When my daughter walked down the aisle, it wasn’t in the ivory gown we had spentmonths perfecting. Instead, she wore a dress as black as night, and the real shock wasn’t the color but the reason behind it.
I still remember the day Jane called me, her voice bubbling with excitement.“Mom! He proposed!” she nearly screamed through the phone.I had known it was coming—Jack had been in her life for five years. They were happy. At
least, that’s what I thought back then.From that moment on, the wedding planning took over our lives. And the first thing wedecided on was the dress.
Jane had always dreamed of something unique. Nothing off the rack. It had to be custommade, just for her. Luckily, my best friend, Helen, was one of the most talentedseamstresses in town.“Oh, we’re gonna make her look like a queen,” Helen had said, sketching the first designs.For months, she worked on it. She poured her heart into every stitch, every bead, every
delicate fold of fabric. It was time-consuming and expensive, but it was perfect.
A few days ago, I saw it nearly finished. Ivory satin, delicate lace, a long flowing train. Itwas exactly what Jane had dreamed of since she was a little girl.Everything was falling into place.Or so I thought.
The night before the wedding, I noticed something. Jack wasn’t acting like himself. He wasalways polite, a little quiet, maybe, but a good man. But that night, he was different. Hebarely looked at Jane, and his answers were short and distant.
“You okay?” I asked him when Jane stepped away for a moment.Jack forced a smile. “Yeah. Just a little nervous, you know?”I nodded. It made sense. Weddings were big, emotional events.
But still… something felt off.The next morning, the house buzzed with excitement. The makeup artist was in the livingroom. Bridesmaids rushed in and out. Jane sat in front of the mirror, glowing.Then, Helen arrived. She walked in, carrying a large white box.“Here she is,” she said, setting it down on the table with a proud smile.
I grinned. “I can’t wait to see it again. It was so beautiful the last time I—”
I lifted the lid.My stomach dropped. The dress inside was black. Not ivory. Not white. Completely,deeply, black. My hands started shaking. My mouth went dry.“Helen,” I whispered. “What the hell is this?”
She stayed calm. Too calm. Then, she placed her hand over mine. “Honey, just trust me.”I turned to Jane, expecting shock, horror, confusion—something. But she just sat there,
staring at her reflection in the mirror.“Jane?” My voice cracked. “What’s going on?”
She finally looked at me.“I need to do this, Mom.My chest tightened. “Do what? Walk down the aisle in a—Jane, this isn’t a joke! This isyour wedding!”She reached for my hand and squeezed it.
“I know.”Helen touched my shoulder gently. “You need to take your seat.”I could barely breathe. My heart was pounding. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t normal. Butthe music started outside, and before I knew it, Jane was standing wearing the black dressand walking toward the aisle.The venue was stunning. Rows of ivory roses lined the aisle. Soft candlelight flickeredagainst the grand chandeliers. A string quartet played a delicate melody, filling the space
with an air of elegance
Guests whispered excitedly, their faces glowing with anticipation.“She’s going to be such a beautiful bride.”
“They’re such a perfect couple.”“I heard Jack teared up during the rehearsal!”I sat in my chair, hands clenched in my lap. My heart pounded against my ribs. They didn’t
know. None of them knew.Then, the music changed. The doors at the back of the room creaked open. A hush fell
over the crowd.Jane stepped inside draped in black. A ripple of confusion swept through the guests. I
heard gasps and murmurs.“What…?”“Is this a joke?”“Is that her actual dress?”
I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe.Jane walked slowly, her black train sweeping across the white petals scattered along the
aisle. Her veil, sheer and dark, framed her face, but I could still see her calm expression.Then I saw Jack. His smile vanished, and his face went pale.His hands, which had been clasped confidently in front of him, fell limply to his sides. His
mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
He looked… terrified. And suddenly, I knew.
A memory flashed in my mind—years ago, curled up on the couch with Jane, watchingsome old movie. A woman had discovered her fiancé had been unfaithful. Instead ocanceling the wedding, she walked down the aisle in black. Not as a bride, but as awoman in mourning the love she thought she had.
I had thought it was just a dramatic scene. Jane had remembered. And now, she wasliving it.
My stomach twisted. This wasn’t a joke or a mistake. This was revenge.Jack swallowed hard as Jane reached the altar. His eyes darted around, searching for an
explanation, an escape. She stood before him, her hands steady, her face unreadable.
The officiant hesitated before clearing his throat. “W-We are gathered here today towitness the union of—”Jack forced a nervous chuckle. “Babe, what is this?” His voice wavered. “What’s with the
dress?”Jane didn’t answer.The officiant glanced between them, uncertain. “Should we… continue?”Jane nodded. “Yes. Let’s continue.”The ceremony went on, but nobody was listening. Every eye in the room was locked onJane, waiting. Then came the vows.
Jack took a deep breath and reached for Jane’s hands. She didn’t stop him. He licked his
lips, nervous, then smiled shakily
His voice grew stronger with each word like he thought this was still fixable.Then, it was Jane’s turn. She let go of his hands. A sharp inhale swept through the room.
Jane lifted her chin and looked Jack straight in the eye.“With this dress,” she said, her voice steady, “I bury all my hopes and expectations for this
wedding and for us—because real love doesn’t betray you just days before the wedding.”
A collective gasp filled the room. Whispers erupted like wildfire.“What did she say?”“Betray? What does she mean?”“Oh my god—Jack cheated?”
Jack’s face drained of color. “Jane—wait—”She continued.“I trusted you. I loved you. I was ready to spend my life with you.” She took a slow breath,
but her voice never shook. “And then I found out the truth.”Jack’s panic was visible now. His hands trembled. “Babe, I swear—it’s not what you think
—”
Jane didn’t blink. “It’s exactly what I think.”Jack dropped to his knees.“Please,” he begged, his voice cracking. “Jane, please, I love you. I swear, I love you!”She didn’t move. Jack clutched at her hands, but she stepped back. His fingers closed
around nothing.
Tears welled in his eyes. “Please, just let me explain!”Jane looked down at him. Unmoved. Unbroken. Then, without a word, she lifted herbouquet and let it slip from her fingers.It fell to the floor, landing right at Jack’s feet. A final goodbye. Jack looked at the flowers,
his breathing ragged.Jane turned and walked down the aisle away from him. I jumped to my feet, my heartpounding. I wanted to say something, to ask her what happened, to take away her pain.But before I could, she reached out and took my hand. I squeezed it tight. She squeezed
back.
As we stepped outside, the whispers behind us faded. The doors shut behind us with a
final, echoing thud. And Jane? She never looked back.Outside the venue, the cold air hit us like a slap. The murmurs and gasps were muffled
behind the heavy doors, but I knew people were still reeling from what they had justwitnessed.I turned to Jane, my heart aching. “Sweetheart…”
She exhaled slowly, her shoulders rising and falling. “I found out three days ago,” she said,voice quiet but firm. “I saw the messages. The late-night calls. The lies.”
I squeezed her hand. “Why didn’t you tell me?”She gave me a small, sad smile. “Because I knew what everyone would say. ‘It’s just coldfeet. He loves you. Don’t throw everything away over one mistake.’” She swallowed. “Butlove shouldn’t betray you. Not like that.”Tears stung my eyes. “No, it shouldn’t.
Jane looked up at the sky, blinking fast. “It felt like when we lost Dad, you know? I thoughtI had something real. Something safe. And then it was just… gone.”
I pulled her into my arms, holding her the way I did when she was little. “You did the rightthing,” I whispered. “I’m so proud of you.”She smiled through the pain. “One day, I’ll wear white,” she said softly. “For the right man.
The right love.”And I knew she would.
