The D-day

Chapter 2

Three days later.....

I stood on the podium,eyes afixed on the mayor as I await the proclamation of my life partner.in my head I already imagined him calling the name "Daniel Clark",I've practiced for 3 years just for this day.

It's been about three days since I last saw Anna,she would write regularly to me telling me how good Ralph has been to her.She didn't leave any detail,I remember the other day when she came to me telling me about her relationship with Ralph.After she broke up with him that night she came back to me crying again and ended up sleeping over in my house.

She ended up with the love of her life

Lucky her right?i remember vividly how nervous she was throughout the night,I could only manage to stop her from crying her eyes out.

The next morning as early as the first crow of the roaster,she got up and told me she was going home to get ready for the festival.After she left,I took my bath and put on a pretty short gown,a pair of tights and a shoe dad got me on my 17th birthday,it's a beautiful sliver shoe with an embroidery with the word 'my flower'on it.I remember the day I saw it at a stall on my way from school I fell in love with it instantly only to receive it as my birthday gift.

Went to the kitchen to eat breakfast,waffles with drizzled honey are my favorite with a glass of warm milk by the side(oh I forgot to tell you that I'm the only child of my parents).i hurriedly finished my meal and rushed out of the house

"Be careful darling,we would be at the centre soon"mum said just before I slam the door.

I took the route to Anna's house.I got there,rang the bell twice before hearing the door crank open

"Good morning Mrs Fred"I said trying to look behind her,my eyes searching for Anna.

"Good morning dear,you can come in,Anna is just about getting..."I didn't allow her finish her sentence before going upstairs directly into Anna's room.

"Girls"I heard her say,chuckling

Getting to Anna's room,I met her putting finishing touches on her makeup and was about wearing her dress.It was a long red gown with thousands of beads,it was extremely beautiful.

"Oh my god this is really beautiful "I said.

"you think so?mother got it for me from enchanted "she said.

"En...what?"i said stuttering(who doesn't know enchanted in the whole village of ivy hills,everyone knows it's the biggest stall in the village,it is owned by the mayor and his family).

"Yes mum said,how you look determines how you'd be addressed "she said elated making me wonder if she was the same person that was weeping yesternight.

After the chit chat I followed her family to the village square hall where the festival holds each year.

We got there and met a lot of ladies with different beautiful dresses all ready to be paired.All eligible ladies sat in a beautifully decorated area which was specially prepared for them,likewise the guys,they sat opposite to the ladies.As I look towards Anna,I noticed she was staring at something and I couldn't help but look in that direction as well and I saw Ralph,he had gotten a nice cut and I must confess he does look good,I look back towards Anna's direction only to find her looking so sad,i feel bad because there was nothing I could do to help her.

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It's been 2hrs since the selection started,ladies have been paired with their partners,some where happy with who they were paired with why others left with a gloomy face."why this tradition?,why aren't we free to choose whosoever we want "I asked the girl sitting next to me (At least this would prevent her from sleeping on my shoulder and almost breaking it)."My mother said it's a tradition that has been on for years and that they allow the elders choose our life partner because they are wiser,they watch each child in the village as they grow and determine who would best fit them,my mum said she wasn't happy when she was paired with my dad but as time goes on she realized she couldn't have wished for someone better and that "love takes time".she said almost giggling.

I wanted to continue the conversation with her when I heard the mayor say "Anna Fred pls come up to the podium"I look towards Anna's direction as she walks slowly to the podium I could sense her nervousness and sadness as well.When she got there,the Mayor continued"Anna Fred shall be paired with ....the whole congregation went silent and I was getting impatient and so was she.I don't want anything other than them pairing her with a good man,even if not Ralph(because the chance of her getting paired with him is very slim).

....Ralph Jackson!the mayor said completeing his sentence.I was astonished and so was Anna,I could see her trying to hold back tears as she went on grinning from ear to ear,one could tell that she was elated and so was Ralph as he walked up to hold her hands.

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Present day

The mayor looked at me and smiled and it made me a bit uneasy,"this must go as planned"I said in my mind.I even went as far as saving up money to get the most beautiful dress in enchanted just to look good for Clark.The gown was so beautiful that everyone who saw me couldn't pass without a compliment.

"Seraphine Elizabeth Richardson shall be paired with..."the mayor said and then paused(okay I'm getting nervous here can you just say the name and let me go,God knows I've prayed earnestly just for this day).

"Damien Daniel"he said and blank out!

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