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Prologue

Ivy

The lace of my dress scratches my skin I shiver It’s cold, a wet cold as soft ht? Isn’t that what they say?

Candles protected inside glass lanterns line the stairs leading up to the double front doors I stare up at the the last time I stood here It’s been a while

The doors are opened Organ music and incense pour out

I closeto the sound, and take a deep breath The scent and sound co

No, it’s not those things that havefor me at the end of the aisle

My brother wraps his hand around hts me

I grip my bouquet of blood-red roses If I’ Beautiful Like my dress He has is a certain way He has rules And he’s used to getting exactly what he wants

I’m sloe ascend the stairs toward the entrance It irritatesirritates hi my head backward momentarily A few steps an louder, the incense stronger, co wax

The doors close behind us, that final divide betas and ill be My past and rows louder, but I don’t run It’s no use

Our guests rise to their feet, gazes blank as they turn back to look at h They’re just shapes in er before the altar The stranger in whose bed I’ll sleep tonight

I feel numb Like it’s not real Like it’s not me

The roohtens I’ll have a bruise tomorrow We take one step then another I clutch my bouquet like it’s my lifeline My nails break the skin of iving in to the vertigo

A thousand candles bathe the cathedral in a soft glow, theoes with the dress at least My fiancé’s doing I understand why

My eyes lock on hi us