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Sophie woke with a jolt, her mind reeling back into consciousness. She stared blankly into the darkness as hot tears spilled onto her pillow.
It wasn’t real, she told herself. It was just a dream. They were having a boy and that little girl in the dream didn’t exist.
While she knew that Noah would never act that way or say those things to her, it didn’t make them any less true. Noah didn’t want this child. He didn’t want her. This would never be a real family.
Nevertheless, Sophie had made a promise.
She tried to go back to sleep, tossing and turning until the sun began to rise. She checked her phone; her alarm was about to go off anyway so she got up.
Today is my wedding day.
It was meant to be the happiest day of her life, so why did she feel so hollow?
The hotel room felt empty as she looked around. It was quiet. The sun was now blaring through the windows. Sophie squinted and opened the curtains wide, hoping that the sunshine would help lift her mood.
She wondered if Noah was awake yet. He had chosen to stay at home for the night. She wondered if it was because he was savoring his last night alone in his apartment…
There was a knock on the door followed by a sing-song voice. She opened it and saw her bridesmaids. They were all dressed in silky pink robes.
“Good morning!” they squealed.
Amy nearly tackled her with her giant hug. Mia and Penny still looked half asleep as they walked in.
“Are you excited?!” Amy asked enthusiastically.
“Of course,” Sophie smiled.
They had breakfast delivered to the room — waffles topped with whipped cream, fruit, and syrup, and served with a bottle of champagne.
Sophie slipped into her matching white robe, with the word ‘bride’ bedazzled onto the back. The makeup artist arrived and they all headed down to the vanity room, which reminded Sophie of the dressing room at theNovaoffices.
Amy and Mia reflected on their own wedding days; the mix of excitement and nerves, and the feeling of pure joy and love they felt when they saw their partner at the end of the aisle.
Sophie nodded along, feeling sick to her stomach. She got a glimpse in the mirror. The more she began to look like a bride, the more she started to panic.
“Is everything okay? Do you like it?” the makeup artist asked her when she’d finished.
Sophie smiled, trying to sound convincing. “Yes, it’s exactly what I wanted. Thank you so much!”
The makeup artist left and Sophie was alone with her friends again. They all looked so beautiful.
“Time for the dress!” Mia squealed as Amy pulled it off the rack and presented it to her.
“Yes! Noah’s going to love it just as much as he loves you,” Amy told her.
All the blood drained from her face as she laid eyes on the dress. The room suddenly felt hot and she became dizzy.
No.She wasn’t ready.She couldn’t. Noah didn’t—
“Can you guys excuse me for a second?” Sophie breathed.
“We have to leave soon,” Mia noted.
“Yeah, I’ll be right back.”
Amy stopped her. “Are you okay?”
Sophie maneuvered around her and walked out, unable to control her breathing. She felt like she was on the verge of a panic attack.
