In the heart of a lavish church, filled with golden chandeliers that lit up the marble floors, a young woman stood at the altar, frozen in her wedding dress.

The delicate lace and silk, once symbols of joy and hope, felt like heavy chains holding her in a moment that spiraled out of control. Her breath quickened, the air thick with the sweet scent of fresh roses and the sharp bite of anxiety.

Around her, chaos erupted. Her family were now locked in a heated argument with her fiancé's parents, their voices rising with each exchanged accusation. Guests gasped in surprise, some whispering behind raised hands, while others simply sat frozen in disbelief and her bridesmaids exchanged worried glances, their faces a mix of shock and concern. The priest, usually calm and steady, stumbled over his words, his voice drowned out by the rising panic. A child in the front row began to cry, the sound cutting through the tension like a siren's wail.

Time felt strange, stretching and bending as her heart raced against her ribcage, each beat echoing in her ears like a tolling bell. She felt detached, as if she were watching the scene unfold from far away, a bystander in her own life. The beautiful stained glass windows seemed to twist, casting colorful shadows that danced mockingly across the floor, turning the sacred space into a strange display of despair.

Her thoughts raced, tumbling over each other like waves crashing on a shore.

Is this really happening?

A cold sweat formed on her back as she searched the crowd for his familiar face, but all she saw were blurred figures—friends, family, and strangers—each looking on with a mix of curiosity and concern, but none able to break through the wall of panic surrounding her.

As whispers grew louder and turned into frantic shouts, she felt the weight of the moment pull her back to reality. The lavish church, once a place of joy, now felt like a tomb—a grave for her dreams, buried under the weight of expectations and betrayal.

"Where is he?" a voice croaked out, her own trembling with disbelief. She glanced at the empty space where her fiancé, James, was supposed to be standing. Her stomach churned, anxiety gnawing at her insides. "He should be here by now..."

"Sophie!" A familiar voice broke through her fog of shock. Sam, her maid of honor, rushed to her side, her expression a mix of concern and sadness. "I'm so sorry."

How could this be happening?

Slowly, Sophia's friends moved to her side, each of them instinctively reaching out to create a protective circle around her.

"We've got you," one whispered, her voice steady and reassuring, while another held Sophia's gaze, eyes filled with sadness.

"Do you want us to call your parents? Or maybe your sister?" another friend asked, her brow furrowed with worry.

She glanced back at her family, still embroiled in a heated argument with James's parents, and shook her head. "No…" Sophia whispered, struggling against the tears threatening to spill. A wave of helplessness crashed over her, as if the ground were crumbling beneath her feet, leaving her teetering on the edge, uncertain of what to do next.

"I can't believe this is happening," One of her friends exclaimed, her voice thick with anger. "He said he'd be here! He seemed so excited! What a jerk!"

"Seriously!" Another friend chimed in, her hands clenched into fists. "Who does that? You don't just leave someone hanging like this on their wedding day!"

Sophia shook her head, clinging to the faint hope that there was an explanation. "M-Maybe something happened on the road? Perhaps he's stranded…"

"Something happened?" Another friend snapped, her tone sharp. "I knew it.. I knew it! He's bad news since day one!"

"Carly!" Sam shot back, giving her a wide-eyed look. "This is not the time!"

Just then, a member of the wedding planning team approached, her expression a mix of anxiety and urgency. Sophia's gaze shifted to her, and she noticed the woman clutching her phone, the screen illuminating the name "James" with an incoming call.

"I'm sorry for interrupting, but you need to take this," the planner said, her voice shaky as she hesitated to step closer.

Sophia's hands trembled as she reached out for her phone, heart pounding louder than the chaos surrounding her. She pressed the phone to her ear, desperate for answers. "Babe, where are you? You're scaring me.."

"Sophie." His voice was cold and detached, as if he were speaking to a stranger. "I'm sorry, but I can't go through with this. I thought I was ready, but I'm not. I can't do it."

"What?" Sophia felt a sense of disbelief wash over her. "James, wait! Please, can we talk about this?"

But the line went dead, leaving her holding the phone in stunned silence. A hollow ache settled in her chest as she lowered the phone, feeling as if the floor had completely vanished beneath her, sending her into free fall. She stumbled backward, her breath quickening.

"Oh, Sophie!" Sam reached for her arm, but Sophia shook her head, "Excuse me." She whispered as she pushed through the gathering crowd. She felt overwhelmed, a tightness in her chest making it hard to breathe. All she wanted was to escape, to get away from everything.

The world around her blurred as she made her way toward the exit, her mind racing with confusion and hurt. Concerned gazes followed her, but all she could focus on was escaping the suffocating atmosphere.

Outside, the cool air hit her face like a splash of cold water. She staggered toward the wedding car waiting for her, a vehicle that was supposed to symbolize happiness and a new beginning. But as she climbed inside, It felt more like a coffin, closing in around her.

She leaned back in the seat, staring out at the blurry cityscape, the tears threatening to spill over.

"Where to, ma'am?" the driver asked, his voice cutting through the silence. A quick glance in the rearview mirror revealed his confusion, as if he were wondering why she had gotten back in the car after just leaving it moments ago.

Sophia turned her gaze back to the window. "take me home, please.." she replied, her voice barely a whisper.

As they drove through the rain-soaked streets, she felt her heart shatter a little more with every passing moment. She ignored the notifications on her phone, the calls and messages from friends and family concerned about her whereabouts.

Her mind wandered back to the day James proposed, the memory playing out like a scene from someone else's life. She could still see his face, lit up with that smile, as he knelt before her, his eyes full of love, speaking words of promises she had believed without question. His sincerity had seemed so real, so full of hope for their future.

What happened? she thought, her heart aching with confusion. He had been so happy that day. The joy in his eyes couldn't have been faked—she was sure of it. Her mind raced, grasping for explanations, for anything that might make sense of the man who had once promised her forever but now couldn't even answer her calls.

But no matter how hard she tried to make sense of it, no matter how many excuses she ran through in her mind, she couldn't find a single reason that explained the sudden shift, the coldness that had replaced the warmth. It was as if the man she loved had become a stranger overnight.

Eventually, they arrived at her apartment building, but the familiar structure now loomed over her like a dark cloud, heavy with the weight of her despair. Stepping out into the rain, the droplets felt cool against her skin, as if the world outside was trying to wash away her heartache. She clutched the hem of her wedding dress, and made her way into the lobby.

Curious eyes followed her as she walked with her head held high, determined to show the world her strength even in moments like this. She wanted everyone to see that she couldn't be easily broken, even though she felt like she was dying inside.

When the elevator doors slid open, she stepped inside, the confined space closing in around her like a trap.

The ride felt suffocating, each floor passed a painful reminder of how far she had fallen from the joy she once envisioned. A small whimper escaped her lips as she fought against the tears threatening to spill.

"Fuck..." she whispered, her voice trembling as she took a shaky breath. She swiped at her eyes, but the tears rebelled, escaping her control despite her best efforts to keep them at bay.

Ding!

The loud chime of the elevator made her jump a bit. Taking a deep breath, she composed herself before stepping off.

But as soon as she set foot on her floor, her heart sank. The hallway was filled with her belongings—furniture, boxes, everything she and James had shared—being dragged into the corridor by two men.

"Excuse me!" Sophia called out, panic rising in her chest. "What's happening?"

Her landlady, a stern woman with her arms crossed, stood beside the men. When she turned to Sophia, her eyes widened, taking in the sight of her in a wedding dress, though her expression quickly hardened. "You haven't paid rent in five months, Sophia. I have a business to run, and I can't let you keep living here without paying."

"What?" Sophia's voice trembled. "There must be some mistake. James—he said he took care of everything!"

The landlady raised an eyebrow, her expression unyielding. "Well, I haven't received any payments, and I can't wait around for you to figure things out. You need to go."

Panic surged through Sophia. "But... but he told me he was handling everything.." She felt her heart race as she fumbled for her phone.

"Let me call him," she said, shaking as she dialed James's number. The line rang and rang, but he didn't pick up.

"Please, can you just give me a little more time?" she pleaded, her voice cracking. "I'll figure it out. I promise!"

The landlady shook her head, her tone firm yet tinged with sympathy. "I'm sorry, Sophia. You're a nice girl, and I know that. But five months is a long time. You really need to go."

Stunned, Sophia's legs buckled beneath her, and she sank to the floor of the hallway. She stared blankly at her belongings, a jumble of memories now scattered and discarded. She tried calling James again, but his phone went straight to voicemail.

"James, please. Pick up. I need to talk to you..." she said, desperation creeping into her voice. But all she got was silence.

Before she could attempt to call again, her phone buzzed. A familiar number flashed across the screen. It was her boss. Taking a deep breath, she answered, trying to keep her voice steady. "Hello?"

"Sophia, I know you're busy with your wedding and all," her boss said, voice tense, "but I didn't expect you to waste our team's efforts over the last twelve months."

Sophia's brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean? What happened?"

"There's been a leak regarding the project you've been handling," her boss said, disappointment seeping through the phone. "Our competitors have caught wind of it, and now everything we worked on is compromised. I thought you were more responsible than this."

"But I didn't do anything!" Sophia protested, her heart racing. "I've been—"

"You're fired," her boss interrupted sharply. "You've let the team down, Sophia. I thought you were ready for this promotion. Apparently, I was mistaken."

The call ended abruptly, leaving Sophia sitting in the hallway, frozen in disbelief. She looked down at her wedding dress pooling around her like a cruel reminder of everything she'd lost. Tears slipped down her face, unchecked, as she let out a bitter laugh.

Wow. This is the best day of my life.

Everything she had built, every dream she'd held onto, had crumbled in a single moment. Now, she was left in the wreckage, utterly alone.

✦

3 weeks later...

She was back in her hometown, locked away in her childhood room—where everything still smelled faintly of her teenage years, of lavender and old dreams. The yellow wallpaper, the posters of bands and anime she once adored, and the bookshelf full of well-worn novels—everything felt frozen in time, unlike the rest of her shattered world.

Sophia had barely left the room in those weeks. She ignored the concerned knocks of her parents and the gentle words of her sister. The ache in her chest was too much, the emptiness too vast. Every breath felt like a reminder of what she'd lost—her fiancé, her apartment, her job, her future.

But today, something was different. As she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, she felt a flicker of something. Determination. A small spark that whispered, It's time.

With a deep breath, she sat up for the first time in days, her body stiff from neglect. She glanced around her room, the place that once held her safe, familiar comforts, and decided it was time to face the world again.

"Enough of this, Sophia," she told herself. "Time to get the hell up."

She slipped on a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie, ran a hand through her tangled hair, and stepped out of her room, her legs shaky but resolute. As she descended the stairs, the muffled sounds of the television grew louder, and she entered the living room, where her parents and sister sat on the couch, startled by her sudden appearance.

Her mother was the first to speak, her eyes wide with surprise. "Sophie? You're out of your room?" She rose from her seat, rushing over to her daughter, wrapping her in a tight hug. "Oh, honey, I'm so glad to see you."

Sophia nodded, feeling her mother's warmth but still too emotionally raw to say much. From his usual armchair, her father smiled softly, his eyes full of concern. "It's good to see you up and about, kiddo. We were worried sick."

"We didn't know how to help," her sister chimed in, her voice softer than usual. She crossed her arms but her expression was one of concern, not judgment. "We tried to give you space... but we're here for you, Soph. Whenever you're ready."

Sophia gave a faint smile, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you. I think... I think I'm okay now."

Her parents exchanged a glance of relief, and her mom squeezed her arm gently. "What do you want to do, sweetie? We could go out, get some fresh air? Or stay in and talk?"

"I think I just need a bit of fresh air," Sophia replied, her voice still fragile. "I'm going to walk to the store. Get a few things."

"I can drive you there." her father said.

"No dad, I'll be okay," she said, managing a small but determined smile.

Grabbing her old coat, she stepped outside for the first time in weeks. The cool air hit her face, and she welcomed the sensation. It was raining, a steady, rhythmic patter that seemed to mirror her mood—cleansing, renewing. She tucked her hands into her pockets and started walking toward the small convenience store down the road.

As the rain fell around her, Sophia couldn't help but feel like it was a sign, a strange sense of clarity emerging with every step. Maybe this is the beginning of something new. She wasn't sure what that 'something' was, but she could feel it in her bones.

In the store, the fluorescent lights and familiar scent of instant noodles and cheap coffee grounded her. She drifted through the aisles, grabbing a drink and snack she didn't need but suddenly craved.

Maybe I'll go back to work. Find something new. Maybe even travel. She paused for a moment, envisioning herself wandering the streets of a foreign city, the weight of the past lifted off her shoulders. Yeah, I can do this, she told herself, a small, hopeful grin forming. I'm only 23. I have my whole life ahead of me.

At the counter, she paid for her things and stepped back outside into the rain. The cool drops felt different now, more like a promise than a burden. She smiled to herself as she walked down the wet sidewalk, her mind buzzing with possibilities of what her new life could look like. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't even notice the truck barreling down the road toward her until it was too late.

The screech of tires. A flash of blinding light. The world flipped upside down, and everything went black.

✦

"Ugh."

When Sophia opened her eyes, everything was... wrong. Gone were the cold rain, the city streets, and the sound of passing cars. Instead, she was staring up at a grandiose ceiling, covered in intricate golden designs. Heavy velvet curtains draped from tall windows, and the bed she was lying on was enormous, far too luxurious for what she was used to. The mattress was soft, the silk sheets cool against her skin, and a large, ornate chandelier hung from above, glittering with crystals that sparkled in the daylight.

Sophia's heart raced. She bolted upright, eyes darting around the unfamiliar room. Everything was pristine, expensive, like something out of a fantasy. The walls were lined with beautiful tapestries, a massive wardrobe stood in the corner, and a vanity table laden with perfumes and jewelry sat near the bed.

"Where…where am I?" she whispered. The sound of her own voice made her freeze, as if someone else had spoken. The words had come out in a soft, lilting tone, unlike anything she'd ever heard. She paused, stunned, thinking, Huh?

She looked down, only to find herself in a delicate, cream-colored nightgown that felt cool and strange against her skin. Her breaths came quick and shallow as she lifted her hands, expecting to see the familiar shapes of her own fingers. But what she saw were graceful, slender hands that moved in perfect sync with her thoughts, yet looked nothing like her own. Slowly, she brought them up to her face, feeling smooth cheeks, an unfamiliar jawline, every feature more delicate than she remembered.

The horror settled in, cold and final, as she stared at her hands and the alien reflection in the room's polished surfaces. This isn't my body.

"The fuck?"