My bridesmaids, who had rushed to my side, helped me dry my hair and offered words of consolation. Their solidarity was a balm on my still-stunned mind.

“Claire,” my maid of honor, Jane, said softly, “you deserve someone who respects you, who listens to you. This is a blessing in disguise.”

I nodded, understanding now that trust was more than a word uttered in vows; it was a fundamental aspect of any partnership. And in that moment, I realized that Dylan had been more enamored with the idea of a viral sensation than with the sanctity of our commitment.