Weddings are usually joyful celebrations, but as Shanize walked down the aisle, a wave of unease washed over me. Something felt terribly wrong, and I couldn’t shake the feeling. I tried to convince myself it was just pre-wedding nerves—after all, weddings can be stressful. But with every step Shanize took, I noticed something strange.
Her walk seemed off. It was hesitant, almost like she was struggling. I leaned over to Dave’s sister, Heather, and whispered, “Do you see that? Her walk… it seems weird.”
Heather glanced at the aisle and shrugged. “You’re overthinking it, Janice. She’s just nervous. It’s a big day for her.” She smiled, trying to calm me down, but my feeling of unease only got worse. As Shanize got closer, her steps looked more labored, and her dress flowed in a way that didn’t seem natural. I knew I couldn’t ignore it anymore.
Even though Heather warned me not to make a scene, I had to find out what was really going on. When Shanize finally reached the altar, my heart raced. I bent down and gently lifted the hem of her gown. What I saw beneath that beautiful white fabric left me completely frozen—large, polished men’s shoes.
My mind spun as I struggled to comprehend what I was seeing. Glancing up, I noticed something else—a pair of suit pants barely hidden under the dress.
That’s when it hit me. This wasn’t Shanize!
I stared up at the person standing before me, and my heart raced as I realized it was a man in a wig and veil. Panic surged through me as I looked at Dave, whose joy turned to confusion. “Janice?” he asked, his voice shaky. “What’s going on?”
The whole congregation sat in stunned silence. The man pretending to be Shanize remained unfazed. Slowly, he removed the veil and wig, revealing short, dark hair underneath. Whispers of disbelief filled the room. With a smug grin, the man said, “Surprise! You didn’t even notice, did you?”
Dave, now visibly shaken, looked around, bewildered. “Where’s Shanize?” he demanded, his voice trembling.
The man, who we now recognized as Dave’s best man, casually replied, “She’s gone. She left days ago, but don’t worry. She asked me to do this. She wanted you to experience this moment.”
The murmurs grew louder as confusion spread through the church. I stood there, numb, trying to wrap my head around what was happening. How could Dave’s best man be part of something so strange?
Dave, on the verge of panic, stammered, “What are you talking about? What did you do to her?”
The best man raised a hand, trying to calm everyone down, but his words didn’t help. “Oh, she’s fine. She just wanted you to know what it feels like to be blindsided.”
Dave shook his head in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
The best man’s grin widened, and his voice dripped with malice. “She found out, Dave. About you and Vanessa.”
The room went dead silent. The weight of those words hung in the air. Dave stood frozen, horror etched across his face. “No… that’s not true,” he whispered.
But the best man continued, his voice full of satisfaction. “Oh, it is. She found out about your affair with Vanessa, one of her bridesmaids, just a few days ago. She could have canceled the wedding, but where’s the fun in that? She wanted everyone to see the real you.”
Gasps filled the room as everyone processed what he said. I glanced over at Vanessa, sitting a few rows back. She looked pale and trembling, her eyes glued to the floor. Dave’s face lost all color, and he shook his head wildly in denial. “No, no, this can’t be happening.”
The best man’s voice rose, filled with bitter satisfaction. “It is happening, Dave. You betrayed her, and now you’re paying for it.”
Chaos erupted as guests began talking over one another, trying to make sense of what they had just witnessed. Dave, frantic with desperation, reached out to me. “Janice, please. This isn’t what it looks like.”
I could only stare at him, my heart sinking. “Dave… what have you done?”
And just like that, the best man turned and walked away, leaving Dave standing alone, his world crumbling around him.
Share your thoughts in the comments!
