As a joke, my groom held up a sign behind his back that read, “Save me,” during the church ceremony. I was so offended that I made the decision to discipline him 
As usual, the ritual was going on. The guests anxiously watched our every move as the priest said prayers and sunlight poured through the stained glass windows. Everything appeared to be ideal. I whispered the words I had been holding in my heart for so long as I turned to face my groom:
— You are the person I love and care about the most, and I have no doubt that you will always be loyal to me.
Then the hall erupted in laughter. Not at a religious event, but at a comedy show, people laughed. I froze, unable to comprehend what was going on. “What’s causing them to laugh? “What’s so funny about my words?” I asked myself, puzzled.
I made an effort to ignore it, but eventually I lost patience and turned to face the visitors. My groom was the center of attention.
I glanced at him as well, and what I saw chilled me to the bone. He carried a huge sign that read, “SAVE ME,” behind his back, where everyone could see it.
The world appeared to stop in that instant. The visitors’ laughter and the priest’s startled look all blended together, and I felt hurt and angry inside. I thought furiously, “Everyone must think I’m forcing him to marry me.”
I have never regretted anything I did after that. I sincerely hope you will support me as I share my tale in the first remark.
Calmly, without a word, I moved in, grabbed the sign out of his hands, and tore it slowly and ostentatiously into small pieces. Words could not compete with the sound of the paper tearing in the church’s hush. The guests instantly stopped laughing as the groom froze.
I responded icily, looking directly into his eyes, “Are you making fun of me?”
“It was just a joke,” he muttered clumsily.
— A joke? The church, where we got married? Why is that so amusing?
I looked over to the priest:
I regret to inform you that there will not be a wedding.
Someone gasped, others lowered their eyes, and a whisper swept through the crowd.
Then, with all of my dignity, I turned to face my “groom” again and said:
Well, you were saved by me. You are at liberty.
I pivoted and proceeded cautiously down the aisle in the direction of the exit. A murmur of astonished voices sounded behind me as my veil lightly touched the pews. Some attempted to get up and speak, but I continued to move forward steadily and without pausing.
He received the spectacle he had requested. Not the one he had anticipated, though.
