride was no where near the auditorium.
Imo, though weak had to say something to the remaining guests. So, he summoned up courage, picked up
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The wedding hall was well decorated with roses of reds and whites, a green Cashmire carpet laced by the sides with yellow petals and marked as entrance for the bride and groom.
Guests came in in pairs and some alone, others as groups. The hall was filled to capacity.
Lights of various spectrum reflected on the glassware from the ceiling and walls which were used as part of the decorations on the table. This gave the hall an overwhelming view as the lights reflected different colours in a circular motion round the tables draped with white and purple linens. There was a soft music playing at the background as they awaited the arrival of the bride and groom.
The preacher arrived and was conducted to a sit by the protocol officers in charge of guests.
There was no argument about the source of funds for such an extravagant wedding, as the groom was famous for his conglomerates all over the coasts of Africa and the bride for her Television Show. There was no doubts that the wedding was a talk of the city. Not that the hypes that the social media platforms and the news reporters gave meant anything to Joy and Imo. They were just happy that they're compatible and complimented each other in different ways.

The guests just kept waiting, the preacher from time to time kept on asking one of the guests protocol officers to let him in on what's going on that the guests are being kept waiting for too long.

The guests were tired of waiting as some constantly beckoned on the protocols.
Finally, the groom and his men made their procession into the hall. The preacher almost jumped out of his seat out of excitement. Climbed a four by four two steps podium to begin to perform his function...

Standing there on what looked like an altar, Imo didn't know what to do. Whether to be angry or worried, all emotions hit him hard simultaneously that he couldn't help it. He didn't know who to reach to find out what is what, he had to keep waiting for his bride to show up...

There was a little commotion in the hallway, panickings everywhere as no one understood why the bride didn't show up when she ought to have arrived 3 hours ago. Pandemonium, as the groom began to loosen his tie... No one knew exactly where the bride was. All means of communication with her was unresponsive.
A guest on the front row seat left and looked apologetically at Imo as she left.
Night was drawing near, one after the other the guests excused themselves and left... While some looked at Imo with pity as they left, others faces were just expressionless.
The preacher was tired of praying, he didn't want to be the one to call off the wedding by announcing that he's leaving since it's already late and the bride was no where near the auditorium.
Imo, though weak had to say something to the remaining guests so, he summoned up courage, picked up the microphone and apologized heavily for the delayance and no appearance of his bride. He in a solid though solemn voice, pleaded that the guests who cannot wait with him for the bride to arrive are free to go, but come what may, his wedding will hold.

It was past 11 p.m when Joy arrived the venue of her wedding... Tears rolled down her eyes as she caught a glimpse of Imo waiting for her at the altar, there were no guests at the wedding but there was a wedding that night.
Guests or No guests at the wedding, their love was sealed with a holy pronouncement by the Preacher, a ring on each of their fingers and a kiss that soothed their aching hearts.

Disclaimer: the names and places mentioned in this story are all fictions. Resemblance to any place, person(s) living or dead is purely a coincidence.