I wore the sleeveless dress without covering my vitiligo

Dear Delyara, Vitiligo spread across my arms and shoulders in my twenties. For years, I wore long sleeves even in summer and used heavy body makeup for weddings. My niece asked me to be part of her bridal party this year. The dress was sleeveless. I almost asked her to change the design for everyone because I was afraid of photographs. Instead, I worked with a therapist and support group on gradually showing my skin: first at home, then around friends, then short sleeves at the supermarket. On the wedding day, I wore no body makeup. I stood beside my niece with every patch visible. People looked. Some asked questions. Most moved on. The photographs arrived yesterday. My first instinct was to zoom into my arms. Then I saw my niece gripping my hand while laughing at something outside the frame. Self-love has not made me grateful for vitiligo or transformed every insecurity into pride. It has made me less willing to organize important days around hiding skin that is already mine.