𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐘. [ 𝐋𝐁. ] :currently editing!

| "UNDER THE EVERGREEN TREE."

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| BUILD ME UP
by  CLEO SOL!

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| 2 AUGUST, 2026
— IN LAKE COMO, ITALY...

madison wipes her tears and sniffles, looking at herself in her custom versace dress only to be worn for this occasion. women and little girls dreamt of this moment that madison had in her palm, but madison couldn't find it in herself to truly appreciate it.

she felt so incomplete from not having her parents, to not even having her grandparents— her grandfather, see her in her element, for once. especially on a day as special and sentimental as this one.

nonetheless, madison had two of her closest friends. one who'd been with her since highschool, and one who'd shaped her into the athlete, and the woman she is today.

madison slightly jumps when the door creaks open, seeing carmen and naomi in the mirror, heads peering through the gap they'd made. balling up the tissue while they gasp, she turns around as they walk in and close the door.

"do i look okay?" she smoothens the expensive dress, carefully tailored to her measurements. despite its minimalism, it catered to madison's grace beautifully.

in fact, seeing their friend like this moved them to tears. it was really time for madison to begin a new chapter of her womanhood.

"i told you maddie was gonna get married first," carmen playfully punches naomi in the arm, making them all laugh.

"yeah, maddie. you look gorgeous. no need for reassurance," naomi sniffles, wiping her dewy face.

"uh, y'all look great!" madison says, trying to avoid the tearjerking silence.

"ugh, thanks."

"thank you, girl."

"you ready?" lavar knocks on the door, making madison panic inside.

"uh, yeah!" she reluctantly says. her discomfort was visible, to say the least.

"don't sweat it. remember, maddie, we're all family. no judgment here," naomi hands madison the white assorted bouquet she initially came
to give her before hugging the woman whose eyes were brimmed with tears. "we gotta go. have fun up there, kaye," she and carmen walk out together, whispering about how excited they were.