If I choose Him

She grew up in the shadows - hidden, protected, and shaped by hands that believed in destiny. Every lesson, every word, every carefully measured dream was crafted to fit someone she'd never met, as if her heart had been trained to recognize his before she even knew her own.

But now, standing at the edge of the life built for her, she begins to wonder what lies beyond the perfect cage. And when their eyes finally meet - his, unreadable and distant; hers, trembling with questions - the silence between them feels heavier than the promise that bound them.

What have I done? he asks himself as their gaze lingers.
She glances away, her reflection catching in the glass - and for the first time, doubt seeps in.
Though she doesn't hear his words, she already knows.