27F) was supposed to get married last weekend. A year of my life. That’s how long I’d spent meticulously planning every single detail. Every flower petal, every song cue, every single moment leading up to what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. And the dress. Oh, the dress. It wasn’t some designer gown, no, but it was mine. It fit me perfectly, simple and elegant, making me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. The night before, I hung it carefully in the living room, a pristine white ghost floating in the dim light. I laid out my shoes, my veil, the tiny pearl earrings that had been my grandmother’s. My parents, my fiancé, my twin sister, my brother with his girlfriend, and my future in-laws were all staying over, a house bursting with pre-wedding chatter and nervous excitement. Tomorrow. Tomorrow’s the day. I whispered to myself as I drifted off to sleep, a blissful smile on my face.
I woke early, a nervous flutter in my stomach. The first thing I did, even before coffee, was creep downstairs to check on the dress. Just to see it. Just to know it was there.
But it wasn’t.
My heart stopped. The space where it had hung was empty, the hanger swaying slightly. PANICKED. I mean, full-blown, gut-wrenching, cold-sweat PANICKED. “Did someone move it?” I yelled, my voice cracking, tearing through the quiet morning house. “Please, tell me someone moved it!”
Faces started appearing, bleary-eyed and confused. My mom looked at me, her face pale, almost guilty. My fiancé mumbled, “We’ll figure it out,” his eyes not quite meeting mine. My sister just shook her head, a strange, tight smile playing on her lips. Nobody knew. Or nobody admitted to knowing.
I was spiraling. How could this happen? Who would do something like this? I cried so hard my chest hurt, a raw, primal scream building in my throat. Somebody had literally STOLE MY WEDDING DRESS. But why? Why on earth would someone steal my wedding dress? It was just a dress, but it was my dress. It was my day. The humiliation, the betrayal, it was crushing.
There was no other choice. Guests were already arriving at the church. My mom, still pale and saying little, pulled out my old prom dress. It was a beautiful dress, a pale blue, but it wasn’t white. It wasn’t my wedding dress. I felt like a fraud, a stand-in at my own life. My makeup was streaky, my eyes swollen, but I plastered on a fake smile, trying to convince myself, trying to convince everyone, that it was fine. That I was fine.
I walked to the waiting car, the blue fabric heavy around me, a silent testament to the disaster that had unfolded. Just breathe. Get through this. I tried to focus on the future, on him, on the vows we would exchange.
The ride was a blur. The church felt enormous and empty, even packed with people. My father gripped my arm tightly, his silence deafening. I could hear the organ music starting, a solemn, beautiful tune that usually filled me with hope, but today felt like a dirge. Everyone was seated. The church doors slowly, majestically, began to open.
And I swear to God, I almost fainted. The world tilted. My breath caught in my throat, a gasp I couldn’t contain. My father’s grip tightened, but I barely noticed.
Because there, in MY wedding dress, glowing white under the soft light, walking slowly down the aisle, her eyes shining with a cruel triumph, walks in MY OWN twin sister.
But that wasn’t the worst of it. Oh no.
Standing at the altar, waiting for her, smiling a radiant, undeniable smile that was meant only for her, as if this was his dream wedding too, was my fiancé.
The pieces clicked into place with a sickening thud. My mother’s pallor. My fiancé’s evasiveness. My sister’s tight smile. It wasn’t just a stolen dress. It was an elaborate, cruel, public betrayal. They weren’t just stealing my dress; they were stealing my entire future, my love, my family. They were stealing my wedding. My parents, my brother, my future in-laws, everyone in that house the night before… they all knew. They had been in on it.
I stood there, in my faded blue prom dress, watching my fiancé marry my twin sister. My world shattered into a million irreparable pieces.
