There’s a knock on my door. I yell for Brie to come in. I really hope she was able to find me something decent to wear. But I don’t get my hopes up. This isn’t a gift shop in a resort. This is a hospital. The best they will have is a sweatshirt and maybe a new pair of leggings.

“Hello, Ellie,” a familiar voice says. No, it can’t be. I turn around. Yes, of course.

“Lizbeth…”

“It’s nice to see you again.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m here for your wedding.”

My mouth drops open.

“I’ve brought you some dresses to choose from.”

Now I’m entirely speechless. She leads me to an empty hospital room where I see five beautiful white wedding dresses hanging around the bed.

“I wasn’t sure what kind of dress you would like to wear, so I got a selection.”

“But how?”

I walk to the dresses unable to believe my eyes. Are these really mine? One is long and flowing that looks like it belongs on a Greek goddess. Another is short with a long sleeves and cream colored. It reminds me of something funky women wore in the seventies. Fun, but not exactly the right style. Three are strapless and one is made of lace. I look at the long strapless gown which has a delicate V-shape cut in the middle, intricate beading and a gorgeous hourglass outline. It also comes with a long train down the back.

“This is my favorite one, too.”

“I just hope it fits,” I say.

Lizbeth helps me get into the dress and brings out a long mirror from the bathroom.

“Here, put on these heels first before you look.”

After I buckle the straps of my satin stilettos, I glance up. Lizbeth pins a long veil to the top of my head and I get choked up.

“No, no, no! Don’t cry. Your makeup is flawless.”

I sniffle and try to push the tears away. Oh my God, is this really happening? Am I really going to marry Aiden?

“I’m sorry but I don’t have a capelet or anything to put over your shoulders.”

“Are you crazy? This dress is beautiful. I’m not covering it up with anything.”

“It’s about twenty degrees outside and the temperature is falling.”

“Outside?”

“Yes, we’ve set up out there. Everyone’s waiting.”

I shake my head and cover my lips with my hand. After one last glance in the mirror, I follow her down an unfamiliar hallway.

“Your wedding will be in the garden, just out back,” she explains. I thought I got to know this place pretty well over the past few days, but I had no idea it had a garden.

She takes me to the double doors and lets me peek outside. My heart skips a beat. And then another and another. More tears start to well up in my eyes. But Lizbeth pinches me and tells me to knock it off.

“You look gorgeous. You don’t want to ruin it by giving yourself raccoon eyes.”

I smile and then crack up laughing. Brie comes out of a nearby room, dressed in a floor length black dress.

“Oh my God, Brie.” I wrap my arms around her. “You look stunning.”

“So do you. I love you, Ellie. Is this beautiful?”

I peek outside again. People are starting to file through another door to the right of the garden. They are taking their seats. As more snow flurries start to fall and the lights start to flicker, the garden looks like a winter wonderland straight out of a fairy tale.

“I feel like a princess,” I whisper.

“Here comes your prince,” Brie says. I peek outside and watch as Aiden Black walks toward the altar in a perfectly tailored tuxedo. The suit is a perfect fit, for a perfect man. He walks with the confidence of a man who had never been inside of a hospital, in a bed, and any trace of him being in a coma is all but gone. He’s my Mr. Black again.

“I’m going to go take my seat,” Lizbeth says. “You look gorgeous.”

Music starts to play. People turn around in their seats and face the aisle. There are my parents in the front row. Aiden’s parents are on the opposite side. Everyone looks happy. Bursting with anticipation. There are no more resentments, no more protestations. Are they really happy for us? I wonder.

“It’s my turn now,” Brie says. “You come when you’re ready.”

I nod and tell her I love her. I hold the door open for her and then let it go so that no one sees me.

“Okay, okay,” I say to myself. “You can do this. This is everything you have ever dreamed of.”

I inhale and exhale deeply to slow down my heart rate. My hands are shaking and my knuckles are turning white. And it’s not just from the cold. I’m holding a white bouquet of lilies. I bring them up to my face and inhale their sweet scent. You have nothing to be nervous about, Ellie. You are walking toward Aiden. The love of your life.

“Ms. Rhodes?” an unfamiliar voice calls my name just as I’m about to open the door. I turn around and see two men dressed in police uniforms standing next to me.

“Yes?”

“Ms. Rhodes, you need to come with us,” the taller one says, taking off his hat. I narrow my eyes. What is he talking about?

“Ms. Rhodes, you are under arrest. Please come with us.”

I stare at them dumbfounded.

“Under arrest? For what? This is my wedding. I’m about to walk down the aisle. Can’t you see that?”

“We are here to arrest you, Ms. Rhodes, for the murder of Blake Garrison. I’m sorry but you will not be getting married tonight. You are coming with us.”

I shake my head and turn toward the door. I look at Aiden’s strong jaw and his hopeful eyes looking down the aisle. He’s waiting for me.

“I’m sorry, I can’t come with you. I’m getting married,” I say, still not fully grasping the situation in its entirety. When I reach for the door, one of the cops grabs my arm and pulls it behind me.

He holds onto my wrists tightly until he secures them behind my back with handcuffs and then pushes me down the hallway, away from Aiden.

“No, please, you don’t understand. I’m getting married.”

“No, you don’t understand. You, Ellie Rhodes, have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you can’t afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?”

I shake my head no. No, no, no. I don’t understand anything. My head starts to buzz. My legs go limp. I trip and the cops put their arms under my elbows and practically carry me out of the hospital. The cold wind hits me like a ton of bricks. Tears run down my face. What is happening? Why are they doing this to me?