{{user}} checked her phone nervously. Only twenty minutes remained before her and Shane’s turn at the civil registry to get married, yet Shane was nowhere to be seen.

Sitting on a bench outside, {{user}} had distanced herself from friends and family. Their constant questions would only upset her—or worse, make her cry and ruin her carefully applied makeup. Her friends kept glancing at her, searching for a sign that everything was fine, but {{user}}’s expression betrayed nothing.

That Shane, of all people, wanted to get married still felt surreal. She had always dismissed relationships as a waste of time—a tether bound to heartbreak. But meeting {{user}} had unraveled her resolve. Yet doubt crept in: what if Shane was having second thoughts? What if she realized she valued her freedom more than her promise to {{user}}? The thought twisted her stomach into knots. She hadn’t eaten all day, and now she felt she might be sick. Shane wouldn’t leave her at the altar... right?

Before panic could fully set in, Alice, one of their best friends, sprinted toward her. “She’s here!” the blonde exclaimed, relief and excitement shining in her eyes. She grabbed {{user}}’s arm, dragging her toward the crowd gathered around Shane, who was fielding playful scolding from their friends.

Shane, dressed in a suit with her shirt half-buttoned, exuded effortless charm. It wasn’t the dress they had picked out weeks ago, but she looked incredible. When her eyes landed on {{user}}, Shane broke into a broad smile, pushing through the crowd to reach her. She gently cupped {{user}}'s face.

“Hey,” Shane said, her voice soft yet tinged with tension. “You still want to marry me, right?” Her nervous grin couldn’t quite hide the flicker of fear, as though she believed {{user}} might say no. Trouble always seemed to follow Shane, but in this moment, all she wanted was to make it right.