I was the first to wake up the next morning. Emma was sleeping peacefully beside me, like a new born baby. I knew how crazy Emma could be. If she were in my shoes, I know all the heavens would let loose.

I quickly shook her so she could wake up. She rubbed her eyes like a sleepy toddler and looked at the wall clock.

“Oh my goodness Lorena. This is just 3:00. We're supposed to wake by 6." She replied sleepily as she rubbed her eyes.

"Raul didn't return last night, did he?” I asked.

"Lorena please…" she tried to speak but I interrupted

“Raul didn't return last night, did he? I asked again.

“No, he didn't return." She replied, still feeling sleepy.

I began to sob. I picked up my phone and dialed his mum and I told her everything that was happening.

“If Raul is trying to ditch me mum, only the heavens know what will happen!"

002

LORENA

“You need to calm down my dear Lorena." His mum said over the phone, sounding just like Emma when it all started the previous day.

“I have been calming down for too long mum!"

"His battery probably must have died or he must have lost his phone somehow, or he might have gone to attend to some business needs or something else could be holding him. You know how Raúl is.

Just calm down and let's wait until the day breaks. He will surely return. Raul loves you so much, and he wouldn't trade this wedding for anything.”

His mum's words were soothing too, but then, I still wasn't okay.

“But, don't you think we need to involve the police?" I asked, with the thought of him probably being kidnapped.

You wouldn't blame me. At this point, I couldn't think straight.

“Oh no Lorena,we can't do that just yet” she objected immediately

“It's not even up to 24 hours yet. Please, just go back to sleep. We'll see in the morning" And with that, she hung up.

Did she really care about her son? If she did, why did she not panic like I did?.

“Why does everyone not feel what I'm feeling? How are you all just comfortable with what's happening?” I asked no one in particular.

"You're just stressing yourself over nothing. Look at yourself in the mirror and you'll so much hate how you look right now. It's your wedding and you're already ruining your pretty face” Emma replied.

"What's the use of keeping a pretty face when Raul is not here!" I almost yelled

And just before I knew it, there was Emma, snoring like a monkey! Did she really care about how I felt? I think no one cared.