pte

's

stand straight. After a long day of trying to perfect the decorations in the grand h

m. Beautiful flowers adorned every surface, their sweet scent engu

ue dress I had thrown on earlier. It was my best dress, but it was even less fashi

learned long ago that my role was to remain in the

he waist, and I held onto his hard biceps for support. His eyes looked really fami

er of butterflies to my stomach. "I'm sorry; I have a lot on my

man was definitely an angel. His plump lips looked enticing a

ook my shoulders. Oh wait, did I just zon

ed "Yeah, I'm fine. It's nice to meet you. It'

es to see the guy not even bothering to hide

d, "I'm happy you think I'm cute. Although I prefe

odness now he'll think I'm a creep or something.

mother calling for me fro

aid, feeling a mix of di

disappointment in his voice. "I hope

ing down the stairs, my heart still racing f

iful and expensive clothes, but I felt invisible. No one paid me any attention as

nobody knew me. My mother had always made it clear that my place was to stay out of the spotlight

od, and without thinking, I stepped in to help. It was a small act

." a voice interrupted my thoughts. It was Uncle Be

well that people will run away if I go beside them. By t

oval. "You cannot be saying things like that about

I replied, my face d

e softening. "Just enjoy yours

hearing snippets of conversation about Liam, my sister's fiancé. Whisp

someone gushed. "Wow Nat didn't

n an impeccably tailored suit, he looked like he had stepped straight out of a modelin

ard another guest say. "I wis

thought to myself as I took a glass of

name sounded familiar, but the face was a stranger. After that day, I didn't remember many thing

eat traveling through my body, a flush creeping up my cheeks.

e bathroom. I splashed cold water on my face, but

cket. I glanced down to see my mot

. "I need you to get something from the gu

sion bubbling up. Why didn't she send a m

at could I even give her? Nothing I co

inviting. My body felt heavy and weak. Before I knew it, I had cross

as off, I would have seen what was coming. But in that moment, all I

the darkness that had been

that from the next day, my lif