...- Catherine's pov -...

It's been fifteen years, since I had a crush on Roland, though I once confessed my feelings to him, when I was in high-school, but all he said is that,

"I'm sorry, I only take you as my little sis, who I grew up with, I can't love you more than that"

his words, shattered my heart completely, it was a pain I never felt before

some people said that love is happiness, and that someone's first love is one's lifetime memorable happiness, but for me, all this was quite the opposite

and from that day, I chose to forget about him, ...but ended up failing in the end, it wasn't long when I realised that, my world can only revolve around him

So I intended to, love him in silence, hoping that he won't ever notice my growing feelings for him

And today, is the most important day to him, and the happiest, I could tell, by his sparkling eyes, how thrilled he is

But for me, it's the torturous day, of my life

 Because the man , am madly in love with, is marrying another woman,.. the woman he loves, right before my eyes

Well I am happy for him, cause unlike me, he managed to find the love of his life, and finally spend the rest of his life with her

Actually I attended the wedding, stupid right?, but it's the least I can do, supporting him on this path of happiness, by letting him be, some else's

Few minutes remain, for the wedding to start, I'm at some corner, cowardly hiding my tears, which rebelled my orders, and came out of my eyes

But I.. can't anymore, it's so damn hard ..that it's suffocating me

What if someone sees me, in this state?, what will I tell them?, am I in a wedding or a funeral?

As usual, being a coward I've always been, I ran out of the hall, to the rooftop, where I believe no else can see me, in such misery than, God himself

At last, I felt free, crying my pain out

But my eyes got an attention, at the edge of the rooftop, it was feminine figure, in a wedding dress

That can't be "Erica?" I found myself uttering unknowingly, and that's when, she turned around, meeting her face

It's really her, Erica, Roland's soon to be wife, but what is she even doing here, isn't she supposed to be..

"Little Rine, is that really you?" her eyes all teary, and I couldn't understand why

"ye..yes it's me" I responded, because that's how they usually call me, Roland and her, since they still see me as a little girl, of the past fifteen years, actually am not that young, Roland and her, are only two years ahead of me, and am twenty four now

"wh..what are you doing here Erica, you're supposed to be at the wedding, Roland must be looking for you every where, al..also get down from there it's dangerous"

I uttered taking a step forward, but

"no don't get close or I'll jump" she looked like she wasn't joking, but why..why would she do that, it's her wedding today, why does she want to kill herself?

"bu..but why, why you wanna kill yourself, it's your wedding day, and Roland.. loves you so much, so why you wanna do this?" I couldn't help but ask " did he do something bad, to you?"

"No, he didn't, ...he's never done anything bad to me, in fact he's really kind and loving to me, he ..has never hurt me"

"then why you want to do this? I asked in panick, taking another step forward

"I said don't get closer" she shouted

"okay, okay I won't, I promise" afraid she might really jump, I stood still

"you..won't understand, I just don't deserve him" saying this, tears fell from her eyes

"what do you mean?"

"Yes, I don't deserve him, ever since I was ten, I was raped by my stepfather, he came to my room, every night forcing himself on me, whenever mom was away, and until the day mom died, it's like he was justified to continue doing it, he did it so much that I even lost count, of how many times it has been"

I was so lost, on what she said, it was so much for me, to take it all in, the tears streamed down my face, is it pity or I was sympathetic towards her

"Rine, am not as pure as everyone thinks I am, that's why I don't deserve him, he's too good for me"

I never thought that, she was going through so much, she kept it all hidden in that bright smile of hers, I knew from the start, that her stepdad had something not right about him, but I never thought it was this worse, but why didn't she report him, nor tell anyone, for help, did he perhaps threatened her?

"but why now?, why you wanna do this now, on your wedding day?"

"he was right"

"what do you mean, Erica?"

" he came and told me that, I'm worthless, that I don't deserve Roland's love, that am not good enough to be his wife, that even if am married to Roland, he will still come to me, hunt me down, and ... do what he has always been doing to me, he said that I will only disgrace myself, if.. I'll marry Roland, and he's right about that, ...he is right"

"no, don't believe what he said, ..thats not true at all" I need to, find a way to help her get down first, before she really jumps

"I understand Erica, how hurt you are, if you'll explain it to Roland, he'll understand and finally get justice for you, there's no need, for you to end your life, get down from there please, think about Roland, what will he do if he loses you, do you think he'll survive the pain?, you know how much he loves you, so please live for him"

"that's why am living him in your hands, Rine ever since we were kids, you loved Roland, even now I can tell, by the way you look at him, that you still love him deeply, so please take good care of him, for me, tell him that I love him so much, tell him that, the days I was with him... he made me the happiest girl in the world, tell him that, am sorry.. for leaving so soon"

"no, no, no Erica don't do it"

"I'm leaving him in your hands, take good care of him" saying this, she let go of herself, and fell from the rooftop

"nooooo!" I tried rushing to the edge, but it was already too late, Erica was already on the ground

...- Roland's pov -...

I'm so happy today, I think that there's no man as happy as I am, in this world today, finally am going to marry the woman of my life, today she looks beautiful than ever, thinking of which, I actually haven't seen her, for some time now, and the wedding is about to start

..."Uumh mom, have you seen Erica?" I asked her...

"son relax, no one's gonna kidnap your bride"

"Mom, it's not like that, it's just I haven't seen her, since I left her talking to her Dad"

" last time, I saw her at the entrance, maybe she went out for some air, you know it's normal for girls to get nervous, on their wedding day, so relax" Mom said, patting my shoulder, but no, something doesn't feel right, she should've came back by now

Going to the entrance, she wasn't there, I looked everywhere for her, but I couldn't see her, an idea came to my mind, maybe the rooftop?

no she can't be there

maybe I should go and check, just in case

 Reaching the rooftop, I was surprised to see little Rine, at the edge of the rooftop

"Rine?" I noticed her, little body covered in a peach coloured off shoulder dress

hearing my voice, she turned around, as I walked towards her, but something wasn't right with her face, she was crying, and I don't know why

"what are you doing here?, and why are you crying"

but she didn't respond, instead she cried even harder "what happened to you?"

"a...am s..so..rry" she uttered with such difficulty

"why are yo.." but before I could ask, I heard people's voice, down the building

that's when I decided to have a look, only to see a crowd of people, surrounding someone

but that someone.., in a wedding dress. she looked really familiar

no, it can't be

shaking off the thought in my mind

it can't be her

I took few steps back, my eyes landing on Rine, who stood beside me

"that's not her ..right?"

"am..so..rry" she uttered again

not choosing to believe, the damn thought in my mind

I rushed out of there, going down to the building,unable to feel my legs, I forced myself

Finally I was there, dragging my heavy legs, pushing aside the people, who blocked my way, that's when I met face to face

with my soon to be wife, the woman of my life, laying lifeless on the ground, her head bleeding, her teary eyes wide open

"Erica.. no!" getting on my knees, holding her in my arms, which were trembling terribly

"what happened to you?, how did you end up like this?, we still need to get married, have kids of our own, you can't leave me alone, you can't do this to me"

I really hoped that, all this was just a bad dream, and I'll soon wake up, and forget about it

and wake up, with Erica safe in my arms

...-Catherine's pov- ...

Standing between the crowd, I could see Roland holding Erica in his arms, I've never seen him crying like this before, even when we were kids, every time he got hurt, he never shade tears, not even a drop, all that he ever said is that

"don't worry little Rine, am okay" while he wasn't, but today the pain he's going through, can't be held back in his heart, I can clearly see it in his eyes, and it kills me, seeing him in such state

his pain, was agony to me

It was all my fault, that he's going through this, if only I.. could stop, Erica from jumping down from the rooftop, if only.. I could save her,.. he wouldn't be like this

am to blame, only me... for the misery I've caused the man I love

It's all your fault Rine

In few minutes, the ambulance came, taking Elsa away, Roland also got in

And his whole family followed

"Rine, where were you?" Lexie came " I looked everywhere for you"

"Lexie.....Erica" I couldn't speak

"it's okay" engulfing me to a tight hug "I heard what happened, everything will be fine"

...-Roland's pov-...

We're at the hospital, the doctor got out of the ER, soon than expected

"Doctor, ..how is she?" but he kept silent, for some time "tell me how is she?"

" am sorry, but the patient couldn't make it"

His words made my blood freeze

"what does that mean, you were supposed to save her, not let her die like that, how can you call yourself a doctor?" By now I was shouting, grabbing the doc's collar

"Bro stop it, pull yourself together" Rotin, my young brother came, pulling me away

"Son, you have to admit that, she's no longer with us"

"No mom, she's not gone, she said she won't ever leave me... Rotin, let's get Erica to another best hospital in the city, okay?"

I just can't believe it, Erica can't just ...no she can't

"Brother!, please accept the truth"

"Roland" I heard a familiar voice, calling my name, turning around

It was her

"what brings you here?"

...-Catherine's pov-...

I decided to go to the hospital, seeing my condition Lexie, suggested that, she should accompany me, I wanted to be on Roland's side, during this hard time

But who would've thought, I'd see him in such misery, his pain getting the best of him

"Roland" I found myself uttering

And everyone went quiet, especially him, he turned around to face me

But something was wrong with his gaze, the way he looked at me now, he never looked at me like that before, his eyes were filled with so much darkness, his deadly stare gave me chills all over

"what brings you here?"

what's wrong with him?, I asked myself, while walking towards him, but something inside me, told me that it wasn't a good idea, but still I didn't stop

"I came for Erica, and .. you, I couldn't just..stay behind. after what happened, I wan.."

" You hypocrite" he shouted in anger, with such speed he grabbed my neck, tightening his grip, chocking me to death

" Broh, what are you doing?" Rotin came, trying to take him off, but he was so strong

"son, stop it"

"your killing her, let her go, you jerk" I could hear, Lexie trying as hard as she can, but still he didn't let go

"you killed her, you pushed her from the rooftop" he tightened his grip, even more, making it hard for me to breathe, taking my last breaths, and tears kept falling off

"I.....I....di...d" I tried but couldn't utter a single word