The Unblinking Wedding

The chapel was packed with guests, yet not a single one coughed, shifted, or blinked under the dim lights. I nervously adjusted the groom's tuxedo, trying to ignore how cold and stiff his hand felt in mine. I had wired my life savings to the importers for a bride who would be perfect for him—quiet, pale, and eternal. But when the delivery crate finally arrived and I pried off the lid, I fell to my knees in despair. The box was empty, and I knew I couldn't keep the groom fresh for another day.