5. Severing the Toxicity
The rest of the reception was a blur of dancing, cake cutting, and celebrating with people who actually loved us. But the dark cloud of my family’s panic followed me into the periphery.
Halfway through the evening, I excused myself to use the bridal suite restroom to touch up my makeup.
As I stood in front of the large, illuminated mirror, the heavy oak door creaked open.
Claire slipped into the room. She looked utterly pathetic. Her expensive updo was slightly unraveled. Her mascara was smudged under her eyes from crying, leaving dark, messy streaks across her cheeks. The arrogant, untouchable queen of the family was gone, replaced by a desperate, terrified employee facing termination.
“Hannah,” Claire sobbed, rushing forward and grabbing my arm. Her grip was tight and frantic. “Hannah, please. I’m sorry! I’m so, so sorry!”
I didn’t pull away immediately. I turned and looked at her through the reflection in the large mirror. I wanted to see her face clearly.
“I was out of line,” Claire wept, her shoulders shaking. “I was cruel about the ring. I was wrong about the dress. You look beautiful. You’ve always been beautiful! Please, Hannah, you have to talk to him. You have to put in a good word with Ethan for me!”
She fell to her knees, grabbing the silk fabric of my dress.
“I can’t lose this job, Hannah!” she begged, her voice echoing off the tile walls. “It’s my whole life! If he fires me, I’ll be blacklisted in the industry! He destroys people who cross him! Please, tell him I’m a good sister! Tell him we were just joking!”
I looked down at her. The cowering, the sobbing, the pathetic begging… it didn’t make me feel powerful. It made me feel incredibly nauseous.
