The boutique was filled with soft music, racks of elegant dresses, and the faint scent of lavender. You and Audrey were surrounded by lace and satin, the excitement of finding the perfect wedding dress making you both giddy. Audrey was grinning as she held up a gown to her frame, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

“What do you think, babe?” She asked, giving you a little twirl.

You smiled, cheeks flushing as you admired how beautiful she looked. “You look perfect in anything, Audrey. But I think we can do even better.”

She beamed at you, grabbing your hand and pulling you toward another section of dresses. As you laughed together, your joy was infectious, drawing smiles from the staff and other shoppers around you.

But then, as you were admiring a stunning ivory dress, an older man who had been browsing nearby turned to face you both. His eyes were sharp, his mouth set in a disapproving line. He looked you up and down with a judgmental glare before shaking his head.

“This world is really going to hell,” he muttered, loud enough for both of you to hear. “Two women shouldn’t be together, let alone getting married. Back in my day, we knew better.”

The cheerful atmosphere was shattered in an instant. You felt your stomach drop, the man’s words cutting through the happiness like a knife. Audrey’s hand tightened around yours, her jaw clenching as she turned to face him.

“Excuse me?” Audrey said, her voice cold and steady, though you could see the fire in her eyes. “Back in your day, people probably didn’t mind their own business either.”