I looked at his hand on my arm, then up at his face. The man I thought I loved looked suddenly like a stranger.
“Oh, honey,” I said, gently removing his hand.
“The spectacle hasn’t even started yet.”
I stepped away from him to face the guests once more. “Thank you all for supporting me today. I wore this dress, not because I was forced to, but to make a point.
Because no woman should be bullied into submission just to please others.”
Then I reached for the zipper at the back of my dress and pulled it down. The red gown fell away, pooling at my feet.
But underneath was a sleek, black cocktail dress, fitted and elegant. A symbol of my power, my decision, my future.
Silence.
Gasps. Murmurs.
I smiled, picked up the discarded red dress, and tossed it at Margaret’s feet. “This is where your control ends.”
Margaret gasped, stumbling back.
Daniel’s face burned red with rage.
“What the hell did you just do?”
“I just saved myself from the biggest mistake of my life,” I replied, feeling lighter than I had in months.
I turned on my heel, walking back down the aisle, head high, heart free. My friends in red stood and joined me, forming a procession of solidarity.
“This isn’t over!” Daniel called after me.
I stopped and looked back one last time. “Yes, it is.”
Because Daniel and Margaret had taught me the bravest thing you can do is walk away from what hurts you, even if it means leaving behind what you thought was your happy ending.
Source: amomama
