Beginning of Essay
Most of the kids I grew up with in the Greek village of Karpatos were forced into arranged marriages, but I never thought it would happen to me. I didn't want to get married. I wanted to be a singer. When I was 14, my family moved to a Greek Orthodox community. ....

Middle of Essay
.... village flew to South Carolina for the City Hall service. At the end, the lady who'd married us said, "You can kiss the bride." My husband and I were so embarrassed we could barely look at each other. Then we headed back to the house where we had our religious ceremony. Following Greek Orthodox custom, I went home afterward with my parents. The next day, my father drove Emanual, my husband, and me to a hotel. When we got to the room, I almost jumped for joy. There were two single beds. My father kissed me goodbye and left. Then a manager came by and said, "We gave you the wrong room," and led us to one with a double bed. I locked myself ....