The Sunlight After Seven Years Of Rain

When I came out of the dressing room, I saw my father trying to gently make Michael Spencer understand.

“Michael, it’s fine for me to wear this. But for Nancy, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime wedding.”

Standing nearby, Joanne Jordan looked down with a dejected expression.

“Mr. Norman, is it because I’m divorced that you look down on my things?

“If that’s the case, I’ll just take it back.”

“Mr. Norman, Joanne meant well. There’s no need to be so harsh.”

Michael’s voice was cold and tinged with warning. “She’s sensitive. Saying things like that will only hurt her.”

My father’s face went pale instantly.

I clenched the dress in my hand. A sharp pain surged up in my chest.

‘She’s sensitive? What about my father and me, then?’ I thought.

“Nancy, why haven’t you changed into the dress yet?”

Michael turned, walked over to my side, and whispered, “That wedding dress may be a bit old, but the fabric is good.

“Don’t you usually love wearing those ‘vintage-style’ clothes the most?

“I know you’re sensible. Be a good girl and go change into it for me to see.”

Sensible?

I brushed his hand away.

I was indeed sensible. So sensible, in fact, that I had not bought myself a single dress in seven years.

I was always wearing those secondhand, holey sweaters and smoke-stained jackets. They had been my only clothes for seven whole years.

But to spare Michael any guilt, I always teased him on purpose.

“What do you know? This is called ‘vintage style.’ I love it!”

Back then, Michael swore to me over and over again that one day he would buy me clothes from all over the world for me to choose from.

I waited a long time.

A month after Joanne returned home, Michael gave her ten of the latest evening gowns to help her make a grand entrance. It was supposedly to wish her a “new beginning.”

But all I got was a tattered, secondhand dress.

“I’m not changing into this,” I said, stepping forward.

“Dad, take off that jacket. Let’s go.”

“Nancy!” Michael sounded displeased.

I ignored him and simply helped my father take off the jacket.

A cancer report suddenly fell out of the pocket.

“What’s this?” My hands shook.

“Were you dressing my dad in a dead person’s clothes?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I must have forgotten to sort through them after my cousin’s husband passed away…” Joanne said timidly.

“Michael, I didn’t mean to.”

“The clothes are clean. Why do you have to be so harsh?” Michael stepped in front of Joanne.

“You people need to get rid of those old-fashioned superstitions.”

Inch by inch, my heart finally began to shatter.

I took my father’s hand and turned to leave.

On the way, I put my phone on silent and did not reply to a single one of his texts.

“Nancy, don’t fight with Michael because of me.”

My father looked at me in concern.

I held back the tears prickling my eyes and offered him a calm smile.

“It has nothing to do with you.

“It’s time for me to wake up.”

I stayed for dinner with my father. Then, I returned to my place.

Three hours later, Joanne posted something on her Stories.

There was a caption accompanying it.

[Michael, thank you for making another one of my dreams come true.]

In the photo, Joanne was wearing the wedding dress that had originally belonged to me. She shyly nestled against Michael’s side, kissing him amid the cheers.

Many mutual friends had liked it. They were all familiar faces who used to enthusiastically call me Michael’s wife.

I gave it a like.

The next second, a text from Michael popped up at the top of the screen.

[That Story was just for fun. Don’t take things personally from someone who just got divorced.]

[Joanne saved the day for you at today’s wedding rehearsal by taking your place. That haute couture wedding dress fits her perfectly. Just give it to her. You can still wear that old one when the time comes.]

[Michael, you promised to give me the best.]

I quietly typed those words and tapped “Send.”

He was silent for a long time.

Then, he sent a voice message.