The Bride in Oz

Getting Ready for the Wedding

Once Upon a Time...

...in rural Nebraska lived a beautiful 22-year-old woman named Sophia Parker. Sophia thought she was the luckiest girl in the whole world because she was blessed with everything she could ever ask for. She had two great parents named Miranda and Austin, and nobody loved her more than her parents.

But there was no man who loved Sophia more than her beloved boyfriend, Hugo Salonga. Sophia and Hugo had dated since their freshman year in high school, and they'd been inseparable ever since. As long as Hugo was with her, Sophia didn't think life could get any better, and she doubted that she could be any happier—until he asked her to marry him.

Sophia didn't think she could be any happier than she already was. She and Hugo were really looking forward to their wedding day, and they wanted it to be the most beautiful wedding ever. The wedding was going to be at the farm where Hugo grew up, and the reception was going to be at Miranda and Austin's farm. After the wedding, Sophia will move to Hugo's own farm. They were both looking forward to the big day.

It was June 21, 2012, and Sophia was enjoying herself at her bachelorette party with Miranda and the bridesmaids.

"We're all so happy for you, Sophia," said her older sister, Cora.

Cora herself had gotten married two years ago, and she lived on another farm with her husband.

"Your dress is so beautiful," said Lucy, the maid of honor.

"Thank you, Lucy," said Sophia. Sophia's wedding dress was baby blue and lavender, and it had a beautiful tiara.

"This is going to be a beautiful wedding, and you're going to make a beautiful bride, Sophia," said Miranda.

"Thanks, Mom," Sophia said.

While the bridesmaids were enjoying themselves outside, Sophia looked up at the big blue sky, dreaming about her wedding. She knew that Hugo was the perfect groom for her, and she was happy that her dreams were coming true—and very soon at that.

Cora and Miranda saw Sophia staring up into the sky with a dreamy look in her eyes. They could tell that she was dreaming of how her wedding would turn out to be. It made Cora and Miranda happy to see Sophia so happy.

"Are you excited about your wedding, baby sister?" Cora asked.

"Yeah, you know? When I first met Hugo, I knew he was the perfect man for me," Sophia said. "Now that we're engaged, I'm dreaming that with our new life as a married couple, we could be happier than we already are."

"Hugo really is the perfect man for you, honey," Miranda said.

"Yeah, I guess Cinderella was right," said Sophia. She started to happily sing to her mother and the bridesmaids.

A dream is a wish your heart makes

When you're fast asleep

In dreams, you will lose your heartaches

Whatever you wish for you keep

Have faith in your dreams, and someday

Your rainbow will come smiling through

No matter how your heart is grieving

If you keep on believing,

The dream that you wish will come true

Sophia was so happy that her dreams would be coming true very soon, but tomorrow felt like a very long time, and the time was dragging. She wished her wedding day would hurry up and come already.