My Pretty Sweetheart (Arianna)

Perhaps it was because the church was too quiet. Any noise that was made was picked up and recorded by the electronics. Other than Irvin's strenuous breathing, there was also the sound of a woman's sad sob.

Shirley stood in front of him as she listened to everything Irvin had to say.

She was as stubborn as he was. She had blindly chased after something that wouldn't be hers, nor his. At least he had received care from his beloved before he died while for her, happiness that was stolen was not a cure.

"Are you giving up now? Then, what's the point for me to continue fighting on?" Irvin sniffed and sneered, "You know what, you are right. My pride will not let me accept things that are given to me out of sympathy. Since you are letting go, I'm not continuing on either. Let's not bother with the third bow."

He turned to ask Evan to leave, "Go back and inform Hendrix that this time I've lost to God. He won't be so lucky next time. You can go now, thank you for today."

Evan hesitated for a moment, but he did not insist.

He nodded and left.

"Tap tap..."

The heels clacking against the wooden floor, bright clear steps faded as he gradually went further.

I turned to look out the window and I saw Evan walking out of the church. The sounds from the surveillance were gone.

As soon as he left, the only ones left in the church were Irvin and Shirley. Hendrix and I sat in the car and could not help but frown.

The plan was to let Shirley pretend to be me and we would swap after the bow. However, with them being alone, we didn't know whether Irvin would suddenly lift her veil. Once he did, he would be displeased, and things would spin out of control.

If it weren't for the time constraints, we would have given Shirley an in-ear microphone. That way, it would have been much easier to communicate with her.

situation, from the surveillance, we saw Irvin miss his step and trip towards

fell to the edge of the podium. His head crashed into the

changed into a different position so that Irvin would lay in

in a low voice, trying not to

she looked up at the monitor and tried to reach out to call for help, but Irvin caught her at that

nerves

already

and drive over Get ready for

rescue." ng

car

off the phone and patted my shoulder with his palm. "It's okay. The doctor

tightly and stared at the screen, not

eyes fluttered as if he would fall asleep at any

actually cried for me this time, didn't you? Your cries sound different. What if I can't

you won't. Just hang

will

Shirley as

veil.

was weak, and his

"Arianna..." Irvin w

was out of focus.

to lift the veil and said,