{"id":20803,"date":"2025-11-24T23:30:40","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T23:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=20803"},"modified":"2025-11-24T23:30:40","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T23:30:40","slug":"20803","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=20803","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

I stared at my phone at the abrupt end to our conversation and felt something familiar settle in my chest. It wasn\u2019t quite sadness, wasn\u2019t quite anger. It was the dull ache of being perpetually secondary.<\/p>\n

The weeks leading up to the wedding passed in a blur of work and preparation. I bought a new dress, a soft blue that complimented my complexion without being too attention-grabbing. I arranged time off from the bakery, much to my boss\u2019s dismay since June was our busiest season.<\/p>\n

I should have known something was wrong when Victoria didn\u2019t ask me to be a bridesmaid. She had five bridesmaids, I learned from her social media posts. College friends, work friends, even our cousin Jessica, who she\u2019d barely spoken to in years.<\/p>\n

But not me.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe wedding party is already set,\u201d she explained when I finally worked up the courage to ask. \u201cYou understand, right? These are people I see regularly.\u201d<\/p>\n

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I stared at my phone at the abrupt end to our conversation and felt something familiar settle in my chest. It wasn\u2019t quite sadness, wasn\u2019t quite anger. It was the dull ache of being perpetually secondary. The weeks leading up to the wedding passed in a blur of work and preparation. I bought a new…<\/p>\n

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