After running away from home seven years ago to escape a loveless arranged marriage, Kyra Wilder has finally mastered up the courage to be back in her small town of Ruthwell in Washington DC. She’s ready for a second chance with her parents and the people who used to be her friends back in high school and most of all, she’s ready to tell her parents that she’s about to become a bride.
But the small town she lived in hasn’t changed all that much in the past seven years and no one seems to have forgotten her betrayal, or seems anywhere near ready to forgive her for her past mistakes. Everywhere she goes, she’s met with hostility and anger and it’s thinning out her chances of redemption ever second. Now, how does she tell her parents and her friends that not only has she moved on in her life, further than anyone had ever anticipated, but she’s happy and successful in what she does? And amid all the truths and revelations, how does she tell everyone that she isn’t marrying a man, but the woman of her dreams?

The Bride GL

The competition was just around the corner, and Gabby and I were putting in every ounce of effort to perfect our dance routine. 


We practice tirelessly every single day, but there was an underlying tension that was beginning to strain our partnership. 


Sometimes, it felt like we're dancing on eggshells, and I can sense the frustration building up between us. 


Gabby, with her infectious eagerness, wanted us to have fun while dancing. She believed that the joy of the art should be our primary focus and not trying to please the judges. 


However, I was desperate to win this competition, and every misstep we made felt like a step away from victory. 


I wanted us to be synchronized, flawless – a dynamic duo that commands the stage. 


Our differences in approach lead to clashes. Gabby thought that I was being too serious, that I was missing the point of dance as an expression of joy. 


Chapter 25: Word of the Wise