Growing up, my little sister always seemed to resent me, so when she asked me to be her maid of honor, I was beyond thrilled. But nothing could have prepared me for the shock when I saw my bridesmaid dress—a prank so cunning it nearly brought me to tears. However, I soon found the perfect way to turn the tables.
The wedding invitation sat on my kitchen counter, taunting me with its delicate script and floral details. My sister Sadie, the one who’d made my life difficult for the past 32 years, was getting married. And against all expectations, she’d asked me—Nancy, the bane of her existence—to be her maid of honor.
I laughed at the irony.
“What’s so funny?” asked my best friend Liz, sipping her coffee.
I held up the invitation. “Sadie wants me to be her maid of honor.”
Liz nearly spit out her drink. “Wait, the same Sadie who put gum in your hair at your high school graduation?”
“Yep, that one,” I sighed, running my fingers through my now much shorter hair, a constant reminder of her cruel ‘joke.’
“Nancy, are you sure about this? Your relationship has always been—”
“A dumpster fire?” I finished for her. “Yeah, I know.”
“Maybe she’s changed,” I mused, though the words felt hollow.
Liz raised an eyebrow. “People don’t change overnight, Nance. Be careful.”
I nodded, but deep down, I hoped this wedding might finally bring us closer as sisters.
The bridal shop was a sea of white and pastel, with Sadie in the center, glowing in a gown fit for a princess.
“Nancy! There you are!” she called, waving me over. “What do you think?”
I smiled, genuinely impressed. “You look stunning, Sadie. Absolutely beautiful.”
For a moment, I caught a glimpse of the little girl who once begged me to play dress-up. But just as quickly, the warmth disappeared, replaced by her usual smirk.
“Great. Now, let’s find you a dress that doesn’t make you look like a beached whale,” she said, turning toward the racks.
Ah, there she was—the Sadie I knew so well.
As we sifted through dresses, I couldn’t resist asking, “Why did you choose me to be your maid of honor, Sadie? We’re not exactly close.”
She paused, a dress in hand. “You’re my sister, Nancy. It’s expected.”
“Right,” I muttered. “Wouldn’t want to disappoint the family.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing,” I quickly replied. “Let’s just focus on finding a dress.”
Weeks passed in a blur of fittings, flower arrangements, and forced sisterly bonding. Despite my initial hesitation, I found myself enjoying some of our time together. Sadie seemed softer, less inclined to her usual barbs. I started to hope that maybe, just maybe, we were turning a corner.
“Nancy! Thank goodness you’re here,” Sadie exclaimed. “The other bridesmaids are running late.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got it,” I assured her, hanging up my dress and getting to work on her hair. As I pinned up her curls, I caught her reflection in the mirror. For a fleeting moment, I saw that little girl again, the one who used to follow me everywhere despite our differences.
“You look beautiful, Sadie,” I said softly.
“How could you do this?” I whispered, tears welling up.
“Please,” she scoffed. “Did you really think things had changed? This is my day, and I’m not letting you ruin it by upstaging me.”
I stood there, feeling like the sick little girl she used to torment, until a familiar voice broke through the tension.
“Now, what’s all this fuss about?” Aunt Marie swept into the room, eyes narrowing as she surveyed the scene.
“Aunt Marie, I—”
“Save it, darling,” she cut me off, pulling me into the hallway. From seemingly nowhere, she handed me a box. “I had a feeling this might happen. Open it.”
Inside was a breathtaking dress, nearly identical to the bridesmaids’ gowns but elevated—more vibrant, with intricate beadwork that made it shimmer.
“But how did you—” I began.
Aunt Marie winked. “Overheard Sadie talking about her little plan. Figured it wouldn’t hurt to be prepared.”
With Aunt Marie’s help, I slipped into the dress and marched back into the bridal suite. Sadie’s jaw dropped.
“What… how did you?” she stammered.
I smiled sweetly. “A little magic from Aunt Marie. Don’t worry, I won’t steal your spotlight.”
For a moment, she was speechless, and then—shockingly—her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’ve been so awful. I always felt like I was living in your shadow.”
I took her hand. “There was never any competition, Sadie. I was just trying to survive.”
She nodded, squeezing my hand. “I know that now. We’ve wasted so much time, haven’t we?”
The ceremony was beautiful. As I stood by her side, I felt something I hadn’t felt in years—the warmth of being there for my sister. At the reception, Sadie pulled me aside.
“Thank you, Nancy. For everything. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own insecurities, and I never saw what you were going through. Can we start over?”
I felt tears prick my eyes. “I’d like that, Sadie.”
As we hugged, I caught Aunt Marie’s eye across the room. She raised her glass with a wink. Maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of a new chapter for us.
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