Maya’s once white dress is now stained red with both her own and her husband’s blood. The world blurs around me and the screams of the guests are muffled as I focus only on stopping the blood pouring from her gaping wound.

“Micheal!” she cries. “Micheal! Where are you!”

I move so she can’t see Micheal’s body lying behind me in a pool of blood.

“Shh, it’s going to be alright.” The lie slides easily off my tongue. How can I say that it’s going to be alright when Maya’s bleeding out in my arms and her husband is dead? I lie again anyways. “Everything is going to be fine.”

“I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

We all cheer as Maya and Micheal kiss. When they pull away Maya catches my eye, a huge smile on her face. She’s never looked happier, this truly is the best day of her life.

Her voice has dropped to a whisper. She’s still crying for Micheal but she’s unable to say it any louder. Has anyone called an ambulance? I don’t have my phone but someone must’ve, right?

“It’s going to be okay,” I mutter over and over again though with each passing second Maya loses more blood and her skin grows paler. I’m beginning to doubt that it will be okay.

For a moment her eyes meet mine. “Lily…” she croaks out. “Please, don’t leave.”

“I’m right here,” I reassure her. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I chat idly with the guests, wishing I knew where Maya was. My sister has always been better at small talk. Our conversation is cut off by a loud bang quickly followed by a scream that is unmistakably Maya’s.

“Was that a gunshot?!” I ignore the question as I push my way through the crowd to where the noise had came from.

Maya stands surrounded by people and holding Micheal’s limp body in her arms. Another bang and the crowd scatters. After one final bang, Maya falls to the ground, red blooming across her wedding dress.