I gazed at my reflection, feeling like a stranger draped in white satin. The gown, adorned with a chapel train and intricate platinum embroidery, sparkled under the sunlight, casting a mesmerizing glow. My fingers glided over the satin ribbon that hugged my waist. I should have felt like a bride, yet all I could perceive was a sense of entrapment.

"The dress is absolutely stunning, Kylie," my mother had exclaimed earlier, but I found myself unable to muster any enthusiasm.

The ...