this is the last chapter of the story but i will have an epilogue, to show what happens afterwards, if i get good reactions from the final ending i might make a sequel :)

Chapter 12

The sun beamed in through the window. My dress, as ugly as it is, looked gorgeous on me. My hair was swept into an array of curls, some falling from the clasp. My hands were covered in the most exquisite white gloves, sewn especially for me. The bouquet was of my favorite flowers, white roses. My two best friends were here, looking beautiful. My father was behaving well, and my grandmother was in a serene mood. Everything was ideal, set for the perfect wedding.

Except, I had spend the last few minutes crying at the window's seat, curtain drawn, so no outsiders could see. It came out of no where. I made a couple of touch ups to my makeup, since I insisted doing it myself, and felt my heart tear in two. Kartik was in my mind. What would happen if he came back, with me married?

Get a hold of yourself, Gemma, he is not coming back. Somehow, that thought didn't help ease my pain, it just worsen it.

I swiped at my tears, as I heard a knock at my door. "Come in."

I plastered another smile on my face, thinking it was grandmother or Mrs. Middleton, but, instead, it was Ann.

"Gemma, we are about to start."

"Okay."

Ann, smart Ann, looked at me, suspiciously, but then grew concerned. "Gemma," she said, as she quietly closed the door, "are you alright?"

Still with the smile on my face, I lied, "Yes, why do you ask?"

An expression formed on her face, and it asked, "Are you serious?". Outloud, she said, "Your makeup is smudged, as if you were crying."

The smile shattered. Of course, Ann would take the time to notice, that I was not myself. "Yes, I suppose I was." I drew a hankerchief from a drawer and dapped at my eyes, hoping to salvage most of my work.

Ann stood next to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. Instead of asking what anybody else would ask, Ann said, "Is it Kartik?"

I shook my head, but, then I felt my head move up and down. "It is him, but it is Simon, too. Oh, Ann, I am dreadfully confused. I told myself the night Kartik left, that I would let him go, but I can not seem to. Then, there is Simon. Simon, who people expect me to marry, to be happy with." I felt more tears fall down my cheeks. "But, I am sure Simon will not make me happy. Not in the way he should. This is not right, Ann. I do not love him, yet I am about to marry him."

Again, if I was talking to anyone else, they would tell me what my father told me, but not Ann. "Well, why are about to go through this marriage? If Simon does not make you happy, why not leave?"

My tears faded, as I laughed. "Right, I can see it now. Oh, thank you all very much for coming, but I decided I can not simply go through with this wedding. Please excuse me, and, then I run out the back, thinking no one is going to stop me. It's a glorious idea, but it is not possible."

Ann's compassionate look brighten. "What if you could?"

As she became planning, I grew confused. "What do you mean?"

"What if you could, you know, sneak out?"

"Ann, darling, you are getting delirious? How do you except me to leave my own wedding, without been seen?"

"I can fix that." She practically rushed to the door, before I could say another word. She closed the door behind her.

"Is she ready?" I heard a frantic lady ask Ann, who responded, "No, not yet, but do not fret, she will be."

Such a good friend. Ann came back, this time with a cloak draped over her arm. She held it up and threw it to me. "Hurry, and put it on," she commanded, as she went to the door. Sticking her head out and looking either way, I guessed she confrimed, that no one was coming.

Still stunned, I just sat there.

"Well, do not just sit there. Do you want to escape or not?"

I snapped out of my thoughts and hasteningly threw it over my dress. I clasped it and placed the hood over my head. I turned to the mirror. "This doesn't feel right. I mean," I turned to face Ann, "what am I suppose to do after I leave here? If I go home, my grandmother will force me here. If I stay in London, they will find me. If I leave England all together, how could I ever expect to come back and face everyone? To face Simon."

Ann reached out and clasped my hand in comfront. "Do you want me to talk you out of this?"

"Yes."

"Well, I am not. I see what you are saying. Your reputation would be shattered, but at least, you will be happy. At least, you will be free to search for someone, who you do love. Now, I do not know how your grandmother or Simon or anyone else will react, but I have news for you, Gemma, if they really love you, they will understand."

"Thank you, Ann, but you are wrong. They will not. They will be furious."

"Maybe, but you need to stop pleasing everyone else. I know, it is a woman's job to get married, in love or not, and have children to take care of, while the husband works, but you know what I say? I say, society should not be allowed to control people. People should be charge of their own lives, their own destiny. Gemma, you have a chance to leave. Unless you want to stay and be miserable, then go, go far away and start over."

I couldn't resist giving Ann a large, warm embrace. "Thank you, Ann."

I had managed to go out the side door. However, I ran into my dad, who was looking for me. When he saw me in my cloak, he understood what I was doing. For a split second, I thought that my future freedom will be lost to my dreams, but my dad surprised me. He kissed me on my forehead, and told me, "I will make up something. All I want is for you to be happy. Go, just don't forget us."

Tears in my eyes, I had replied, "Thank you, Father." I kissed him on the cheek, and Ann followed me outside.

I bid Ann a last goodbye, and she went back inside. Walking towards the surrounding woods, I had second thoughts. I hated the idea of just leaving, with no goodbyes, no apologies, no thanks, but no thanks, just leaving. I stopped, and turned around, looking back at the church. I was torn between marriage and my freedom, between my responsibility and my happiness.

I sighed. What made you think you could go through with it? It was a selfish idea, it was foolish. Just go back and apologize and pray they forgive you.

But still, I couldn't help but turn back to the woods, for the last time as a unwed woman. What I saw caused me to catch my breath. I started to run towards the woods, feeling my hood slip off my head. My heels dug in the ground, and, instead of going back to retrieve them, I continued barefoot. My head was finally clear of doubts, of worries. I concentrated on just running, running not from something, but to someone.

I crossed the threshold of the woods. Now closer, I was certain I was dreaming, but I didn't care, I needed a dream right now. I threw my arms around him, breathing in his scent. He held me, and I knew that this is where I belonged.

LAST CHAPTER IS COMING UP.

O and if there was any confusion (which their should not have been) Gemma was running towards Kartik in the woods. That's right they ended up together :). Will update soon with the epilogue!