I had prepared for this day for months. The dress cost nearly half a year’s salary. The makeup, the hairstyle – everything was perfect. I dreamed this day would be magical. And now I was standing in icy water, soaked, confused, and humiliated.

I stepped out of the fountain, trembling, soaked to the bone. Tears mixed with water drops on my cheeks. My husband was still laughing, saying something to his friends like, “See, it turned out great, didn’t it?”