"She been married so many times she got rice marks all over her face." - Tom Waits

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the streets of sprawling cities, corridors of power, and the dusty roads meandering through rural communities, news spread of a woman whose countenance betrayed a life marked by the fragrance of countless weddings. Despite hiding the laughter, tears, and shock inherent in relaying this tale, rumors of her marital odyssey soon swirled in hushed whispers among friends and enemies.

It began with the first taste of love-a hand clasped in hers, an unfamiliar yet exciting warmth filling her heart as two families stood witness to their vows. But the glow of a new chapter did not last long. As the guests rushed home, eager to cook, eat, and swallow the fine grains that signaled the consummation of a new union, the newlyweds were driven by the whispers of a torrid affair to begin the cycle anew.

A bittersweet familiarity washed over her with each subsequent ceremony. The quick peck on the lip exchanged before the rice was flung; the sudden remembering of each partner's quirks and habits; the sighing of judgment from those courted multiple times and seen only wearing white; a wedding dress left in costly storage, a cherished heirloom, or replaced entirely with repairs masking her tenure with the recently-deceased partner. Christenings, anniversaries, and romantic moments now added another layer to her facial topography.

While scarring is often associated with pain or hardship, stories like hers reveal the alternative beauty of resilience and joy. She, and others like her, become symbols of hope in what can sometimes feel like a world of despair. This woman - this perpetually wed and forever wonderful woman - is a reminder that no matter how many times the clock is reset, "the best is yet to come."