The once tranquil, familiar atmosphere of Jessica’s childhood home had been transformed into a bustling hive of activity.

Every inch of space was claimed for wedding preparations. In one corner of the living room, bridesmaids were having their hair styled into elegant updos and cascading curls. In another corner, makeup artists worked meticulously, applying the final touches to faces that gleamed with excitement.

The house was fragrant with the heady scent of fresh flowers. White roses, peonies, and delicate baby’s breath arranged in every available space. The air buzzed with the sounds of chatter, giggles, and of course music, but despite the celebration unfolding around her, Jessica looked out of place.

I almost felt sorry for her, despite it being her day. It just looked like she was standing in the eye of the storm, detached from the flurry of wedding day preparations.

Everything felt surreal. She had planned every detail of this day down to the last petal, yet the anxiety of watching it all come together seemed to leave her feeling like an outsider in her own event. As if the fear of something going wrong gnawed at her, a weight she couldn’t just couldn’t shake.

I knew it wasn’t just the logistics of the wedding that filled her with unease, it was the people. Her wedding guest list included family members she hadn’t seen in years, people from whom she’d drifted apart. Especially, Christina, who stood out like a dark cloud on the horizon.

“I wonder if Christina will actually make it on time for once,” one of our Tia’s whispered, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm.

Another aunt chuckled softly in response. “Ay, vos sabés cómo es ella—siempre con sus cosas.”

I could see Jessica’s eyes narrowed slightly, and her heart sinking. The comments, though not directed at her, stung. It was as if her nightmare was coming true. Even on her wedding day, it would always have to be about her.

As everyone else busily prepared for the big event, Jessica could feel eyes on her. She turned and noticed her cousin Julio and Aunt Sandra exchanging glances and whispering. When they caught her gaze, they quickly turned away, but Jessica could sense what they were talking about—Christina.

The weight of it all seemed to crush her as she forced herself to smile, knowing that her insides were twisted with anxiety.

Again, we all grew up with the wild rumors about Christina. And even though Jessica and Christina were only a few years apart, their lives could not have been more different.

While Jessica’s world was confined to the streets of California, Christina’s world unfolded in El Salvador, where her father ran their family’s sprawling coffee plantation and business empire. That business, an entity that had survived the turbulence of civil war, was now solely in the hands of Christina’s father, Patricia’s brother.

Jessica’s jealousy over this was deep-rooted. The family business had once been shared between both sides of the family, but her mother, Patricia, had relinquished her rights to it. The very knowledge of that decision gnawed at Jessica, intensifying her bitterness. Every summer visit to El Salvador stung with the reality of Christina’s luxurious life—the grand estates, the endless resources, the sense of power that came with inheriting a piece of the family’s legacy. It was a life that Jessica had glimpsed but could never have and I believe it drove Jessica’s jealousy and resentment towards Christina. Even though neither would ever admit the truth.

As she passed by the kitchen to make sure the food was being prepared, Jessica overheard another conversation that made her pause. Two cousins were talking to her mother, Patty. One of them leaned in, asking, “Do you think Christina will bring Arturo this time? I’ve heard they’re still… close.”

Patty sighed, giving a noncommittal shrug. “Quién sabe con esa cipota. Siempre nos sale con alguna sorpresa.” The comment, though simple, was enough to make Jessica’s heart pound harder, her anxiety heightening. She clenched her jaw, feeling a sense of helplessness.

Christina had become an elusive figure at family gatherings, her presence more of a myth than a reality. Whispers about her wild adventures and the secrecy surrounding her life seemed to grow with every event she missed. Aunts and cousins exchanged tales: some swore she was studying abroad in Costa Rica, while others claimed she had joined a secretive military academy in Russia. The more outrageous the stories, the more enthralling they became. But no matter how dramatic the tale, one detail remained constant: Christina’s name was always linked to Arturo Rodriguez.

The Rodriguez family, wealthy from their famous dentistry practice, only added to the intrigue. Jessica had faint memories of meeting them at lavish parties in El Salvador as a child, but they remained somewhat of a mystery to her. The connection between their families had always been a vague one, forged through friendships between their parents. She knew her mother, Patty, was close to Arturo’s father, but never learned the specifics.

As she watched her relatives continue their conversations, some speaking excitedly about the wedding, others whispering about Christina, Jessica felt a pit form in her stomach. Inviting Christina and the Rodriguez family was purely out of obligation; a decision made out of courtesy purely because they were her mother’s friends. In Hispanic culture, friends can often become like family and not inviting them would have been seen as rude, especially given the longstanding ties between their parents. Jessica understood this, yet it did little to ease her resentment.

She felt the thought haunting her—guests whispering about Christina, comparing their lives, their appearances, their choices. Jessica had poured her heart and soul into creating this day, but in the back of her mind, a persistent voice whispered: What if they’re more interested in Christina than in me?

She felt a gentle touch on her shoulder, and her mother appeared beside her, smiling warmly. “You look beautiful, mija. Don’t let anything bother you today. This is your day.”

Jessica nodded, trying to muster a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. This was supposed to be her day, a celebration of her love and the life she had built with Greg. Yet, the idea of her cousin’s arrival threatened to overshadow it all. Jessica had spent her life striving for perfection, but now, on the day when she most wanted to be seen, the fear of being outshone by her cousin gnawed at her. The thought of standing at the altar while the whispers about Christina echoed in the background filled her with a quiet dread. Would the family even notice her, or would they be too busy dissecting the latest chapter in Christina’s ever-dramatic life?