"The Russian Bride's Attire" by Konstantin Makovsky, painted in 1887

This painting is very large, and takes up most of the wall it is displayed on. The Bride sits with a woman in front of her, gazing into her eyes. Are they sisters, leaving each other? Friends? Lovers? The detail is incredible and truly looks like a photograph. The man to the right is the only adult male in the photo, I believe he is checking on his dowry.

I think when I was a kid and my cousins got married, I thought they would be gone forever. I know now that is not true. But there is a time in all of our lives where we fear that someone will leave because a change has occurred in their lives. Or in our own. This is my life, the best one I've ever had, the only one I will ever know. There is no rewind button. Or fast-forward. Stay.