Vicki announced herself at the reception counter and asked for a woman named Claudia. A few minutes later, she came out with three dresses Victoria had pre-selected. Claudia carried the dresses to the fitting area, which may be bigger than some apartments I've been in, with wall to wall mirrors, a couple plush chaise lounges and designer end tables. Claudia hung up the dresses and another girl came in with a tray of fruit and cheese, and a bottle of champagne then she asked if we needed additional assistance, we said no but we would call her if we do, she acknowledged us with very well and excused herself. Although we’ve both been exposed to luxury living we were impressed with the ambiance and service. We assumed the platter was complimentary so I poured us a glass of champagne, and we toasted to love and happiness. I took a sip and ate a few grapes as I stared at the dresses hanging in front of me. After I finished my first glass of champagne, I went into the fitting room and began to try them on. The first one was silvery grey strapless with a floor length tail. It fit ok but I wasn't all that impressed with it, when I emerged from the fitting room I could tell Victoria wasn’t impressed either so I quickly retreated to try again. The second was light blue with peasant sleeves and tapered to the hips, I didn’t bother to come out this time because it was too tight I try not to wear things that fit too snug from the hip down since it highlights the fact that I am hip deficient. Vicki asked me to come out and I refused and moved on to the third dress, pale pink satin spaghetti strapped with an empire waist and flowed to just above the knee, perfect. When I emerged from the fitting room for the final time Vicki said, “You look beautiful.” “You think so?” “Yeah you really do and I can't wait for the day I walk in your wedding.” “Thank you Victoria that was nice”. “Well it's true”. I took a deep breath and revealed, "You may be waiting a while marriage doesn’t look too promising for me at the moment… Michael and I broke up Thursday.” “What, are you serious? I thought you guys were doing so well!” “Looks are very deceiving my dear.” “I guess so,” she said looking pitifully. “Girl don't give me that look I'm OK, I just need to regroup.” “OK I guess that's fair enough”, she smiled admiring me in this dress. “On that note let’s make a toast”, I announced as I poured us another glass of champagne, we toasted to new beginnings took a sip and I admired myself in the full-length mirror and must admit I do look beautiful. “Symoney, I was gonna save this for the reception but it can't wait that long, to tell the truth I have been wanting to say this ever since you got here but time hasn't permitted. Anyway, thank you!” “For what”, I asked confused by her comment and her timing? “For saving my life”, she responded with tears in her eyes. The expression on her face grasped my attention and I knew she needed to get this out so I let her finish. “If it wasn't for you welcoming me into your life 10 years ago I don't know where I would be now, you were the only one who cared enough to put me on the right path, to be honest you were probably the only one I would have listened to at the time anyway. I have always thought of you as a big sister, and when you came to visit me when we were kids, I never wanted you to leave, you made me feel good on the inside even though I knew I wasn't the best-looking child on the outside and the world constantly reminded me of that. You were the one who taught me that I was so much more than a face, I deserved to be respected, and loved not bought. When I began to mature you were gone, I was devastated, I had nobody to talk to, nobody to confide in, so I did what I thought was right, which in most cases, turned out to be wrong. Symoney, I want to thank you for saving me from myself, my parents and every situation that I have ever let hinder me from being the Victoria Nicole Reynolds you see before you today, and the Victoria Nicole Reynolds who is soon to be Mrs. Donavan Vincent which is something else I must thank you for. If it weren’t for you I would have never met this wonderful man, I love you Symoney”, she hugged me as the tears rolled down both of our faces. Once again, I found myself in a loving embrace with a female member of my family and it felt good. What she revealed was so beautiful, and it touched me to my core to know I have had such an impact on her life. Who would have thought while I was yearning for her life she was doing the same for mine. Funny the things weddings and memories can bring out of people. I will say it again, every family has its secrets, and this is one secret I’m sure nobody else in our family knows.