Lisa seethed with anger as she turned and walked away, leaving the tension-filled room behind. She made her way to her bedroom, her emotions still raw and simmering. Friday night she emerged dressed in  a tailored dress that felt stiff and unfamiliar. Lisa wasn't comfortable in it; she was used to wearing baggy jeans and a coat, not dresses that hugged her curves.

As she walked downstairs, Dorcas caught sight of her and warmly complimented her appearance. "You look lovely, ma'am," she said with a smile. Lisa's face briefly broke into a smile, but it was clear she wasn't feeling herself in the elegant outfit.

She walked over to the couch and sat down, waiting for Luke to join her. A few minutes later, he appeared at the top of the stairs, dressed in formal attire suitable for the induction ceremony. "Let's go," he said, his voice brief and to the point.

Lisa stood up and followed him, her heels clicking on the floor as she moved. They walked out to the car, where the driver was waiting to take them to their destination. Once they were both seated, the car drove off, carrying them to the event that would mark their first public appearance as a married couple.

As they arrived at the event, cameras flashed, capturing their every move. The warm welcome was palpable, but Lisa felt like a fish out of water. Luke's parents were already there, mingling with the guests, their faces familiar with the crowd. Lisa tried to force a smile, her lips stretching awkwardly as she attempted to handle the barrage of camera flashes.

Finally, they made their way off the red carpet and into the main hall, the din of conversation and clinking glasses enveloping them. Luke began to exchange pleasantries with some of the guests, his charm and charisma on full display. Lisa, unsure of what to do, awkwardly followed him, her eyes darting around the room as she tried to keep up.

As they made their way through the crowd, they finally reached the table where Luke's parents were sitting. Lisa greeted them with a tentative smile, but both Mrs. and Mr. Wilson ignored her, their faces cold and unyielding. Luke didn't seem to notice, or perhaps he chose not to, as he took his seat beside Lisa, his eyes scanning the room for familiar faces.

Luke and Lisa took their seats, the chair creaking softly as they settled in. Just then, a woman accompanied by another woman approached their table, a warm smile on her face. "The Wilsons, you're welcome," she said, her voice friendly and familiar. Mrs. Wilson stood up to greet her, embracing her warmly.

"This is the celebrant's wife," Mrs. Wilson explained, her eyes shining with excitement. The woman's eyes landed on Lisa and Luke, and she said, "I saw the couple and decided to come say hi." Mrs. Wilson beamed, signaling to Lisa to come and greet her.

Lisa got up and walked over to them, feeling a bit self-conscious. The woman offered her a hug, which Lisa awkwardly returned. "How was the honeymoon?" the woman asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "We didn't expect Luke to bring home a wife so soon, but I think you made him change his mind." The group laughed, and Lisa forced a smile, trying to play along.

As the day wore on, Lisa excused herself to use the restroom. As she walked into the quiet space, she heard the sound of muffled sobs coming from one of the stalls. She hesitated for a moment, then moved to wash her hands, trying not to intrude on the girl's private moment.

However, as she stood there, she heard another voice, soft and gentle, trying to console the crying girl. "Every day, you get a chance to get things straight, to learn, and to build," the voice said. "You can't let one piece break you. You've been doing well the whole day, just this one thing that happened shouldn't break you. Cheer up, okay?"

Lisa's eyes widened slightly as she listened to the words, feeling a pang of recognition. She smiled to herself, feeling a sense of solidarity with the unknown girl. She washed her hands and left the restroom, not wanting to intrude any further.

The day was drawing to a close, and Lisa and Luke made their way out of the venue, as they stepped out into the cool air. They walked to their car in silence, the sounds of the city bustling around them.