On my wedding day, everyone looked at me with pity because I was marrying a man they called “poor.” The next morning, with some shame, I asked my husband 500 pesos for the market. He didn’t say anything, he just took his phone. Five minutes later, my bank account received a notification… and that’s when everyone started running out of words.

In our neighborhood, canceling an already announced marriage meant staying bad with everyone.

So, my mother said a phrase that I still remember perfectly:

“Let Lucia get married instead.

The room was silent.

I was in the kitchen when I heard my name.

I went in confused.

“Me?

My mother spoke like it was the most logical thing in the world.

You are older. Besides, Alejandro is a good man. You’re not gonna be bad.

Daniela didn’t even look up from the phone.

“If Lucia wants to, get married,” he said. I don’t care.

No one asked if I wanted to.

Two weeks later…
I was walking to the altar.

Throughout the wedding I heard the whispers.

“Poor thing…
“They forced it…
“Marry that man without money.

But Alexander never said anything.

He only looked at me calmly when we signed the minutes.

That night, when we arrived at his home in Guadalajara, he told me something that surprised me.

If you don’t want to stay, I’ll understand.

I looked at him confused.

What?

I know this wedding was not your choice.

For the first time all day… someone had thought of me.

I denied with my head.

We are already married. Let’s try to do it right.

He smiled slightly.

The next morning I woke up early.