He's not my first choice

“I know I should not force you on this matter. But I don’t think I have much time left to live... Please, please Amy, promise me… You will marry Jason…” Victor struggled a lot to mumble those words out of his mouth.

If one was not listening keenly to him, then they would not understand what he spoke. He coughed out a lot of blood the minute he finished saying those sentences.

His wife, Julie wiped his mouth with a white cloth that turned red immediately. She held him tightly near her chest. She was worried that her life partner might leave her at any moment. Her chest hardened and she struggled to breathe.

“Vic, take it easy! She will agree to your request. She is our daughter. Who said you don’t have much time left to live? I know you are going to be with us for a long time.” Julie lied.

She knows her husband’s health had deteriorated from a long time ago.

“Dear, no one has to tell me anything. I know my body condition better than anyone. I cannot keep on troubling you all anymore…” Victor once again coughed vigorously and blood splattered everywhere.

Amy looked at her father’s wrinkled hand that was holding her hands tightly. He just wanted her to make one simple promise and she couldn't promise him that right away. Till now she knows he never asked for anything from her. He had given her much freedom compared to other parents. He never stopped her from doing anything she desires to do.

She remembered the moments with him from when she was young until now. He was always there with her in each step, she took in her life as her support pillar. He taught her how to walk. He taught her how to eat. He taught her how to speak. He taught her how to ride a bike… He even taught her how to love… He was the one who taught her everything she knows in her life.

She understood that she must straight away promise him that she will do what he wants her to do. But she hesitated. She is in love with someone else. She could not promise her dad instantly because she had already promised someone else that she would spend her entire life with him.

“Amy, what is wrong with you? What did he not do for you? Did he ever ask for anything from you till now? All he wants is to see you get married to someone he chose. You do know that your papa always wishes to give you the best, right? He just wants an assurance that there will be someone with you, who will love you with all his heart just like how he loves you. Can’t you even fulfill his simple wish? Will you not give him a little peace of mind until he is...” Julie could not say anymore as the words got stuck in her throat.

How could she say those words? She loves her husband more than her own life. If possible, she would readily trade her life in return for his. But...

Julie understood the reason behind her daughter’s dithering. She very well knows Amy is in love with her boyfriend Jack. But right now, all she wanted was her daughter to promise her husband that she will fulfill his last wish.

She did not care about her daughter being heartbroken later. Right now, her priority was to make her husband happy. She will go to any length to see a small satisfied smile on his face.

“It’s ok, dear. Do not force her. If she does not wish to marry the guy whom I selected, then it's fine…” Victor once again tried to speak with great difficulty.

“No, papa… I will marry him.” Amy mumbled while looking down.

“She said she will marry him, Vic. She will marry him. She promised you that she will marry him…” Julie excitedly said.

Julie with tears hugged her husband in one hand while pulling Amy near her using the other hand. She finally felt relieved after hearing the promise their daughter made to her husband.

“Thank you, thank you, Amy… He is a good man… He will take care of you even better than me.” Victor said.

He felt that the burden in his heart reduced. He relaxed and tears rolled down his eyes because of happiness. All he could think was that his daughter would be safe with Jason and he would protect her. Jason would never allow anyone to harm her.

“Papa, you do not have to thank me. It’s my responsibility to fulfill all your wishes.” Amy said while trying hard to smile.

“No, Amy… I only want your happiness. If you do not want to marry him, then let me know…” Victor asked but still, he hoped in his heart that she would not reject his choice.

Amy shook her head and made sure the tears would not flow down carelessly. It was difficult to hide her sad face from her father.

Victor lifted his hand with great efforts and patted Amy's head. Later, he slowly dozed off to sleep. It has been happening in recent days. He would be trying to talk and suddenly, he would go into slumber.

Julie adjusted his position to make him sleep comfortably on the bed. Then she pulled a blanket over to cover him until his neck. She took Amy's hand and walked outside the room.

Once they were out, she looked at Amy and said,

“I am sorry, my dear. I know I should have not forced you to make that promise. But your papa’s health is not like before. The doctor said we might need to inform everyone soon. He hardly has a few days left to live. I want to give him everything he desires, even if it means I have to sacrifice your happiness. You have to break up with Jack. The marriage will happen tomorrow, so you have only one night left. Please do not disappoint me or your dad.”

Julie walked away after saying those words to Amy. She slid down the wall and sat next to her father’s door. Her heart was heavy and she did not know how she would explain it to Jack, who was waiting for her in the garden.

Tears rolled down her cheeks. She did not know what was correct and what was not anymore. She had already promised her dad but how can she marry someone when Jack has her heart. Suddenly, a thought appeared in her mind.

‘What if I contact my groom and tell him that I am in love with someone? If he disagrees with the marriage then I don’t have to get married tomorrow. And slowly I can tell papa that I am in love with Jack. He would definitely agree with me marrying Jack.’

When the idea popped out on her head, she immediately stood up from the floor with determination. She ran behind her mother to get the contact details of the person whom she was going to marry the next day.

“Mom, I have to ask you something…”Amy muttered with her heart thumping against her chest.

She held the sides of her skirt she was wearing with her shivering hands, tightly. She knows this was her only option and she cannot fear away. Also, she had to make sure that whatever she was going to ask, should not raise her mother’s doubts. Or else she could never see the guy or even talk to him until she was already married to him and was thrown into his den.

Even after waiting for a long time, she did not get any response from her mother. As she was busy with her own goals, she failed to notice the blood coming out of her mother’s nose.

“Mom… Momm…” Amy shouted from behind once again to get her mother’s attention.

Julie, after coming out from her husband's room, felt her chest ache. Her mind was filled with their memories. She knows Victor was her first love and also will be her last. She could not imagine a life without him in this world. She ignored the chest pain and opened the closet to take out the dress he bought for her as a wedding gift.

This was his first gift after their marriage. She held the soft fabric in her hands and lifted it near her face. He presented it to her on their wedding night. This was a special dress custom designed only for her. When he gave it to her, he said with love flowing in his eyes,

“Do you know this is the only dress available in the whole world? I designed it especially for you and only you. Can you see the flower in the middle of the dress? The flower's name is Camellia. It symbolizes that ‘my destiny is in your hands’. I chose the red color for the flower as it carries the meaning of love, passion, and deep desire."

He then hugged her and said in a loving tone, " I deeply desire my wife whom I am so passionately in love with.”

He kissed her and showed her what heaven was that night. He always showered her with unconditional love. She thought she could never love him like how he loves her.

“Mom… Mom…” Julie woke up from her sweet dreams when she heard Amy’s shouts near her ears.

“What is it? If it is about asking me to change your papa’s mind regarding the marriage, then please go back to your room. I have nothing to discuss concerning that matter with you,” Julie uttered without even turning back.

She hung her dress back into the closet and wiped her face. When she moved her hand in front of her face, she saw blood in her hands. At first, she ignored it thinking that it might be Victor’s blood.

Amy knows she should not do this but she was now left with no other option. Either do this or marry someone unwillingly. It would end up in her losing her happiness along with spoiling the person whom she was going to marry the next day. With resolution, Amy decided to get the contact details at any cost.

“Mom, I want to know more details about the person whom I am going to marry tomorrow. Other than his name being Jason, I know nothing about him.” Amy mumbled.