My ex\u2019s wedding invitation included a +1 and a reminder that no one would date me. I brought Edward anyway. When Max laughed and asked how much I\u2019d paid him, my coworker quietly walked to his car and returned with a large cardboard box I\u2019d never seen. Whatever was inside made the groom stop smiling.<\/p>\n
Max\u2019s wedding invitation arrived as a text message.<\/p>\n
That was very Max.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome to my wedding with Claire and bring our daughters. Oh, and your invitation includes a +1, but we both know you don\u2019t have anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max\u2019s wedding invitation arrived as a text message.<\/p>\n
I read it twice.<\/p>\n
Then I put my phone facedown before my ten-year-old daughter could ask why I was staring at it like I wanted to throw it through a window.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Max and I had been married almost thirteen years.<\/p>\n
I was staring at it like I wanted to throw it through a window.<\/p>\n
We had two daughters, ten and three, and apparently thirteen years was long enough for my husband to decide my body had violated some agreement I hadn\u2019t known we\u2019d made.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t look the way you used to,\u201d he\u2019d told me.<\/p>\n
That was before I discovered Claire.<\/p>\n
My body had violated some agreement I hadn\u2019t known we\u2019d made.<\/p>\n
His personal trainer.<\/p>\n
When I confronted him about the affair, Max didn\u2019t apologize.<\/p>\n
He shrugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, what did you expect? Men are visual. And Claire, she\u2019s perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n
I remember standing in our bedroom while he packed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, what did you expect? Men are visual. And Claire, she\u2019s perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou cheated because I gained weight?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou used to have a slim waist, Ronnie.\u201d<\/p>\n
He folded another shirt.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen was the last time you even looked at yourself in the mirror?\u201d<\/p>\n
During the divorce, I looked constantly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen was the last time you even looked at yourself in the mirror?\u201d<\/p>\n
I checked my stomach when I got dressed. Turned sideways before I left the house. Changed shirts because I could hear Max saying my arms looked better covered.<\/p>\n
Then Max announced he was marrying Claire.<\/p>\n
And sent me that invitation.<\/p>\n
Then Max announced he was marrying Claire.<\/p>\n
I could have skipped the wedding.<\/p>\n
But our daughters would be there, and our oldest had already asked twice if I was coming.<\/p>\n
So I said yes.<\/p>\n
Then I stared at the +1.<\/p>\n
I wanted Max to see that I was fine.<\/p>\n
I could have skipped the wedding.<\/p>\n
Better than fine, actually.<\/p>\n
Which was how I ended up standing beside Edward\u2019s desk on Monday morning.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Edward had become one of my closest friends during the divorce. He\u2019d listened without trying to fix everything, brought me coffee on the day my divorce became final, and once spent forty minutes helping me write a response to Max that didn\u2019t contain any of the words I originally wanted to use.<\/p>\n
Edward had become one of my closest friends during the divorce.<\/p>\n
He was also tall, athletic, and irritatingly good-looking.<\/p>\n
Exactly the sort of man Max would notice.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need a favor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward looked up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sounds expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was also tall, athletic, and irritatingly good-looking.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome to my ex-husband\u2019s wedding with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
He blinked.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs emotional support?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs my boyfriend.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stared at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cPretend boyfriend,\u201d I added.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh. Much healthier.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome to my ex-husband\u2019s wedding with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
I tried to joke.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you\u2019re obnoxiously presentable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m putting that on my performance review.\u201d<\/p>\n
I laughed, but Edward kept watching me.<\/p>\n
\u201cVeronica.\u201d<\/p>\n
I sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want Max to look at me with you and wonder if he made a mistake, Ed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you\u2019re obnoxiously presentable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward leaned back.<\/p>\n
That answer seemed to bother him.<\/p>\n
But after a moment, he nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
I should have wondered why he agreed so easily.<\/p>\n
Instead, I spent the next week worrying about what to wear.<\/p>\n
I should have wondered why he agreed so easily.<\/p>\n
Max had trained me well.<\/p>\n
By Saturday, I had rejected three dresses because of what he\u2019d once said about my stomach, two because of my arms and one because I could practically hear him asking whether I owned a mirror.<\/p>\n
Eventually, I chose the dress I liked before I started imagining his opinion.<\/p>\n
Max had trained me well.<\/p>\n
Edward picked me up.<\/p>\n
There was a large cardboard box in the back of his car.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cDonation stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t ask again.<\/p>\n
There was a large cardboard box in the back of his car.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
The wedding was enormous.<\/p>\n
Flowers everywhere. White tablecloths. Champagne. A venue with enough chandeliers to illuminate a small airport.<\/p>\n
Our daughters were thrilled.<\/p>\n
The wedding was enormous.<\/p>\n
My three-year-old had already acquired frosting from somewhere despite the cake not being cut.<\/p>\n
Then Max saw us.<\/p>\n
His eyes went first to me.<\/p>\n
Then Edward.<\/p>\n
Then back to me.<\/p>\n
His eyes went first to me.<\/p>\n
For one lovely second, he didn\u2019t know what to say.<\/p>\n
Claire stood beside him in a fitted white gown. She looked beautiful.<\/p>\n
I hated that noticing it still hurt.<\/p>\n
Max approached.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo this is your plus-one?\u201d<\/p>\n
I hated that noticing it still hurt.<\/p>\n
\u201cMax, this is Edward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward offered his hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cCongratulations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max looked him up and down.<\/p>\n
Then he laughed.<\/p>\n
Not a polite chuckle.<\/p>\n
An actual laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cMax, this is Edward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several people nearby turned.<\/p>\n
I felt Edward\u2019s sleeve bunch under my fingers and realized I\u2019d grabbed it.<\/p>\n
\u201cMax, why are you laughing?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cHim?\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked around as though he expected someone else to appreciate the joke.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour boyfriend?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMax, why are you laughing?\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire touched his arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cMax.\u201d<\/p>\n
But he kept going.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll never believe that. No one would date you. Especially someone like HIM.\u201d<\/p>\n
My face burned.<\/p>\n
Then Max gave me the same teasing grin he\u2019d used whenever he wanted an insult to sound like a joke.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat, did you pay him to come with you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one would date you. Especially someone like HIM.\u201d<\/p>\n
For half a second, I was back in our bedroom watching him pack.<\/p>\n
I wanted to disappear.<\/p>\n
Edward didn\u2019t raise his voice.<\/p>\n
He smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cActually, Max, I brought you a wedding gift.\u201d<\/p>\n
I wanted to disappear.<\/p>\n
Max looked surprised.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEspecially for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward turned to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cGive me five minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then he walked out.<\/p>\n
Max watched him leave.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeriously, Veronica?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGive me five minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
I said nothing.<\/p>\n
He smiled again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cKnew what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on. Look at the guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He gestured toward the door Edward had just used.<\/p>\n
Then toward me.<\/p>\n
Claire\u2019s expression changed slightly.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t want to know what she was thinking.<\/p>\n
Claire\u2019s expression changed slightly.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Five minutes later, Edward returned carrying the cardboard box from his car.<\/p>\n
He set it on the nearest empty table.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the groom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou weren\u2019t kidding.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOpen it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the groom.\u201d<\/p>\n
By now, several nearby guests were watching.<\/p>\n
Max pulled apart the flaps.<\/p>\n
His smile disappeared.<\/p>\n
He reached inside and lifted out an enormous pair of trousers.<\/p>\n
He stared at them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the hell is this?\u201d<\/p>\n
His smile disappeared.<\/p>\n
\u201cMine,\u201d Edward said.<\/p>\n
Max looked at him.<\/p>\n
Then at the trousers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThose.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared too.<\/p>\n
Edward took them from him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI used to wear these.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward took them from him.<\/p>\n
Max gave a confused laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a lot heavier.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo?\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cVeronica knows.\u201d<\/p>\n
I frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a lot heavier.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout three years ago, before we were friends, somebody brought birthday cake into the office.\u201d<\/p>\n
I remembered.<\/p>\n
Barely.<\/p>\n
Edward had been standing near the break room.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d refused a piece.<\/p>\n
Edward had been standing near the break room.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople who look like me don\u2019t need cake,\u201d he\u2019d said.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d been having a terrible week with Max.<\/p>\n
So I\u2019d answered without thinking.<\/p>\n
\u201cFunny. My husband talks about me like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward\u2019s smile had vanished.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d been having a terrible week with Max.<\/p>\n
I remembered what I said next too.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hate hearing it from him. I don\u2019t like hearing it from you either.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the time, Edward had just stared at me.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d taken my cake and gone back to my desk.<\/p>\n
I remembered what I said next too.<\/p>\n
Now he stood at my ex-husband\u2019s wedding holding those trousers.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou remember,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat stuck with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max looked impatient.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat exactly is the point?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat stuck with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe point is Veronica never told me what I should weigh.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward folded the trousers over his arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe didn\u2019t tell me I\u2019d be more valuable if I looked different. She just made me realize I\u2019d started talking to myself the way someone else was talking to her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe point is Veronica never told me what I should weigh.\u201d<\/p>\n
I could feel people listening.<\/p>\n
I wished they weren\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Edward continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cI stopped waiting to live until I looked acceptable. Eventually I changed some habits. My body changed too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI stopped waiting to live until I looked acceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max smirked.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo Veronica inspired you to get in shape. Great.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d Edward\u2019s answer came quickly. \u201cThat\u2019s exactly what you don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max\u2019s smile slipped.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s exactly what you don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe didn\u2019t fix me. There was nothing about me that needed fixing before I deserved to enjoy my own life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire glanced at Max.<\/p>\n
Then at me.<\/p>\n
Max gave an uncomfortable laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cTouching. But what\u2019s that got to do with me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe didn\u2019t fix me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward handed him the trousers.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you looked at me tonight and decided my appearance proved something about Veronica.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max shrugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt does.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why are you still trying to prove it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward handed him the trousers.<\/p>\n
Max stopped smiling.<\/p>\n
Edward turned to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan we talk somewhere private?\u201d<\/p>\n
His smile had disappeared, and suddenly I wasn\u2019t sure I wanted to hear what came next.<\/p>\n
Max stopped smiling.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
We stepped into the hallway.<\/p>\n
\u201cVeronica, Max was wrong about you. But there\u2019s something I should\u2019ve said before we came.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou asked me because you thought bringing somebody who looks like me would prove something to him. I said yes because I thought you\u2019d realize it wouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s something I should\u2019ve said before we came.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him. My face burned.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could\u2019ve told me that before we came, Ed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cInstead you let me walk in there pretending you were my boyfriend. You don\u2019t get to teach me lessons by tricking me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could\u2019ve told me that before we came, Ed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n
No explanation.<\/p>\n
No excuse.<\/p>\n
Just that.<\/p>\n
I walked farther down the hallway before I cried at my ex-husband\u2019s wedding, which was a level of humiliation I refused to provide free of charge.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward followed but kept several feet between us.<\/p>\n
Then a small voice stopped me.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom?\u201d<\/p>\n
My oldest daughter stood near the hallway.<\/p>\n
I wiped under one eye quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey.\u201d<\/p>\n
A small voice stopped me.<\/p>\n
She looked past me toward the reception.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did Dad say nobody would date you?\u201d<\/p>\n
I crouched so we were closer to eye level.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was being unkind, sweetheart.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did Dad say nobody would date you?\u201d<\/p>\n
She thought about that.<\/p>\n
\u201cEdward isn\u2019t your boyfriend?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why did you say he was?\u201d<\/p>\n
There are moments when lying to your child would be much easier.<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t do it.<\/p>\n
\u201cEdward isn\u2019t your boyfriend?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I wanted your dad to think somebody wanted me.\u201d<\/p>\n
She frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we wanted you here.\u201d<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n
There wasn\u2019t anything to add without making it smaller.<\/p>\n
She hugged me.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we wanted you here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then somebody called her from the reception, and she ran back.<\/p>\n
I stayed crouched for another second.<\/p>\n
When I stood, Edward was still waiting.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m still mad at you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should be.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m still mad at you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before I could answer, Max approached.<\/p>\n
He had left the trousers on the table.<\/p>\n
His smugness had returned.<\/p>\n
Max looked at Edward.<\/p>\n
Then at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re marrying Claire,\u201d I said. \u201cYou got what you wanted. Why do you still need me to be undesirable?\u201d<\/p>\n
His smugness had returned.<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n
Claire had followed him.<\/p>\n
She stood several feet behind us.<\/p>\n
Max glanced at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s twisting this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire looked at me.<\/p>\n
Then at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou told me she stopped trying.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s twisting this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire\u2019s eyes stayed on him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not what I just heard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max wasn\u2019t smiling anymore.<\/p>\n
And for the first time since he\u2019d packed those suitcases, I wasn\u2019t waiting for him to tell me what that meant about me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not what I just heard.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Back inside the reception, Edward picked up the trousers and started folding them into the box.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing with those?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cTaking them to the donation center.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at them once more.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTaking them to the donation center.\u201d<\/p>\n
He raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m still mad at you,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFair.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou owe me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso fair.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStart by getting those pants out of my ex-husband\u2019s wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou owe me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edward lifted the box.<\/p>\n
\u201cBest fake date you\u2019ve ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly fake date I\u2019ve ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStill undefeated.\u201d<\/p>\n
I laughed despite myself.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly fake date I\u2019ve ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n
I gathered the girls soon afterward. My youngest had somehow doubled the amount of frosting on her dress.<\/p>\n
As we reached the exit, Max called my name.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what happens with you and Edward?\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned.<\/p>\n
Even now, he wanted an answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what happens with you and Edward?\u201d<\/p>\n
If Edward wanted me, Max could measure that.<\/p>\n
If Edward didn\u2019t, he could measure that too.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really need to know, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Max opened his mouth.<\/p>\n
I kept walking.<\/p>\n
If Edward wanted me, Max could measure that.<\/p>\n
Outside, my older daughter stopped beside the car and smoothed both hands over her dress.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes this make me look weird?\u201d<\/p>\n
The question was casual.<\/p>\n
That made it worse.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes this make me look weird?\u201d<\/p>\n
I could have told her she looked beautiful.<\/p>\n
Instead, I asked, \u201cDo you like your dress?\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked down at herself.<\/p>\n
Then she turned once, making the skirt swing around her knees.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you like your dress?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I like that answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
She smiled and climbed into the car.<\/p>\n
Her little sister followed, leaving a frosting handprint on the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look sticky.\u201d<\/p>\n
I laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou definitely do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I like that answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
After buckling her in, I walked around to the driver\u2019s side.<\/p>\n
My reflection waited in the dark car window.<\/p>\n
For a second, Max\u2019s voice returned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen was the last time you even looked at yourself in the mirror?\u201d<\/p>\n
So I looked.<\/p>\n
For a second, Max\u2019s voice returned.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t inspect my waist.<\/p>\n
Didn\u2019t turn sideways.<\/p>\n
Didn\u2019t wonder what Max would see or whether Edward would approve.<\/p>\n
I simply looked.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom!\u201d my three-year-old yelled from inside. \u201cGo!\u201d<\/p>\n
I opened the door and got in.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t inspect my waist. Didn\u2019t turn sideways.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My ex\u2019s wedding invitation included a +1 and a reminder that no one would date me. I brought Edward anyway. When Max laughed and asked how much I\u2019d paid him, my coworker quietly walked to his car and returned with a large cardboard box I\u2019d never seen. Whatever was inside made the groom stop smiling. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/storydosee.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5967","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/storydosee.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/storydosee.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storydosee.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storydosee.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5967"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/storydosee.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5967\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5968,"href":"https:\/\/storydosee.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5967\/revisions\/5968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/storydosee.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storydosee.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storydosee.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}