At the bridal shop, I saw fresh dark marks across my sister’s back. She whispered, “If I cancel, his father will ruin us.” I kissed her cheek and said, “Then we won’t cancel.” But by morning, the groom had no idea who was waiting at the aisle.
and I stood together in the sunlight, her veil gathered in my hands, both of us smiling like women who had walked through fire and left the monsters behind.