The Night Before My Wedding, My Parents Cut My Wedding

then at my face.

“You’re beautiful,” he says.

That is when my throat tightens for the first time.

Not when the dresses were ruined.

Not when my father said I deserved it.

When Matthew sees me in the one thing they tried to shame me for and calls me beautiful.

I squeeze his hand once, then turn toward the guests.

“Before we begin,” I say, and my voice carries continue reading …