Love could conquer everything, I thought. It seemed like the world disappeared when two individuals loved each other. Was wrong.
Daniel proposed after nearly two years of dating.
In our favorite restaurant, he kneeled and asked, “Will you marry me?” The diamond sparkled like my tears in the candlelight.
Yes!” I whispered, then shouted.
Daniel placed the ring on my finger, and I felt light. I believed my life was finally coming together.
While Daniel slept beside me, I glanced at the ceiling and dreamed of our future. Lily would have a good family, and I’d have a reliable partner.
Challenges were expected. Although Margaret, Daniel’s mother, never welcomed me, I thought we had established an agreement.
I was mistaken about that too.
I bought dresses the next day. Lucky me, the third store had the perfect dress. That day, I overspent on the outfit but knew it was worth it.
Margaret arrived. She entered when I was upstairs admiring my magnificent gown. One look at my clothing had her face twist in disdain.
She shook her head, “Oh, no.” Do not wear white.”
Why on earth not? I requested.
She laughed patronizingly. White symbolizes pure brides. You should wear red since you had a child. It is less deceptive.
“What!?” I nearly dropped my dress in horror.
Daniel entered the doorway smiling and unaware of the tension.
“Daniel, you should’ve told her she can’t wear a white dress, dear,” Margaret remarked before I could respond. “Totally inappropriate. I advised her to wear red.”
I looked to Daniel to end this immediately.
Instead, he nodded. “I didn’t consider it… He looked me in the eye and replied, “Mom’s right. You can’t wear that dress to our wedding. Only fair.”
What I heard was unbelievable!
“Fair? “You can’t be serious,” I laughed half-heartedly. “In the 21st century… You don’t think every white-dressed bride is chaste!
“It’s not about what other people do, babe,” Daniel remarked. “We chose a traditional wedding, right? Thus, wearing white would be like lying about your identity.”
“About what you are,” Margaret said coldly.
That was when I knew it wasn’t just a dress.
Trying to embarrass me!
I stormed out after hanging up my dress. After that, I couldn’t face them, so I played with Lily in her room until I was calm.
I didn’t know what to do about this crazy wedding dress catastrophe, but Daniel and his mother had already intervened.
Margaret was in our living room when I got home from work the next day. Daniel gave her a key for “emergencies.”
Emergency wedding dress.
She pointed to a large box on the sofa and said, “I took care of the dress situation.” ”Open it.”
Shaking, I lifted the lid.
Blood-red gown with plunging neckline and elaborate embroidery was within. It looked more like a vampire outfit than a wedding dress.
“Now this is a proper dress for someone like you,” she said.
“I’m not wearing this.” I shook my head and closed the package. “I’ll wear the dress I bought, Margaret.”
Just “You can’t,” she said. “I returned it with your receipt. Then bought this. It suits your circumstance better.”
She’s audacious! The front door opened, and Daniel entered.
“Perfect timing!” Margaret took the dress from the box and showed Daniel. “Look what I got today! Is it perfect?
Daniel nodded while studying the outfit, horrifying me. “I like. It suits you better, babe.”
As a volcano poised to erupt, Lily entered the room before I could speak.
One look at the clothing made her frown. “Is that your wedding outfit, Granny Margaret? It appears bloody.”
I gazed at my lovely daughter, then Daniel and his mother. I realized I could never defeat them face-to-face. No matter how much I struggled, they would still consider me as impure and unworthy of a white dress.
I accepted the red dress. Not for the reasons they thought.
Tension built in the weeks before the wedding. I smiled during fittings, tastings, and rehearsals while making calls and texting in private.
I would make a bigger statement with my dress if Margaret wanted to.
Wedding day dawned brightly. I entered wearing Margaret’s crimson dress and clinched my jaw into a smile.
Margaret wore a white dress and a triumphant look in the front row. She had the guts to wear white to my wedding after pushing me into a Halloween attire.
White-clad Daniel stood at the altar. Their high purity standards didn’t work both ways.
The music began. My father, who had flown in, nodded and grasped my arm.
We started walking. I heard the guests mumble as they looked. I didn’t wink back. No way was I revealing the game too soon.
Daniel grabbed my hands at the altar.
“You look…” he began, but I spun to face the guests.
I examined them thoroughly. The signal. They rose one by one.
Margaret’s arrogance waned.
Hissed, “What’s up?”
The actual unveiling came like a wave.
A sea of red dresses, shirts, and ties emerged as guests removed their jackets or wraps.
Undeniable solidarity, quiet.
Margaret gasped. “What? WHAT IS THIS?
I smiled steadily at her. “A reminder that no one can judge a woman by her past.”
Margaret stood up, furious. This is absurd! This wedding was meant to be proper!”
Dan was outraged. He said, “How could you do this?” “You made our wedding a spectacle!”
I saw his hand on my arm and then his face. I saw a stranger in my lover.
I murmured, “Oh, honey,” softly removing his hand. “The spectacle hasn’t even started.”
I left him to face the guests again. “I appreciate your support today. By choice, I donned this garment to make a point. NO woman should be coerced into obedience to please others.”
I then pulled down my dress’s back zipper. The red robe sank to my feet.
A tailored, gorgeous black cocktail dress was underneath. The emblem of my power, choice, and future.
Gasps, murmurs.
I smiled, grabbed up the crimson dress, and threw it at Margaret’s feet. “Your control ends here.”
Margaret staggered as she gasped.
Angry Daniel’s face flushed red. “What the hell did you do?”
I said, “I just saved myself from the biggest mistake of my life,” feeling lighter than in months.
I retreated down the aisle, head high and heart free. Red-clad friends marched with me in solidarity.
“Not over!” I was called by Daniel.
I looked back one last time. Yes, it is.”
Because Daniel and Margaret showed me that walking away from what hurts you is the bravest thing you can do, even if it erases your happy ending.
Inspired by true events and people, this work is fictionalized for creativity. To preserve privacy and enrich the story, names, characters, and facts were changed. The author does not imply any resemblance to real people, events, or places.
From thecelebritist.com
