I had always believed in fairy tales. Ever since school, I dreamed of the day when my lifelong love, Andrés, would get down on one knee in front of me and ask me to be his partner forever. After years of coming and going, that day finally arrived. The wedding was perfect: surrounded by our friends and family, with a radiant smile, I said “yes” to the boy I had loved since my teens.

The day after my wedding, we woke up in a small mountain hotel, surrounded by the coolness of the forest. I, still in the euphoria of the celebration, decided to check my phone to see the photos and messages I had received. But among the congratulatory messages, one stood out: it was from an unknown woman.

The message said: “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but I think you deserve to know the truth. Andrés and I have been together for years. He never mentioned that he was engaged. I just found out that he got married yesterday… I’m so sorry.”

I felt as if the ground had opened up beneath my feet. The perfect world I had built in my mind was crumbling with every word I read. At first, I thought it was a cruel joke, or someone with malicious intentions. But when I confronted Andrés, he didn't deny it. His look said it all. He had been leading a double life for years, promising me eternal love while sharing his heart with someone else.

The day that was supposed to be the beginning of a new chapter turned into a nightmare. I felt the pain invade me, but in the midst of my sadness, a spark of strength began to ignite inside me.

She told me that, although Andrés had been my high school sweetheart, the true love she needed now was for herself. I raised my head, knowing that she deserved something better, someone who would love her without lies or secrets.

And although it was an unexpected end to a youthful dream, it was also the beginning of a story in which I learned to prioritize my dignity and my happiness above any empty promise.