My mother decided that marriage was the solution to my single life at 34, so I agreed to a wedding that felt more like a duty than a dream. But when I met the man who made me feel alive for the first time in years, I was faced with a choice: follow her plan or take a risk for my own happiness.
A wedding without love
Preparing for a wedding is stressful for any woman… or so they say. But I was the exception.
Here’s a life hack: if you don’t want to be nervous before your wedding, just agree to marry a man you don’t love. Sounds crazy, right?
Don’t get me wrong — I wasn’t marrying a monster. Matt was a good guy: kind and reliable.
We got along well, but I didn’t feel anything for him. No sparks, no excitement. To be honest, he reminded me more of a friend than someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
Our story began six months ago when my mother declared that being unmarried at 34 was almost a crime.
For her, it was a disaster that needed to be fixed immediately. She and Matt’s parents took matters into their own hands and arranged for us to meet.
At first, I agreed to everything for the sake of peace, but the closer the wedding got, the more doubts I had.
A fateful meeting
That day, I was standing in a bridal salon with my mother, trying on a dress that didn’t feel like mine.
I looked at my reflection, waiting for some magical moment, but felt nothing… except perhaps a slight revulsion.
‘You look like a princess. Your dream has finally come true,’ said Mum with a broad smile.
Your dream, Mum, I thought. But instead of saying it out loud, I just smiled stiffly.
She came closer, adjusting the veil on my head as if it were a crown.
‘In two weeks, you’ll be a wife. Isn’t that wonderful?’ Her voice was soft but insistent.
I wanted to scream, ‘No, it’s awful!’ but I kept quiet.
After the fitting, we went to a small café for coffee before meeting with the catering company.
While I was waiting for my order, my gaze fell on a man nearby. There was something attractive about his relaxed posture and slight smile.
He noticed my gaze and smiled more broadly. I quickly looked down, pretending to check my phone.
The barista called my name. I stepped forward at the same moment the man reached for his cup. Our hands touched.
Hot coffee spilled onto my jumper.
‘Damn,’ I said, stepping back and looking at the stain.
‘Oh no, I’m sorry,’ the man grabbed some napkins and handed them to me.
‘That was my order,’ I sighed.
‘I must have mixed them up. I ordered the same thing. Let me buy you a new one.’
Before I could protest, he was already paying.
When the barista handed us our drinks, the man held out both cups to me.
‘Here, take them. I’m really sorry.’
‘It’s okay,’ I said. ‘You shouldn’t have, but thank you.’
He smiled.
— I didn’t want to leave a bad impression on such a girl.
He left, leaving me confused.
When I picked up my coffee, I found a note between the cups.
Curiosity got the better of me. I unfolded it and read the neat handwriting:
‘I’d like to get to know you better. Something about you caught my attention.’ — Chris.
There was a phone number under the note.
My heart skipped a beat. I quickly looked around, but Chris was already gone.
I hid the note in my bag, telling myself I would forget about it.
A twist of fate
One evening, when doubts about the wedding were weighing on my mind, I found the note again.
I hesitated for a long time before typing a message.
Chris replied almost instantly, and before I could change my mind, we agreed to meet at the same café in an hour.
When I arrived, he was already waiting for me at a table with two cups of coffee.
‘Hi,’ I said, feeling a little nervous.
‘Hi,’ he replied, handing me a cup. ‘I got your usual. I hope I got it right.’
We talked as if we had known each other all our lives.
I learned that Chris was into photography and hiking, just like me.
‘I’ve always dreamed of moving to Iceland,’ he confessed.
I froze.
‘Iceland? Me too!’
Chris smiled.
‘Maybe someday…’
But I didn’t want to wait for ‘someday.’
‘Let’s go together,’ I suddenly suggested.
He blinked in surprise.
‘Are you serious?’
‘Yes.’
He shook his head.
‘Meredith… we hardly know each other.’
‘So what?’ I looked him in the eyes. ‘You said yourself that you’ve never felt anything like this before. Neither have I. Isn’t it worth the risk?’
He hesitated.
I stood up, suddenly feeling foolish.
‘I get it. It was a mistake.’
I turned around, ready to leave.
‘Wait! When will we see each other again?’
‘Never,’ I whispered. ‘I’m getting married in three days.’
Escape to happiness
On my wedding day, everything felt like a dream.
I stood at the altar, barely hearing the priest’s words.
The clock read 2:30 p.m.
I realised I couldn’t do it.
I leaned towards Matt.
‘I’ve met someone else,’ I whispered.
He looked at me in surprise… and smiled.
‘Then run.’
‘Aren’t you angry?’
He shook his head.
‘I almost called off the wedding myself this morning.’
I laughed with relief, grabbed my dress and ran.
‘Meredith! Come back!’ my mother shouted, but I didn’t stop.
I ran to the café, panting.
But Chris wasn’t there.
My heart sank.
But suddenly the door opened.
Chris came out with two cups of coffee.
‘Meredith?’
I silently threw myself into his arms.
The coffee fell to the ground.
‘What’s going on?’ he asked.
I lifted my head.
‘I don’t want to just exist. I want to live.’
And I kissed him.
