Iridescent: The Veil

1: The Veil

THIS STORY CONTAINS content that might be troubling to some readers, including, but not limited to, sexual abuse, suicide, self-harm, and childhood trauma!!

Xīn yí

My name is Xīn yí (sheen-ee) and I'm 16 years old today. Yes, that's right today is my birthday. I laugh on the inside because Xīn yí is kind of an ironic name given the circumstances I'm in. Xīn yí is supposed to mean "happy" or "quiet." I'm neither happy nor quiet. Ever since I was born I was unhappy and loud, so my mother tells me.

"What's wrong Xīn yí? Xīn yí, you must be quiet!" That is all I heard from everyone when I was growing up. Even today on what is supposed to be the happiest day of my life, I'm not happy. Yes, it's my birthday but that's not what I'm talking about. Other than it being my birthday, today is also my wedding day...

Yes, you heard correctly, today I'm supposed to walk down the aisle and say I do and live happily ever after. But what did I tell you in the beginning, I have never been happy a day in my life. You all are probably wondering who am I supposed to marry. The bigger question is, who is the man who wants to marry a girl who if it wasn't for her birthday today would have married a 15-year-old?

That rat bastard, Charles Milton, that's who. Charles Milton is a 34-year-old billionaire investor with more money than he knows what to do with. Well, I'm sorry, apparently he does know what he wanted to do with it, purchase a bride. I guess his rat-like features didn't attract any other female rats so he just decided to buy a bride instead.

I did not come from a rich family like Charles Milton. My mother's family used to have money and held a great status in the community but that all changed. My grandfather, my mother's father, was in a lot of debt and owed a lot of money to multiple families in China. So by the time I was born, my family had become farmers. Ever since then, my mother has been trying everything to get back to that status she once had. Even making her own daughter a mail-order bride for money.

As soon as I was born my mother began grooming me to become a delicate, sweet, and quiet bride-to-be. She worked hard every day just so I could attend the best virtue school in China. In case you all don't know what a virtue school is, a virtue school teaches women so-called traditional Chinese virtues, such as being obedient and subordinate to men.

Of course, attending virtue school turned me into the daughter my mother wanted me to be or so she thought. I only pretended to be obedient and subordinate, waiting for my moment to escape and be my own person. I thought I had more time to comprise a plan to escape this life my mother wanted me to live but as soon as I completed virtue school my mother had already sold me to the highest bidder.

Once the transaction was complete I was flown to the United States to live with my future husband. Once I arrived in the States I was taken to Charles's house. I have to admit his house was gorgeous but still, I did not crack a smile or feel an ounce of happiness. The driver got out of the car and opened the backseat door for me to exit the car. I was greeted by 2 maids.

"Hello Xīn yí, it's nice to meet the future lady of the house." One of the maids greeted me. I could tell she was Chinese as well. The older maid hit the maid that greeted me.

"Ida, that is not her name anymore. Mr. Milton has decided to name her May. So you will address Mrs. Milton as May or Mrs. Milton, whichever she prefers." The older maid fussed at Ida. Ida just continued to look down without another word. Just great he ripped me away from my homeland and now he changed my name.

"I prefer to be called Xīn yí." I state glaring at the older maid. I walk up to Ida and I gracefully raise her head back up so her eyes meet mine.

"I like you. You shall remain at my side for the rest of my time here. I want you in charge of all of the other maids and I will see to it that Charles does what I demand. Now please show me inside." I state. Ida gently grabs my hand and leads me towards the entrance of the house.

"Here's the room we prepared for you to get ready for the wedding. We only have an hour. Shall we begin?" Ida asks still a little timid.

"Yes, you all may begin." I agree.

I stand at the back entrance of the house waiting for my queue to walk down the aisle. I grip my wedding bouquet feeling my nerves build up.

"You look so pretty Xīn yí!" Ida compliments me.

"Thank you very much, Ida." I thanked her for the kind words still the corners of my mouth did not form a smile. The music begins to play and I begin to descend into the pits of hell. I arrive at the altar and Charles grabs both of my hands. The preacher does his speech and Charles says his I do's first, weirdly. Then the preacher turns towards me.

"Do you May, take Charles to be your lawfully wedded husband?" The preacher asks smiling as if he wanted everyone to see all his pearly whites.

"Do I have a choice?" I ask looking at the preacher. I feel Charles's grip on my hands tighten. So tight that I thought he was going to break my fingers. All of the guests took my statement as a joke and everyone started laughing. This seemed to calm Charles down a bit because he started laughing as well and loosened his grip. Though everyone was enjoying the "joke" I made. Still, no smile crept across my face. At least with this wedding veil on no one could tell if I was smiling or not.

"I do." I state to the preacher.

"Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you Mr and Mrs Milton!" The preacher yells. Everyone stands and cheers for what they thought was a happy marriage not knowing that this was my first time meeting my husband. Charles and I both turn towards the guests as they cheer for us.

And that is how I ended up here, in these shoes, in this wedding dress, and in this veil.