Hurt and confused, I tried to figure out why Dylan would do this. I remembered a moment when his fiancée mistook me for him during a visit, and I wondered if jealousy had sparked this rift. Still, I tried to stay involved, only to find more distance.

When I received my wedding invitation months later, I noticed my sister and younger brother were in the wedding party, but I wasn’t. To make it worse, my long-term girlfriend Megan wasn’t even given a seat, while others with casual relationships were allowed to bring dates. It was clear I was only invited to keep up appearances, not because I was truly welcome.