The air was thick with laughter as the best man stood at the podium, raising his glass. The guests watched expectantly, their faces lit with smiles and curiosity, eager for his speech. But as he began, the tone quickly shifted from lighthearted to uncomfortable.
“Let’s talk about Emily, our lovely bride,” the best man began, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Everyone always talks about how big a day this is for the bride. And I gotta say, looking at Emily today, I thought they meant it in a different way. But seriously, she’s glowing, and that’s not just the lighting—she’s radiating love and joy. And maybe a little extra from the buffet line too, huh?”
A few nervous chuckles filled the room, followed by awkward silence. Emily froze. The polite laughter from the guests was a strange contrast to the tight knot of unease in her stomach. She could feel her cheeks flushing, her heart pounding, but she wasn’t sure if she was alone in feeling the discomfort. The polite chuckles of the guests made it hard to gauge. Was everyone else laughing along, or were they just being polite? Was it a joke, or was it something more?