Dresses and Distraction

The next morning arrived with a burst of sunlight and the sound of her mother’s voice echoing through the hallway. Cynthia sat at the breakfast table, half-awake, stirring her tea as her mom ran through yet another list of things that needed to be done.

“The decorator will be here by noon, the baker’s coming to confirm the cake, and oh, Cynthia don’t forget to stop by the mall after school. You still need to pick up your dresses for tomorrow.”

Cynthia looked up slowly. “After school?”

“Yes, I already told the driver to take you and Louisa. You two can help each other choose something nice,” her mom said brightly. “It’s your eighteenth, sweetheart. You should look perfect.”

Her dad folded his newspaper and added with a small smile, “It’ll be a special day for you, Cynthia.”

She nodded quietly, not trusting her voice. Special. That word didn’t feel right anymore.

By the time she got to school, she was grateful for the distraction of routine. Louisa greeted her at the gate, waving her lunchbox like a flag. “Hey, almost-birthday girl! Ready for your last day as a seventeen-year-old?”

Cynthia laughed softly. “Barely.”

Louisa threw her arm around Cynthia’s shoulder as they walked toward class. “You’re such a mood killer. It’s your birthday tomorrow! You need energy, excitement, sparkles maybe even glitter!”

Cynthia smiled faintly. “You have enough glitter for both of us.”

Classes went by in a blur. Every time Cynthia tried to focus, her mind wandered back to what awaited her her mother’s endless excitement, the dinner guests, the Sanchese family’s polite smiles. Her eighteenth birthday wasn’t just a celebration anymore. It was the beginning of something she hadn’t chosen.

When the final bell rang, Louisa was the first to grab her bag. “Let’s go before your mom changes her mind and sends an escort of makeup artists too.”

Cynthia rolled her eyes, laughing a little despite herself. The driver was already waiting by the school gate, the black sedan polished to perfection. As they got in, Louisa pressed her face to the window, watching the students scatter across the compound.

“Do you realize this could be our last school day before you become an adult?” Louisa teased. “After tomorrow, you’ll be all grown up.”

Cynthia smiled, turning to look out the window as the car glided down the street. “I don’t feel grown up.”

The mall was buzzing with life when they arrived. The scent of new fabric and perfume filled the air, and the sound of music drifted from one boutique to another. Louisa practically skipped ahead, tugging Cynthia by the wrist toward a row of glittering dresses.

“Oh my gosh, look at this one!” Louisa squealed, holding up a shimmering gold gown. “This screams ‘birthday queen’!”

Cynthia tilted her head. “It also screams ‘I’m made of sequins.’”

Louisa laughed and shoved the dress back onto the rack. “Okay, fine. Something softer then.”

They wandered through store after store, trying on outfits and making silly poses in the mirrors. For a while, Cynthia almost forgot how heavy her heart felt. Louisa’s laughter was contagious she had this way of brightening any space she entered.

At one point, Louisa handed her a pale lavender gown with a satin bow at the waist. “Try this one. It’s elegant but not loud. You’ll look like a dream.”

Cynthia hesitated, then took it. In the dressing room, she slipped into the gown and stared at her reflection. The girl in the mirror looked beautiful, poised even happy but Cynthia didn’t recognize her.

When she stepped out, Louisa gasped dramatically. “That’s it. That’s the one.”

Cynthia looked at herself again and tried to smile. “It’s… nice.”

“Nice? Girl, you look stunning!” Louisa said, twirling her around playfully. “If you don’t love it, I’m stealing it.”

Cynthia laughed softly, shaking her head. “Fine. You win.”

They bought the gown along with a few accessories—earrings, a necklace, and a pair of heels Louisa insisted on because, as she put it, “You can’t turn eighteen looking average.”

By the time they were done, the sun was beginning to dip behind the mall’s glass ceiling, painting the space in a warm orange glow. They walked out with shopping bags in hand, both tired and giddy.

In the car, Louisa leaned back with a satisfied sigh. “You know, I think tomorrow might actually be amazing. You deserve that.”

Cynthia looked out the window at the city lights beginning to flicker on. “Maybe,” she murmured.

The driver pulled up outside Louisa’s house a few minutes later. Louisa turned to her, smiling. “Don’t overthink everything, okay? Just have fun tomorrow. It’s your day.”

Cynthia nodded, her smile small but sincere. “Thanks, Lou.”

After dropping her off, the car grew quiet. The hum of the engine and the faint sound of the radio filled the silence as they drove toward home. Cynthia rested her head against the cool glass, watching the passing streets blur together.

She should’ve been happy new dress, best friend, birthday tomorrow but instead, a familiar heaviness settled in her chest. The celebration everyone else was planning felt like it belonged to someone else.

When the car turned into her driveway, the mansion lights glowed softly against the evening sky. She could already hear her mother’s laughter from the front porch, talking to one of the event planners.

Cynthia clutched the shopping bags a little tighter and took a slow breath before stepping out. Tomorrow, she would smile for everyone, wear the dress, and play the perfect daughter. But tonight, as the house loomed before her, all she wanted was a moment to herself to breathe before her world changed completely.