Sorry, but only the pretty friends will be invited to the wedding, the bride said, her voice flat.
Emily, youve forgotten the milk again! shouted Sarah Collins, slamming the fridge door. We agreed yesterday! Third day in a row!
I’m sorry, Sarah, it completely slipped my mind, Emily Parker said, her eyes pleading. Ive had such a chaotic day I cant think straight.
Did Charlotte call again?
Exactly. Shes been on the line five times since morningcomplaining about the dress, the shoes, the photographer. My head is spinning!
Sarah poured herself tea without milk. You brought this on yourself, she said. Why do you keep rescuing her? Let the wedding planner handle it!
Shes my friend! Weve known each other since nursery. How could I turn her down?
Friend, Sarah scoffed, who lets you run around like a lunatic while she lounges on the couch?
Emily fell silent. Sarah was right. Charlotte had dumped the entire wedding planning onto her: sourcing flowers, collecting invitations, meeting the decorator. Twenty years of friendship felt like a solemn oath.
Theyd met in kindergarten. Charlotte was the striking, blondehaired, blueeyed girl every boy adored and every girl wanted as a mate. Emily was chubbier, quiet, with ginger braids and freckles; kids teased her and left her out of games.
Yet Charlotte chose Emily. One day she walked over and said, Want to be friends? From then on they were inseparableschool, university, first crushes. Charlotte collected a dozen romances; Emily never found one.
Lucy, your phones ringing, Sarah called out.
Emily answered. Of course it was Charlotte.
Emily, where are you? Im at the bridal boutique trying on dresses for the bridesmaids. Come right away, I need your opinion!
Im at work, Ive got three hours till lunch.
Take a break! Its importanther wedding is next week!
Emily sighed, begged her boss for time, and drove to the boutique. Charlotte greeted her in a white dress and veil, beaming.
Look at me, Im a vision! she twirled before the mirror. James will go mad with joy!
Youre stunning, Emily said honestly. It was true; Charlotte always looked like a princess in a gown.
These are the dresses I chose for the bridesmaids, Charlotte announced, pointing to floorlength, pastelpink gowns on the mannequins. Five of them, so the photos will be perfectly balanced.
Who are you inviting? Emily asked.
Emma, Olivia, Katie, Megan and Nina.
Emily froze. Five friends and she wasnt on the list.
What about me? she managed.
Charlotte glanced away. Lucy, you know
What? Emily pressed.
Its a photo shoot. Everything has to look harmonious. And you
Sorry, but only the pretty friends will be at the wedding. The words landed like stones. Emily felt as though shed been labeled ugly.
Youre serious? her voice trembled.
Dont take offense, its just aesthetics! The pictures will be everywhere online. I want everything perfect.
So Ill ruin your flawless photos?
Lucy, youre a bit fullerfigured. The dress wont sit right on you
Emily felt tears welling after two decades of loyalty, of always being there. Twenty years of friendship, and youre excluding me because Im not pretty?
Charlotte tried to soften it. I didnt say you werent invited! Youll be at the wedding, just not as a bridesmaid.
Emily grabbed her bag. Very clear.
Lucy, wait! We still need to pick flowers!
But Emily walked out, tears streaming down her cheeks. Passersby glanced, but she didnt care. The words only the pretty friends shattered their longstanding bond.
At home she collapsed onto the sofa, sobbing. Her phone buzzed nonstop with Charlottes calls, but she ignored them. Later, her mother, Helen, sat beside her.
Emily, whats happened?
Emily recounted everything. Helen listened, shaking her head.
Maybe its for the best, Helen said gently. She didnt call you ugly; she just showed her shallow side. She cares only about the picture, not the people.
Emily thought about their friendship. Charlotte had always been the one people helped, the one who never returned the favor. When Emilys father died, Charlotte never attended the funeral. When Emily lost her job, Charlotte didnt put in a word. When Emilys boyfriend left, Charlotte shrugged, Youll find another.
Whereas Emily had stayed up nights with Charlotte after breakups, helped with work projects, let her stay for weeks when she needed a place.
It seems Ive been foolish, Emily whispered.
Not foolishkind, her mother replied. Theres a huge difference.
The next day Charlotte called, Emily, why are you mad? I didnt mean to hurt you.
Im the one you called not pretty enough for your wedding.
I never said that! I was talking about aesthetics!
Its the same thing.
Fine, if it matters so much, Ill make you the sixth bridesmaid.
Emily felt a chill. Sixth? Youll hide me behind the others so Im not seen.
Thats what you wanted, right? Charlotte said.
Emilys patience snapped. I wont go to your weddingnot as a bridesmaid, not as a guest.
What? After twenty years?
Friendship is a twoway street. Im tired of being your convenient helper.
Charlotte shouted, Youre betraying me on my most important day!
No, you betrayed our friendship by making looks more important than feelings.
She hung up, heart pounding but oddly calm. For the first time she acted according to her own values, not Charlottes whims.
At work Sarah listened, then embraced her. Well done! Im proud of you.
Really? Emily asked.
Absolutely. You finally set boundaries. Charlotte was getting full of herself.
It scares me, Sarah. Twenty years what if Im wrong?
Youre not. A true friend would never demand that.
A week later, the wedding day arrived. Emily stayed home, watching a film, trying not to think about the ceremony. Suddenly her phone rang. It was Emma, one of the five chosen bridesmaids.
Emily? Can we talk?
Sure.
Charlotte told us youre not coming. Were all shocked. She said it was about pretty friends.
Yes, thats right.
We were all nervous to confront her, but you were brave.
Emily let out a bitter laugh. Everyones scared of her.
After the call, Emily reflected. Shed stood up for herself, and that felt right.
Later that evening, Vickys mother, Sally Reed, called. Emily had known Sally since childhood.
Emily, can we meet?
They met at a café. Sally looked remorseful.
Ive realized I raised Charlotte to think shes a beauty queen, that everyone should cater to her. Im sorry.
Thank you, Emily said. She needed to learn that true beauty isnt skin deep.
A month passed. Charlotte didnt call, and Emily didnt either. Life moved onwork, gym sessions with Sarah, yoga classes. Emily lost fifteen pounds, not to please anyone, but because she started caring for herself.
One evening a knock came at Emilys door. Charlotte stood there, makeupfree, eyes swollen.
May I come in? she asked softly.
Emily let her in. They sat at the kitchen table.
Ive lost James, Charlotte confessed. Three weeks after the wedding, the honeymoon was a nightmare. He told me I was selfish, that I cared only about appearances. He left.
Charlotte
She said shed lost the best friend because of the photos. She said I was beautiful inside, not outside.
Emily stayed quiet.
Ive ruined everythingmy marriage, my friendship with you, Charlotte sobbed. I was wrong.
Emilys throat tightened.
I cant forgive you right now, she said. It hurts.
I understand. Ill give you time.
But I dont want to abandon you completely. If youre willing to work on yourself, Ill be there.
Really?
Yes, but with boundaries. I wont be your goto for everything.
Charlotte nodded. They embraced tentatively. It wasnt a full reconciliation, but a new beginning.
Charlotte started therapy, began to apologize to people shed hurt, and gradually rebuilt herself. Emily watched, supportive but no longer a scapegoat.
Months later, Charlotte called, Emily, Im making a list of everyone I need to apologise to. Will you help?
Of course.
Together they visited old acquaintances, offering sincere apologies.
Its odd, Charlotte admitted after one visit, I always thought I was the best. Turns out I was the worst version of myself.
The important thing is you realized it.
Thanks to you. If I hadnt left, Id still be stuck in that shallow world.
Now youre learning to value inner beauty over looks.
A year later, Charlottes divorce was final, and she had found a modest, kind-hearted engineer named Mark. He wasnt a supermodel, just a decent man with warm eyes.
I used to chase glamour, she told Emily, but now I see that a good heart matters more.
Emily smiled. Im happy for you.
Any luck in your love life? Charlotte asked.
Not yet, Emily replied. But Ive learned to be happy on my own.
Thats true strengthbeing content with yourself.
Their friendship, once precarious, had grown into something honest and respectful.
When Charlotte eventually decided to marry again, she approached Emily.
Emily, will you be my bridesmaid? Not one of the five pretty ones, but the only one I truly need.
Really?
Yes, because youre my genuine friend, and I dont care how it looks in photographs.
Emily hugged her, grateful that the painful episode had become a lesson for both.
At the wedding, Emily stood beside Charlotte, not hidden, but proudly by her side. The photos turned out beautifulnot because everyone was flawless, but because the couple and their friends were genuinely happy.
The day proved that true friendship is built on respect, not convenience, and that inner beauty outshines any photograph. It taught Emily to value herself and set healthy limits, and it showed Charlotte that a life focused on appearances is empty without a kind heart. The real celebration was of authentic love and lasting friendship.
