When I married my first husband, Mark, I was barely twenty. Ours was not a romance blooming out of spontaneity or wild affection. It was a pairing shaped by two families who valued tradition, social standing, and stability above all else.
We grew up within the same circles, surrounded by carefully planned vacations, formal charity events, and a shared expectation that we would eventually build a life together. By the time we actually said our vows, it felt less like a choice and more like a continuation of the life others had already outlined for us. Continue reading…
