“The Promise”
Weddings are meant to be celebrations of love, but as I watched Shanize walk down the aisle, a sense of unease settled deep in my stomach. Something felt wrong, but I couldn’t quite place it. When I stepped forward to lift her gown, the truth I uncovered left me breathless—and changed my life forever.
I’ve known Dave for more than 30 years. We grew up together, shared childhood secrets, and navigated those awkward teenage years side by side. So, when he told me he was marrying Shanize, a beautiful, elegant woman he’d met just a year ago, I was genuinely thrilled for him. Dave had always been the life of the party, the eternal bachelor, and I was happy to see him settling down.
The ceremony was stunning, the kind of fairy-tale moment everyone dreams about. Shanize looked angelic in her wedding gown, gliding gracefully down the aisle. But as she walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Her steps were smaller than I expected, almost unsteady, like she was forcing each one. At first, I thought it was nerves—weddings can be overwhelming, after all. But the closer she got, the more unsettled I became.
“Do you see that?” I whispered to Heather, Dave’s sister.
“See what?” she asked, looking toward Shanize.
“Her walk—it’s… strange. Like something’s not right,” I muttered, trying to stay subtle.
Heather shrugged it off. “She’s probably just nervous. Don’t make a big deal of it, okay?”
But I couldn’t let it go. My eyes stayed fixed on the hem of Shanize’s gown, the way it swayed oddly, as though there was something beneath it that didn’t belong.
“She’s… gliding,” someone whispered behind me. The word sent a chill down my spine.
“That’s exactly what it looks like,” I murmured to Heather, unable to look away.
“Janice, please,” Heather hissed. “Don’t do this now. You’re going to embarrass Dave.”
But something in me snapped. I couldn’t ignore it. Before I even realized what I was doing, I stepped forward. Ignoring Heather’s frantic whispers, I bent down and lifted the hem of her dress just a few inches.
What I saw stopped me cold.
Beneath the pristine white fabric were polished men’s shoes. My breath caught in my throat as I leaned closer, noticing the dark suit pants peeking out from under the gown. And then I looked up—the face beneath the veil wasn’t Shanize’s at all.
It was Dave’s best man.
The church fell into a stunned silence. Every eye in the room turned to the altar. I stood there, trembling, still holding the gown, my mind reeling. Dave’s joy shifted to confusion as he took in the scene.
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