My eyes wander through the veil over my reflection in the full-size mirror. Gorgeous embroided ivory dress. Diamant pendant. Long golden earrings. Exquisite make up. Artistically styled hair with perfectly shaped curls. Iconic portrait of the happy bride, except a tiny little detail – she's everything but happy on the inside. But who cares about the inside, right?

Usually, no one. The image we project into the world is our everything, that's what we get percieved by, but... The times have changed. Empathetic human-looking creatures infiltrated our world and my husband-to-soon-be is potentially one of them, potential Other, so I need to be, to seem happy. I fidget my golden engagement bracelet, meeting my eyes in the mirror. In an hour, this girl will become Mrs Fandor, a humble wife to Mr. Grossen Fandor, Circle's candidate and one of the most prominent financial enterpreneuers in the city. I've been trying to become this woman for the last two weeks. Have I succeeded? That's to our guests to judge. After all, that's the reason they've all gathered here today, to witness this.

I look at the mirror again, turning off all the unuseful thoughts like who's that girl staring at me. Who cares? She'll be who she needs to be. The women are taught who they supposed to be, even by other women. Isn't it as it has always been? During the five years in the agency I tried different roles besides being a field agent. Rich heiress? Sure, why not. Kitchen girl? Of course, your poached eggs with roasted salmon will be served at 7:00. Prostitute? Any special wishes for tonight, sir? I've learned to become so many people that in the previous life I could easily get an Oscar, but today is about something more than a stupid award, today is about millions of lives on our planet, including mine.

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Some lives, though, are already lost... Horrific images from last night run across my mind, making me shudder. My grandma's body in the living room, lonely lying there, forgotten for five years. I close my eyes and start counting. I can't have it. Not now. Not this year. Five. My eyelids shuddering. Traces of blood. Smell of death. Four. I have a good memory. Three. That's my gift and that's my curse. Two. I release my numb fingers from the fists. One. I breath again. The door opens, so do my eyes.

My bridesmaid Erin enters, checking on me. I squeeze out a smile, rolling back my tears of weakness to where they belong – nowhere.

"It's time, Jules." Erin voices out my sentence. "Are you ready?"

I correct my veil, nodding. "Of course, I am."

Enough of this self pity. It won't lead anywhere. Accept the things you can't change, Jules. Better gather the courage to change things you do can, you'll need that.

Erin holds my hands, "You can do this, girl."

I nod, accepting the bouquet. I can and I will. After all, I don't really have a choice, neither does humankind...

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