'Got a cold feet'

"I'm so sorry, sir." A servant lowered his head as he reported unpleasant news to the man, who was now looking at his phone.

His face showed pain and disappointment. His right hand clasped his phone as tight as he could while his tears started to fall. "Maybe she bought something? Or she's in the bathroom?"

The servant fell silent for a short moment, then he softly said, "Her things also disappeared. Only the wedding gown was left in her room, sir."

The man couldn't hold it back anymore. He silently cried nonstop, which caused him to let out a faint sob. The servant quietly left his room as he perceived he needed time alone. 

"This is not true," he whispered. "You didn't leave, right, Emily?"

He stared at his phone's wallpaper, where a woman was sweetly hugging him. The picture displayed a happy and loving couple.

"Why?"

.

.

.

The morning shone, and a phone call woke him up. His eyes were swollen, but it didn't affect his handsome, symmetrical face.

"Hello?" he answered with a low and depressed voice.

[Where are you, Jalil? Everyone's here! We shouldn't be late. The wedding will start at 3:00 p.m. You must be preparing by now!] A man's voice was heard on the phone.

He took a deep breath and glanced at the picture frame on top of his cabinet. "Emily's gone."

[What?]

"She left last night. She—she," Jalil's voice cracked once again. He couldn't control his tears as he thought about Emily.

[Hold on. Wait for me. I'll go there.]

After that, Jalil hung up the call.

Jalil was dating Emily for about 7 years. You could say they were a perfect couple and would really prove it forever, as their relationship hadn't gone sour or even experienced a major problem. They planned to get married for over a year. Emily was happy about it and even answered him with a cheerful 'YES' when he proposed.

Jalil covered his face as he wiped his tears. He had no idea what was wrong. He couldn't think of a reason why Emily would run away. They didn't fight. They were actually okay the last time they talked. They were sweetly texting, and Emily showed no signs of withdrawing from their marriage—everything was fine and smooth. So what could be the reason?

Jalil heard several knocks from his room. He then stood up and opened it, revealing the worried look of his best friend, Jeffrey.

"What happened?"

Jalil shook his head. "I don't know."

"What? She just disappeared. Did she say something?" Jeffrey asked, which Jalil just answered with silence.

"Oh, God!" Jeffrey massaged his temple and sat beside his best friend to comfort him. "What should we do now? Everyone's waiting there."

Jalil wiped his face and looked at Jeffrey. "Just tell them the wedding is postponed. Let's postpone the wedding. Let's wait for Emily. Maybe she was just anxious or what. She will come back."

Jeffrey worriedly stared at his best friend. He knew how painful it was. "Okay. I'll tell them."

Jeffrey then called someone and went back to Jalil after he was done calling. "What about your grandparents? And I'm pretty sure this will be a headline. Those hungry monkeys wouldn't let you breathe until you revealed something they could report."

"It's fine. We won't tell them. I don't want them to judge Emily," Jalil softly said.

Jalil was the sole heir of the Aversin family, one of the richest families in the South. After the death of his parents due to a car accident, his grandparents took good care of him and showered him with pure love. Likewise, Jalil adored his grandparents more than anything.

"I will stay here for a while. At least, I will be here when she comes back," Jalil said as he fixed his bed. He pulled himself together and made himself believe that Emily would come back to him. "Maybe she was just thinking about something. She's just trying to sort things out."

Jeffrey found him pitiful. But he didn't show it to help his best friend feel better, as he saw him trying to be fine. Deep down, he resented Emily for putting his friend in this state. She could have explained or said something. Or just end everything properly.

Jalil stayed in the hotel for weeks, became months, to half a year. Still, no signs of Emily. No calls, messages, or even letters.

Jalil was slowly losing hope. He was in deep sadness. He wanted to be angry, but her pretty smile and warm touch in his memory calmed down his furiousness. "Why, Emily?"

He heard several knocks, but because his door was unlocked, Jeffrey just easily came in. "Jalil, it's been six months. Your grandparents are worried. When are you going back?"

Jalil was just silent. He couldn't find the strength to talk or move. He didn't even bother to look in Jeffrey's direction.

"Jalil, come on! You can't be like this forever." Jeffrey let out a faint sigh and sat beside his bed. "I understand your pain, bud. But your world shouldn't stop because of her. You did everything. You never failed to make her feel special. I witnessed that. It's just her who got cold feet."

Jalil gave him a death stare. "Stop saying nonsense!"

"It's true, Jalil. Stop denying. She left you. Accept the reality. She will never come back, Jalil."

Jalil was caught off guard. He was slapped by the truth. He admitted Jeffrey was right. But his love was so strong that it gave his heart a little hope. Though he wanted to give up, he was still clinging to the possibility that she would change her mind and return.

Jalil shed tears again, which made Jeffrey feel both frustrated and worried. "Jalil, you should go home. Maybe your grandparents can help you."

After several attempts, Jalil was persuaded to go home.

He quietly entered the mansion, hushing the maids, who were trying to greet him at the entrance. He mouthed, 'Where are they? 'to the maids, referring to his grandparents.

One of the maids pointed at the kitchen and whispered, "They're having dinner, sir."

He nodded and went straight to the kitchen. But before he could see them, he heard their conversation, which shattered his heart.

"What should we do? I am worried. We are getting older, honey. Anytime soon our time might come. I don't want to leave our grandson like this," he heard his grandmother say.

"I know... I also wished I could see him have his own family. Until then, I could leave peacefully," his grandfather replied with a depressive tone.

Jalil couldn't explain the tightness of his chest. Yes, he was hurt when Emily left, but it was more painful hearing his grandparents.