LOGINAbby Intrigued, I let Karl take my hand and lead me discreetly away from the reception, weaving through the tables and out a back door into the gardens. A mischievous grin plays on his lips as we giggle like teenagers, ducking behind hedges and scurrying across the lush green lawns. “Where are w
As the music shifts to a slow ballad, I feel a familiar pair of strong arms circle my waist from behind. “There’s my beautiful wife,” Karl’s deep voice rumbles in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. He spins me around to face him, our bodies swaying in time to the soft music. I gaze up at him
Abby The reception hall is cast in a warm, romantic glow, with twinkling lights and the warm flickering of candles on every table. Soft music plays as Karl and I make our entrance, hand-in-hand to raucous applause and cheers from our guests. I can’t stop smiling as we wave to our loved ones gather
Abby The afternoon sun streaming in through the tall windows of the chapel casts the stones in a warm golden light, giving everything a sort of ethereal energy. I stand in the hallway, my arm linked with Anton’s, as the wedding coordinator prepares everyone to walk down the aisle. “Are you ready
Abby As I sit in front of the vanity mirror with the hair and makeup artist circling around me, I meet my friends’ gazes in the reflection; Chloe, Leah, Daisy, and even Elsie are here as my bridesmaids, each of them looking more beautiful than the last. “The seamstress really did do a great job
Abby With a gasp of excitement, I pull the wedding gown out of its box and hold it up in the light. Everything is perfect; the way the beadwork catches the light, the silky texture, the shape. I can’t wait to try it on now that it’s been altered to fit my body. Quickly, I slip out of my clothe
At first, I feel a little awkward under her expert gaze, my usual routine far more modest. But as she applies foundation and starts contouring, I find myself growing increasingly uncomfortable. “That’s a lot of makeup,” I say, frowning at my reflection. The foundation feels heavy on my skin, more
I take a deep breath. “Alright, it’s not a big deal. Let’s go.” We approach the door, which swings open after a few knocks. A short-statured, portly older man greets us from the doorway. He’s got a warm, albeit somewhat eccentric and toothy smile. “Welcome, welcome!” Dr. Armitage exclaims, holdi
“No intruders,” he whispers, a slight smirk crossing his features. “I guess I did my job last night.” I can’t help but let out a small laugh. “Yeah. I guess so.” There’s another moment of silence. I stare up at Karl, taking in the dark circles beneath his eyes; he’s probably got one hell of a ha
Karl agrees and rises from his desk, choosing to leave the whiskey bottle behind. He follows me to the door; but then, as I turn to leave, he suddenly reaches out and grabs my hand. “Abby, wait.” Furrowing my brow, I turn back to face him. Our eyes lock, and all of a sudden I’m acutely aware of







