"It was intended to be read by the lucky man on our wedding night. Predictably, I waxed on about my virginal purity and the 'special gift' I’d been saving for him."

The author at 5 years old dressed as a bride, pictured with her younger brother

Abigail Freshley is a writer, reader, podcast host and social media over-sharer based in Los Angeles. She reflects on her evangelical upbringing, love of books and obsession with her dog, Bonnie, on Instagram and TikTok. 

This article originally appeared on HuffPost in March 2026.