The Girl In The Mirror.

(KAIRA'S POV)

The next morning, I was woken by the sound of three loud knocks at the door.

It was annoying that the first person I thought of was Slade. It was a relief that he wasn't the one at the door

"What's that face? Expecting the angel of death?" Mum greeted, giving me a hug.

"Good morning, Mum." I greeted groggily.

"Good morning, my love." She stepped back."Did you sleep well?"

"It was okay." I lied.

"Not for me. Tom and I slept separately. I was scared when I woke up alone in a large room with ugly wallpapers and no pictures of my daughter and I."

"I got scared when I opened my eyes to the large chandelier, it looked like a giant silver spider and I thought I was in a bad dream." I added.

We both looked up at the chandelier then back at each other laughing.

“I’m sorry honey. I took you by shock with the announcement.” She reached out and squeezed my hand. I squeezed back, the memory of our conversation and a reminder of the wedding today settled on the air between us.

“It’s okay.” I said even though deep down, I still felt strange.

“No, Kaira. I shouldn’t—“

Mum’s sentence was caught short with a squeal from someone.

It was a tall, beautiful brunette with a pixie cut and the brightest smile strolled into the room, blue eyes twinkling.

“You're right, Shanice she is so gorgeous and you both are identical!!" She announced.

"Hello mini Shanice." She eyed me with a smirk.

"Um.. hi."

"I'm Erica Horton, Tom Horton's niece and I'm here to get you guys ready for the wedding." She wriggled her eyebrows in excitement.

"Hi Erica." I greeted.

"Erica is a popular model and she’s currently studying fashion design in New York." Mum whispered in excitement as she stood up and put an arm around Erica.

"That's amazing." I acknowledged.

“Yes it is but today is not just about me." Erica winked. "It's all about the beautiful bride and her beautiful bridesmaids, of course." Then, her eyes looked me from up to down. "You should have your bath now, Kaira. There's a million things to do and very little time.”

She reached for my bonnet and pulled it off, gently but suddenly. My hair cascaded down to my waist.

"You are unbelievably beautiful!" She cooed and I looked away shyly.

"Thank you." I muttered, staring at my feet.

"Don't thank me yet." She said, tipping my chin up so I looked directly at her. "Thank me when you are walking down the aisle like a goddess."

The thought of being transformed into a goddess was almost funny enough to laugh at.

---

(FOUR HOURS LATER)

"This has to be illegal.." Erica circled me like a shark with her jaw literally on the floor. "I mean I knew when I saw your face but….. I am stunned. You are absolutely beautiful. Have you even seen yourself?"

I was doing exactly that now.

A glance at the mirror had turned to a permanent stare. I was frozen to the spot, glued to the wide-eyed reflection of myself.

"Oops! Look at the time! I need to go check on the bride and then get ready."

"Thank you, Erica." I said but she had disappeared to the other side of the room where Mum was getting ready.

I turned back to the mirror, the girl in it looked… unreal.

The pink satin dress, 'custom made' as Erica had said, hugged my waist before flowing effortlessly to the floor, while the off-shoulder neckline revealed my collarbones.

My strawberry blonde hair cascaded over one shoulder with tiny crystal pins shaped like stars. I stood for some minutes, unable to look away.

"Oh baby."

Mum's voice made me whirl and I gasped when I took in her appearance.

"Oh Mum, you look ….." I was speechless but the word was breathtaking. Her ivory gown wrapped around her with effortless elegance, her hair was styled into a sleek and graceful updo decorated with tiny pearls.

"You're so beautiful." I breathed out.

"So are you." She whispered.

"You both look amazing!" Erica joined now, wearing a bridesmaid dress, similar to mine but with a bold halter neck style.

"We all do." Mum said and we laughed.

Then, we proceeded downstairs to the car and were driven to another part of the estate that I had never seen. The Horton's heavenly garden as Erica called it.

The moment we stepped out of the car, my lips parted into a gasp.

The private garden looked like something out of a fairytale. Hundreds of white roses lined a long ivory aisle that stretched between rows of elegant chairs filled with guests. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ancient oak trees overhead, catching the afternoon sunlight, while a live string quartet filled the air with soft music.

The Horton mansion was some distance away, still visible, grand and magnificent, like it was quietly watching over everything.

Mum and I grasped hands and walked to the flower-covered entrance.

Then, the music changed.

"That’s your cue Kaira.," Erica murmured to me with an encouraging smile .

I swallowed hard and stepped onto the aisle. Dozens of faces turned toward me and I could hear whispers rippling through the crowd as I walked.

I kept my eyes lowered… until I reached the middle of the aisle. Then I made the mistake of looking up and a thousand butterflies invaded my stomach.

Slade.

Standing beside his father in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, looking godlike.

He wasn't looking anywhere else. He was staring, right at me.

His eyes searched my face so intensely that I nearly forgot where I was and his expression had changed for the briefest second.

Surprise.

Real, undisguised surprise.

Then his jaw tightened, as though he’d caught himself staring.

I quickly looked away and hurried to my position, trying to ignore my racing heart . A few seconds later, the music changed again to the timeless Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel.

Everyone rose to their feet.

I tried to steal another glance at Slade but he was staring at me.

I turned my attention to Mum who appeared at the end of the aisle and my heart swelled with pride when a soft gasp swept through the guests. She looked radiant. I watched as Tom's smile faded as his eyes grew watery.

Mum looked completely, undeniably happy and by the time the ceremony ended and applause echoed through the garden, I was emotionally overwhelmed.

I walked to the reception venue with Erica, just two minutes away. It had been arranged beneath thousands of tiny lights that glittered across the garden like stars.

"This is you princess." Erica kindly said as we got to the front of the first table.

"Thank you so much, Erica."

She had no idea how much she made this experience more bearable for me.

"You're welcome love." She told me softly. "I'll just be right there." She pointed at the third chair opposite me.

"Okay." I said and she rubbed my back gently before taking off.

I was just settling into my seat when I noticed something that made my stomach drop.

The name card. Right beside mine.

Slade.

My heart started beating rapidly in my chest. At the exact same moment, the chair beside me pulled up and I felt my hand tremble.

The familiar cologne hit me immediately.

I looked up and it was him.

Already looking at me.