ning. The long, dawdling darkness slowly dwindled. Sounds of

er in her past life. Wait. Was her last wish for a second chance granted, or

rmured conversations of guests rose and fell like a distant tide. Musicians played a gentle mel

ery was

eautiful the

g in the center of it

ears ago. She remembered how excited she had been to wear it then. How she had twirled in front of the mirror lik

heart w

as everyone remembered her to be. Soft, warm, l

The shallow admiration for a romance they believed was pure. She saw how eas

aw Ni

er curves. Her long hair curled softly, her makeup immaculate. She looked li

rfect

erfec

of her jaw, the faint glimmer of something sharp in her eyes. She was watching closely, too closely, wa

n there

black suit, tailored well enough to look respectable but not expensive. His hair was neatly styled, his expression gent

dored hi

his heart to a woman with ev

, Sia had believe

uised as helplessness. Need disguised as love. The desire to be taken

er wanted to

be carried

else coul

y h

spense. Gasps and giggles fluttered among the crowd. Someone whispered, "He is

ck

most l

Then he lowered himself onto one knee. The musicians shifted into a more romantic tune, t

in me when no one else did. I may not have much now, but I promise never to hurt you, never to disappoint you. I promise to always stand

vet box

inside

gh the garden like

e had nodded so hard she almost could not breathe. She had believed every word. She had of

, she sim

not see

aw th

y in quiet sacrifice. She saw her joy slowly fading under the weight of carrying someone who never intended to

y, she saw

eadli

im

harp silenc

clear, so vi

ad been begging f

ad been g

her pulse. The garden blurred slightly as she lifted her gaze

er eyes to N

r, expecting her to cry, to tremble

lips c

ntle. Be

ess, something ancie

voice smooth and stea

ed around them

Cameras flashe

her finger. He pulled her into his arms, and she let him, her body w

eyes w

g. Calc

r next, Sia returned the hug, lightly and gr

tle t

less g

ce whispered like a

u took everyt

will take eve

ow

rou

eauti

shakable, exactly the woma

rt was no l

as a