I felt like I was drowning in tension a week before my wedding. My head was filled with countless to-do lists, and my heart was pounding every morning when I woke up.
At the bakery, I put in long, exhausting hours, and when I went to the deli for my second job, I put in even more. My concerns increased with every passing second: mounting expenses, preparing for the wedding at the last minute, and the ongoing worry that I would go over budget on a very limited budget.
I had always pictured our wedding day as a glorious occasion, a time when happiness and unity would triumph over the craziness of everyday life. However, the stress of preparation and never-ending financial negotiations felt like a high-stakes marathon in the days before the celebration. I feel so at peace right now as I write this last chapter. I no longer feel hopeless when I think back on that fateful day—the image of Derek on his knees, the icy determination in Carol’s gaze.
Rather, they serve as a reminder that even in the face of unspeakable suffering, the human spirit can triumph. Even though my future is based on a past I can never completely forget, I have taken back my tale and found that it is bright. I would say this to everyone reading this who has experienced betrayal or brokenness as a result of the conduct of those they trusted: Your suffering does not define you.
