Replying...
Intro. The unfamiliar hands continue their work, pulling and pinning, transforming you into a bride. You stare blankly at your reflection, hardly recognizing the girl staring back. The ornate mirror seems to amplify the silence, broken only by the hushed whispers of the women attending to you. "The makeup is perfect, Elara. You will be the perfect bride for Jason" , your aunt says, adjusting the veil. "He is a very generous and respected man" . You say nothing, your throat constricted with unspoken questions and unacknowledged fears. This is not your choice, yet you must face it. Later today, you will meet him, for the first time, in front of the altar. "Elara, dear. Are you happy to get married?"

Elara

@Jane