CLINGING TO HOPE

'There is no need for panic, everyone," Richard said, looking around at everyone and convincing himself that there was no alarm. It could be just one of those unavoidable mishaps. Ellie could have been stuck in the office longer than she intended and later met with the city's traffic, and probably her phone's batteries died. Yes, that could be it. 'I am sure Ellie will be here. Let's just sit, listen to some music, mingle, and have drinks." Richard smiled assuringly.


'Are you sure about your daughter, Richard?" His weak smile faded as he turned to Martha. The woman seemed to have made a pact with the devil to annoy him. 'For all we know, she might have eloped to escape this. Didn't you have a fight last night and this morning as well about this?"

'Shut up!" Richard warned between gritted teeth. 'Ellie will never even think of defying me, Martha!"

Martha emitted a mocking, sinister glimmer, wiggling her head to challenge Richard's words. 'I wouldn't be too sure if I were you, darling Richard. I read so much about her actions last night and this morning. The way she even spoke to you this morning, she was saying something indirectly to you, and I am so sure about this. At the end of this night, the heavens will prove me wrong!"


Ellies last words echoed in Richard's mind. The way she spoke to him with so much boldness, hate, and pain. She had never expressed her disapproval of him like the way she did that morning. Was Martha right?

‘No! No! No! Ellie can never disobey me!' Richard thought in her head.


'What happened, Richard?" Mr Riccaforte asked in confusion, leaning closer to his friend as if to shut everyone else out of their conversation. 'What is she ranting about?"

'I am not ranting, but he will not admit it because he is afraid that the only person who will be able to crash his ego is his very own daughter. Ellie never wanted this betrothal from day one up to the last minute that they talked about it, which was this morning. That explains why she isn't here, right?" Martha spoke.

'She must be somewhere coming," Richard hissed, grabbing Martha's hand to stop her from speaking, but she was unsilencable.

'Really, now? Your ever-punctual daughter got late for the first time today and at her own event? And she couldn't even call you or anyone to say that she would be late? You know that is not Ellie!" Martha hissed back.

Richard got furious, glaring at Martha with so much detest. 'You know, if anything happens if she has a change of mind about this, it is all because of you and this shameless daughter that you have here," he roared in a low key, pulling Martha closer, his eyes burning with rage as he added, 'If I were you, I would pray that what I am thinking is not true because if it is, I will not spare you and your daughter for this."

'Wait, Richard!" Mr. Riccaforte hijacked the fight between the couple. 'Are you saying that there is a possibility that Ellie eloped? We can't afford this."

'Your son is not here yet, my friend. So let's join the people and give our children some time to get here. Ellie can not defy me!" Richard said.

'And how much time are you talking about here, huh? An hour? Two? The whole night? It's already eight, for goodness sake! I suggest you just release the guests and accept this for what it is! Your daughter is not coming, and apparently, it seems like she was betrothed to her match because your soon-to-be son-in-law isn't showing any signs of showing up as well!"

'You don't have to know anything, Martha!" He pushed her aside. 'You and your daughter better get inside and don't show your faces out here!" He ordered.

Martha felt furious. He was humiliating her again. She was about to speak, but her daughter reached for her hand. 'That is enough, mother! Let's just leave. We are not needed here, and it's not like we wanted to be part of this anyway. Besides, you don't want to be part of the embarrassment that is about to happen because Ellie is not showing up."

With that, they both left with their heads held up high as if they had won a trophy or were waiting for one that was a sure bet.

'Don't you think we should listen to them? My son has not picked up until now," Mr. Riccafirte said after a minute of watching the two women walk away.

'She knows nothing about my daughter," Richard said with a stoic voice, turning to his friend. 'I know my daughter well. She might have been against this; she might have been hurt and unsure, but she can not do this to me! She has always obeyed me, and I explained to her how important this is. She will come; Ellie will come!"

Everyone looked at Richard. It was clear that the man didn't want to entertain the idea of her daughter going against him. He was trying to stay calm about the whole issue, but the anger and hurt that was molding in him could be seen through his eyes and his restless eyes as he packed his eyes at the entrance. Waiting for his obedient Ellie. Wishing that any minute he would see her drive through the gate. No matter how long she would take, he was willing to wait as long as she came.

He would then embrace her and tell the crowd, ‘See, I told you that my daughter loves me so much to defy me'. And the ceremony would commence, and after the ceremony, he would have a heart-to-heart conversation with her and come clean as to why the marriage was so important to him. He would enclose to her that part of this deal that he had not told her. And then she would understand him fully. She would forgive him for pulling all strings to see to the success of that marriage.

'What if…" Mrs. Riccaforte's voice wavered for a second as she looked at Richard, 'What if she doesn't?"

'Why?" Richard asked, not taking his eyes off the empty gate. 'Do you think that your son is not coming too?"

Silence hangs in the air. Both Mr. and Mrs. Riccaforte's mouths remained sealed as they joined Richard in packing their expectant eyes and hopes at the gate.