30 Days of Love

For Everyone Besides Myself

Joanna's POV 

Like a doll, I get all dressed up. With a flannel on, given to me by Liam, my face gets baked and my hair gets curled and braided into a makeshift bun, pinned together by hundreds of bobby pins that I know will be a pain in the butt to get out.

"I am almost done," Nala, my makeup artist, explains as she stops putting lipstick on me. "You can look in the mirror now."

Slowly, I spin my chair around, greeted by an imposter in the mirror.

Eyeliner sharpens my eyes: not in the shape of a lightning bolt, thick and dark, rather thin and glamorous that makes my eyes seem dark and mysterious while my lid is cast with silver eyeshadow, bordered by my deep crease with charcoal gray, almost black eyeshadow. My waterline is painted with a blue eyeliner that matches everything at the wedding.

"I hope you like it." Nala grins.

I gasp, "I-I love it."

"You look amazing," Rylie gleams.

"Oh wow," I say, turning my chair towards the door, where all my bridesmaids stand in their cherish styled dresses with the top down to the waist being lace, like my dress.

Rylie and four of my cousins, all have their hair curled into beach waves, styled half up and half down.

And as I wonder where my flower girls are, Haven and Zara stride into the room in their princess dresses- the top is blue, like everyone else's, and fades into white. Their luscious curls are left wild and free.

"There's my flower girls!" I exclaimed, stepping out of the chair, walking up to them. I kneel, wrapping my arms around both of them. "You two look beautiful!"

Their tiny arms hug me back, both saying, "Thank you!"

"I love you guys..." Don't make them worried. I tell myself before continuing. "And I'm so thankful to have you two as my little sisters."

"I always wanted a bigger sister!" Haven cheers.

I chuckle. "And I always wanted little sisters."

I pull away from the hug, waiting for Haven to leave so I can talk to Zara alone.

"What is it?" she asks, as I grab both of her hands. "Y-you're still going to marry Liam, right?" Her face grows in fear, her eyes trembling at the speed of their thoughts behind them.

"D-don't worry, I just wanted to say thank you," I say, watching as the fear washes off of Zara's face.

"For what?"

"For teaching me that you can't think others are perfect and not think of yourself the same." Her thin eyebrows narrow, not understanding what I'm saying. "When we made the deal.. It made me understand that I'm beautiful and I would have never known that if it weren't for you. So.. thank you."

Zara smiles. "Really?"

I nod.

"I love you." She hugs me again and as I hug her back I can't help but pray that my plan goes as planned, that it doesn't end up hurting her.

"Ladies, it's the time!" Trina exclaims, ordering everyone in the dressing room to get ready.

No, no, no, no I'm not ready. I panic.

"It's going to be okay," Barbara explains, seeing the panic across my face.

Just breathe. I tell myself, as Barbara hands me the bouquet of forget me nots.