Weddings are supposed to be joyful occasions, a celebration of love and new beginnings. But as I watched Shanize approach the altar, something in the pit of my stomach twisted, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. It wasn’t the usual pre-wedding nerves that made my heart race — it was a deep, unsettling intuition that something was off. I tried to brush it aside, thinking I was just imagining it, but as Shanize took one small step after another, it became undeniable. There was something strange about the way she walked.
I’ve known Dave for over 30 years — we’ve been through thick and thin together, sharing secrets and laughter since childhood. We were there for each other during awkward teenage years, and as adults, we continued to build a solid friendship. So, when Dave told me he was marrying Shanize, this beautiful, poised woman he’d met just a year ago, I couldn’t have been happier for him. I had never seen him so in love.
Honestly, I didn’t think anyone could ever tie Dave down — he was the kind of guy who had a carefree, adventurous spirit that made it hard to picture him settling down. But here we were, at his wedding, watching him walk down the aisle with the woman he planned to spend the rest of his life with. The ceremony seemed flawless — Shanize looked absolutely stunning in her white gown, every inch the perfect bride. She glided down the aisle as if she had stepped straight out of a bridal magazine, her eyes locked on Dave’s, radiating beauty and grace.
But despite how perfect everything seemed, something inside me felt wrong.
At first, I assumed it was just wedding jitters. After all, these moments can be overwhelming, and weddings are nerve-wracking for everyone, right? But then, as Shanize continued down the aisle, I noticed something strange. Her steps weren’t smooth or confident — they were small and hesitant, almost like she was stumbling. Something didn’t feel right. I turned to Dave’s sister, Heather, who was sitting beside me, and whispered in her ear.
“Do you see that?” I murmured, trying to keep my voice low so no one would notice my growing concern.
Heather frowned and glanced at the aisle. “See what?” she asked, her face puzzled.
“Shanize,” I said, subtly gesturing with my chin toward the bride. “She’s walking… weird. It’s almost like something’s wrong.”
Heather squinted, and then shrugged. “Oh, it’s probably nothing. She’s just nervous. It’s a huge day for her, Janice. Don’t overthink it.” She gave me a quick, reassuring smile, but it didn’t ease the unsettling feeling creeping up inside me.
Maybe Heather was right. Maybe it was just nerves. But something about the way Shanize’s dress was moving as she walked made my gut twist. Was her dress too tight? Was something wrong with her shoes? I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it. And as Shanize drew closer to the altar, her steps grew even slower, more labored.
Unable to ignore it any longer, I leaned over again to whisper to Heather. “Heather, I swear something’s not right.”
Heather’s patience was clearly wearing thin. “Janice, stop it. You’re going to ruin the moment if you keep acting like this. Just let her have her moment,” she hissed under her breath.
I looked back toward the altar, where Dave stood, his eyes glowing with love and excitement. When our eyes met, he gave me a thumbs-up and mouthed, “Can you believe it?”
I forced a smile and nodded, trying to match his excitement, but deep down, something in my chest was heavy, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that things weren’t as perfect as they seemed.
The closer Shanize came to the altar, the more my anxiety grew. I couldn’t be the only one noticing something was off, could I?
“She’s gliding!” a man’s voice whispered behind me, and for some reason, that word — “gliding” — chilled me to the bone. It was like the missing piece of the puzzle. I leaned in toward Heather again, my voice barely audible. “Did you hear that? Gliding. That’s exactly what it is — she’s not walking normally. Something’s wrong.”
Heather’s expression hardened. “Janice, for God’s sake, stop! You’re going to embarrass Dave. Just stop, okay?”
But I couldn’t. The nagging feeling gnawed at me, and I couldn’t let it go. As Shanize came closer, I focused on her feet. The way her gown flowed unnaturally around her legs — the way she moved — it was all wrong. I couldn’t stand it any longer. Without thinking, I stood up and stepped forward, ignoring Heather’s sharp gasp.
“Janice!” Heather’s voice cracked with panic. “What are you doing?”
I didn’t answer. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I felt like the world around me had slowed down. As I reached out, I lifted the hem of Shanize’s gown just a few inches, expecting to find some sort of wardrobe malfunction. Maybe the shoes were too tight. Maybe something had happened before the ceremony. But what I saw — what I found — was nothing I could have ever imagined.
The entire church fell silent.
Underneath the beautiful white gown, what I found was completely out of place. I stared in disbelief. Men’s shoes. Large, polished men’s shoes.
I blinked, my mind struggling to process what I was seeing. Was I hallucinating? I looked up, but no one moved. No one breathed. Shanize — no, this person — stood still, frozen, as if waiting for something. It wasn’t Shanize at all. It was a man.
My stomach churned, and I knelt down further, my hands trembling as I looked closer. Beneath the dress, I could see the fabric of a suit. The pants, the tailored fabric that should never have been beneath a bride’s gown. And then my eyes darted upward to the face. It was a man’s face — covered with a wig, a veil hiding most of his features, but now that I was close enough, I could see it clearly. My throat went dry, and my mind went blank.
I stood up, my heart racing, and locked eyes with Dave, who stood at the altar, waiting for his bride.
“Janice…?” Dave’s voice wavered. His face, once radiant with joy, was now full of confusion. “What’s going on?” he asked, his voice trembling.
I didn’t know how to answer him.
For what seemed like an eternity, no one moved. The entire church was frozen in place, the air thick with shock. Dave’s face went pale, his eyes wide with disbelief, and I could see his body tense as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.
“What… what the hell is this?” he demanded, his voice cracking, a mixture of confusion and horror flooding through him.
Guests murmured and whispered, their voices like a swarm of bees, some trying to figure out what had just occurred, others simply in shock.
The man in the wedding dress — the imposter — stood tall, a smirk spreading across his face. Slowly, he reached up and pulled the veil from his head, letting it drop to the ground. The wig followed, revealing short, dark hair underneath. And with that, the truth came into full view. The church erupted in shocked murmurs, some gasping, others staring in disbelief.
“Surprise,” the man said, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction. “Did you not even notice? You were all so sure.”
Dave’s mouth opened and closed, unable to find the words. “Where’s Shanize?” His voice broke as he tried to make sense of it all. “Where is she?”
The man, now revealed to be Dave’s best man, chuckled. “She’s gone, Dave. Left days ago. But don’t worry, she knew about this. She’s the one who asked me to do it.”
The whispers in the church grew louder, and I could feel the weight of the room’s confusion pressing down on me. Shanize — had she really known about this? Had she planned this betrayal with Dave’s best friend?
Dave staggered back, his face twisted in confusion and fury. “What do you mean? What did you do to her?” His voice rose in panic, his fists clenched. “Where is she?” he demanded again, his voice thick with desperation.
The best man held up his hand in mock calm, his eyes glittering with malicious satisfaction. “Oh, she’s safe. Don’t worry. But she wanted you to feel this moment, Dave. She wanted you to feel what it’s like to be blindsided.”
Dave’s face contorted with terror and confusion. “What are you talking about?” he asked, his voice quivering.
The best man’s smile turned cold, the satisfaction clear in his eyes. “She found out, Dave. About you and Vanessa.” His voice lowered, almost a whisper, laced with malice. “The bridesmaid you’ve been sneaking around with? Shanize knew.”
The air in the room seemed to vanish as Dave’s face drained of color. His eyes went wide with horror. “No… no, that’s not true.”
“Oh, but it is,” the best man replied, his voice cutting through the air. “She found out a few days ago. She could’ve called off the wedding, but what’s the fun in that? No, she wanted to make sure you saw what you really are.”