“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Amber’s father asked, his hand resting warmly on her shoulder as she adjusted her veil in front of the mirror.

“I’ve been ready my whole life, Dad,” Amber responded with a grin. Her hands were steady, but her heart raced with excitement.

Amber wasn’t the kind of woman who had dreamed of a fairy-tale wedding. But she had always imagined this day—one filled with love, family, and laughter. It had taken months of meticulous planning, but now it was all coming together. Everything was perfect, from the flowers to the seating arrangements, exactly as she had envisioned.

Her father looked at her, his eyes a little misty. “You look beautiful,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

“Don’t start crying yet,” Amber teased. “We still have to make it down the aisle.”

Amber was eagerly awaiting the moment she would walk down the aisle and see Jacob, her soon-to-be husband. Jacob was the opposite of her in many ways. While Amber was a planner, Jacob was laid-back and spontaneous. He had a knack for making her laugh when she was too serious, which was what she loved most about him.

They had met four years ago at a mutual friend’s party. Amber, ever the introvert, had been sitting off in the corner, avoiding small talk. Jacob had approached her, grinning, with two drinks in hand.

“You look like you’re having the time of your life,” he had said, his tone teasing but friendly.

“I hate parties,” Amber had admitted bluntly.

“Me too,” Jacob had replied, even though he was clearly enjoying himself.

That was Jacob—charming, easygoing, and always ready to turn any situation into something lighthearted. From that night onward, things had changed for Amber. She hadn’t believed in love or marriage, but Jacob had made her rethink everything. His calm, steady nature complemented her own need for structure, and over time, they had grown into a couple that just worked.

On her wedding day, standing beside her father, Amber couldn’t wait to start the rest of her life with Jacob. He was everything she hadn’t known she needed. And now, with the sun shining and her family and friends gathered to celebrate, everything seemed perfect.

When her father asked again, “You ready?” Amber didn’t hesitate. “I’ve never been more ready,” she said confidently.

The ceremony itself was beautiful. The music played softly as Amber walked down the aisle, the guests smiling and beaming at her. Jacob stood waiting for her at the altar, his eyes filled with love. When they joined hands, Amber felt a sense of calm and joy wash over her. She couldn’t stop smiling, and neither could Jacob. The vows were about to begin, and Amber felt like the world had narrowed down to just the two of them.

But just as she opened her mouth to speak, something caught her eye from the back of the venue. A group of people was walking in, carrying something large. Amber’s initial thought was that it was some sort of extravagant wedding gift. But as the group approached, her stomach sank. It wasn’t a gift at all—it was a coffin, topped with an enormous red bow.

Her breath caught in her throat. The sight of the coffin was surreal, completely out of place amidst the flowers and wedding décor. The guests, who had been smiling just moments before, fell silent. Confusion spread through the crowd, and the music seemed to fade into the background.

Amber’s heart raced as she looked at Jacob, who was equally stunned. He glanced at her, then back at the approaching coffin, clearly as bewildered as she was. Amber’s mind spun with questions: Was this some kind of sick joke? A prank? A mistake?

The men carrying the coffin walked straight to the altar, setting it down right in front of the bride and groom. Amber’s knees trembled as she clutched Jacob’s hand. She barely had time to process what was happening before one of the men stepped forward—Derek, Jacob’s best man. Of course, it was Derek, the ringleader of Jacob’s mischievous group of friends.

“Derek, what the hell is this?” Amber managed to ask, her voice shaking.

Derek just smiled, a big, goofy grin, and reached for the lid of the coffin. With a dramatic flourish, he opened it, revealing the contents inside. Amber gasped. Inside the coffin wasn’t anything grim or macabre—instead, there was a giant framed portrait of Jacob, complete with a big red bow, as if he were some kind of gift.

For a moment, Amber just stood there, frozen, her brain struggling to comprehend the scene in front of her. And then, it hit her. This was a prank. An over-the-top, ridiculous prank pulled by Jacob’s friends. The coffin, the portrait—it was all a gag to symbolize that Jacob was “dead” to them now that he was getting married.