I closed the door behind me and began to sob. It hurt me to know that he was sad because of me. I had wanted so badly to choose him, but I had to choose Thomas. My period was late. It was too early to tell if I was pregnant, but the fact that I could be left me with no choice. I couldn't break things off with Thomas if I knew I might be carrying his child. Besides, Victor would never stay with me if it turned out that I was pregnant. He wouldn't want to hang around with me at all once the news broke out amongst the town.
I cursed fate silently as I thought about what tomorrow would bring. Both Victor and I would be marrying someone we didn't love. Yes, I had thought that I had loved Thomas, but once I knew that Victor reciprocated my feelings for him, I knew that what I felt for Thomas was nothing but lust. I wanted so badly to be loved, that it was easy for me to deceive myself into thinking that I felt something more for him. It didn't help that he was so sweet to me.
The only person I had to blame was myself. I wished I had listened to my father. If I had broken things off with Thomas earlier, this never would have happened. I would've had no choice to make, and I would have happily agreed to court Victor.
An hour later, my bag was packed with some clothes and my dowry, that was kept in the family safe. My mother's wedding dress was hanging in my closet. I tried it on, and stared at my reflection in the mirror. It was a perfect fit. I took the ring out of my drawer and slid it on my finger. This is my future now, I thought to myself. I packed up the dress and ring, and I began to write two letters explaining my departure from home. One was for my father, and one was for Victor.