“Are you sure you want to do this dear? You still have time to back out.” My mother looked at me concerned as I twirled around in the wedding dress that stood out to me.

“I’m sure Mom! He’s the one!” I reassured her yet again, it seems like she had been asking me that every day now. At first it really upset me, but at this point I’m used to it.

“Honey, you’re only 18. You have your whole life ahead of you, you don’t have to settle down for the first guy that comes along!” She again pushed and tried to convince me, but since I’ve heard this same speech at least once a day for a while now I kind of just blocked it out.

“Oh isn’t this dress beautiful?” I gushed as my mother scowled. I won’t let the disappointment of my mother ruin my big day.

“Yes dear, everything looks beautiful on you.” She was a bit dismissive, then continued her rant about Arnold. “He’s 12 years older than you! He’s in a different stage in life than you are, he just wants a pretty young thing. You should be going to college and college parties. Not getting married to a 30 year old man. You’re missing out on one of the most fun stages of your life!”

“I’m not going to be missing out on anything!” I scolded her. “Arnold and I already talked about this. He wants me to move in with him and I can commute to college.”

I thought this would make her be quiet but if anything enraged her further. She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, my first husband gave me the exact same spiel. They’ll say anything and be sweet as can be until they get you. Then things go downhill. Trust me, the exact same thing happened to me. I promised myself I wouldn’t let you do what I did, but here we are. Please learn from my experience! It’s not something I wanted for you, that’s why I divorced your dad before you were even old enough to talk. You may not remember it, but I’ll never forget what I went through. For once listen to me, go have fun and be a stupid college kid. Don’t let some thirty year old man trap you! For goodness sake he’s closer to my age than yours!”

“No!” I couldn’t hold back the shout that built within me. She kept pushing me and pushing me so it finally came out. “Arnold’s different! I’m sorry you messed up, but I’m not like you!”

“All I want for you is better than what I did!” She suddenly burst out in tears and rushed out. Maybe I was too harsh on her, but Arnold has been an angel. He’s everything I’m looking for even if he is a little older than me.

I took one final look in the mirror, this is the dress! I know it!

The door of the bridal shop swung open quickly, I thought my mother had come back to reason with me again, but to my surprise it was Arnold. He looked disheveled and panicked.

“Arnold!” I gasped, trying to hide the wedding dress. Everyone knows it’s bad luck for your husband to be to see the wedding gown before the wedding. “What are you doing here?! Don’t look at me, get out of here!”

I tried to get off the brightly lit stage with the surrounding mirrors, but he grabbed my arm hard enough for it to slightly hurt and prevented me from getting down. Around me the other ladies in the shop gasped but quickly went about their business again.

“Don’t you tell me to leave! Where have you been?! You haven’t answered your phone? Why did I spend all that money on a cell phone for you if you aren’t going to use it?” He practically screamed into my face, roughly pulling me closer.

“Arnold, let me go, you’re hurting me!” I gasped, trying to squirm free from him, but his grip was too strong.

“Er, excuse me sir.” A brave, but also shy at the same time, shop employee came up. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave for damaging the merchandise.” She gestured toward the sleeve he tore while grabbing me. “I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you pay for repair costs before you go.”

He grumbled and let me go, clearly getting ready to unleash a tirade on the poor lady. “How much do we owe you?” I asked, trying to avoid any further confrontation.

“The dress itself is two thousand dollars, but to repair the sleeve we can hire a tailor for around a hundred or two. Just for the sleeve, no alterations. This is a very hard to work with fabric.” She gestured over to the cash register. “If you could just step over here sir, my coworker Sandy will get you checked out.”

She quickly pulled me to the side. “Are you okay? You shouldn’t let this man treat you like this!”

“I’m fine.” I murmured. “I’ve never seen him like this before!”

“I heard your conversation with your mom earlier, word of advice. I’ve seen a lot of bride to bes step in here, and let me tell you, you need to get you a man that treats you like a Queen. Here.” She shoved a card into my hands discreetly. “This has my number on it. Text me or give me a call if you want to talk.

I looked down at the business card in my hands. “Thanks!” I whispered, sliding the card into the pocket in my purse where I keep my pads. Arnold doesn’t check that area, he’s too embarrassed.

“It’s paid for, get out of it and let’s go!” Arnold snapped impatiently.

“O-okay!” I panicked and rushed back to the dressing room and quickly got back into my normal clothes. I handed the slightly torn dress back to the lady who gave me the business card. Arnold grabbed my arm and rushed me out.

“We’ll call the number on file when the dress is ready!” She called, I could barely hear her though as Arnold had me mostly out of the door already. Why the rush?