“Can you please pick up Hailey at 3:00 pm?”, she asked, urgency in her voice: “My doctor says I shouldn’t leave the house”. Disappointment rushed over Oliver; this favor meant he could no longer arrive early at the wedding venue to prepare. He’d have to dive straight into work upon arrival. But family came first, especially for his only sister. Hiding his disappointment, he agreed to pick up Hailey.
That afternoon Oliver rushed to pick up his niece Hailey from school. The eight-year-old was chatty and energetic as usual, filling her uncle in on everything he had missed since he saw her last. Oliver tried his best to listen attentively, but his mind kept wandering back to the wedding shoot.
He realized that scouting the venue and testing the lighting were now off the table. He’d have to lean on his skills and instincts to get the perfect shots for the couple’s big day. After arriving at his sister’s house, Oliver swiftly got Hailey settled and assured her he’d be back that evening. He had bigger things to worry about now, like acing the wedding photos. Little did he know, he’d soon wish he’d just stayed home instead.
Jumping into his car, Oliver raced to the wedding venue, hoping traffic wouldn’t make him too late. The sun was a burning ember, sinking lazily into the horizon as if it too had given up on Oliver reaching the wedding on time. His knuckles were white, gripping the steering wheel with frustration. The wedding venue, Artagne Castle, felt far away as he looked at the car’s dashboard clock. It read “5:47 PM,” and each passing minute made him more and more late.
The car horn sounded as if it were mocking him, adding to his stress. “Why today? Why now?”, Oliver thought. As a wedding photographer capturing moments of joy was his life’s work. But right then, his own happiness felt far away, hidden behind the growing feeling of disappointment.
After being stuck in traffic for what seemed like forever, Oliver finally got to drive fast on an empty road, as if he was trying to catch up with the setting sun. When he reached Artagne Castle, he was amazed by how grand it looked. The tall towers shone in the last light of the day, making the wedding feel even more special. But as he took out his equipment, he started to feel nervous. Something didn’t feel right, like everything was on edge.