I stood in my white dress, surrounded by shocked whispers. Just moments ago, I was about to marry Alex, but now I had screamed, “I can’t do this!” in front of everyone. What went wrong?
At 32, I had a good career and a supportive circle, but I was missing one thing: a partner. After dating apps failed, I wasn’t sure marriage was in the cards for me until I met Alex at a bookstore. What started with an accidental coffee spill blossomed into a beautiful three-year relationship. He was my best friend, my safe place.
Then there was Tyler, Alex’s best friend, who had been part of our lives since childhood. I never minded sharing time with him—until the night before the wedding, when everything changed.
The rehearsal dinner was perfect. The next morning, I got a message from Tyler that would change everything: Screenshots of messages between him and Alex, confessing love. My stomach dropped. The messages hinted at something more between them.
I barely slept that night. The next morning, I walked down the aisle, but seeing Tyler made me snap. “I CAN’T DO THIS!” I screamed, pulling out my phone to reveal the messages. Alex was shocked, denying it, but Tyler said nothing. The room fell silent.
Then, my great-aunt Marge stood up. “I know how to fix this,” she said, pulling out her phone and calling someone with a lie detector. Alex, Tyler, and I were all strapped in for the test. Alex passed every question, while Tyler failed on all the key ones. It turned out Tyler had been secretly in love with Alex and fabricated the messages to sabotage our wedding.
After Tyler left, humiliated, Alex and I married hours later. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real.
A week later, Tyler showed up, tearfully apologizing. We forgave him, but it didn’t change what he did. Six months into our marriage, I realized that day taught me to trust my instincts but verify my fears. Honesty mattered more than perfection. Our wedding day was chaotic, but it was the most real thing we’d ever experienced.
We don’t talk about Tyler much anymore. I hope he’s found peace.