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No one wears white wedding dresses anymore White cloth is too hard to coh to h Not even on a day like today, when it is our leader’s son ill be one of the bridegrooirl dressed in white

“Stand still,” ainst my spine as she tries to force up the zipper on the back of the pale blue dress It wasday she never had and it doesn’t fit quite right on ives the zipper one last yank “Turn around ”

I turn slowly, s my hands down the soft material I’m not used to dresses I don’t like how naked I feel underneath, already longing for pants and a breath not hehts, Callie’s eyes roaer in the bust than I am,” she says with a smirk “But I doubt he’ll complain ”

“Shut up,” I say, but there’s no force behind my words I didn’t think I would be this nervous It’s not as if this day is a surprise I’ve known , spent everyBut now that it’s here, I can’t stop the treers or the sick fall of my stomach I don’t know if I can do this, but I also know I have no choice

Callie reaches up and tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear “You’ll be fine,” she says, her voice firht? You knohat to do ”

“Yes,” I say, pulling er; I don’t need to be babied

She looks at ry that I’htfully been hers, or is she glad to give it up, to be rid of the burden of being the daughter who holds so much hope on her shoulders?

“Girls ” My father’s voice floats up the stairs “It’s time ”

“You go,” I tell Callie “I’ll be right down ” I need one last minute of quiet, one last chance to look around this rooain Callie leaves the door ajar when she goes, and I can hearso to him

On o, forcing me to carry it I heave it off theI will never sleep in this narrow bed again, never brush my hair in front of the mirror above ainst ainst a sudden press of tears and take a deep breath When I open my eyes, they are dry I walk out of my room and I don’t look back

The weddings are performed on the second Saturday in May Some years there is rain and with it the faint, acrid scent of burning, even after so ht, hectic blue, wispy clouds floating on a mild breeze It is a beautiful day to become a bride, but all I can concentrate on is the heavy thu between my shoulder blades as alk toward City Hall

My father and Callie flankthe hand brushes ers in his own He hasn’t held esture shocks me so much that I stu h touching is not so he does often or easily He is not an offerer of comfort When your fate is predeter His job was to , and I like to think he did it well But

“We’re proud of you,” he says He squeezes o “You can do this ”

“I know,” I tell hiht ahead The limestone facade of City Hall is less than a block away now There are several other girls cli the steps with their parents They must be nervous, anxious to find out if they will end today as soo hoain My anxiety is different I knohere I will be sleeping tonight, and it won’t be in my own bed

As we reach the sidewalk in front of City Hall, people begin to turn, grinning atout to shake his hand, clap hi smiles as they tell me how pretty I look