𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐒 - 𝐄𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐄 𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐍

𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐄

𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚: 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗔𝗚𝗘

𝙺𝙸𝙼𝙱𝙴𝚁𝙻𝚈 𝙲𝙰𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙳𝚈

I had been slightly panicked the entire week leading up to the Valentine's Day dance; Hearts of Hawkins. I hadn't a dress for the occasion and with the ongoing stares I received every time I left my house, I had refused to go shopping to find one.

Kathleen had offered to loan me one but I declined, not having anywhere near the same sense of fashion as her and plus she was shorter than me so none of her shit ever fit me even when I wanted it to.

Eddie wanted to take me shopping to find one, but I couldn't bring myself to go. The same with Steve and Billy, and it was nice that they understood I couldn't go alone, but the point was I couldn't go at all. The anxiety from the thought of the judging looks was way too much.

I asked Maureen if I could have a look through her dresser, to which she just nodded and carried on feeding my brothers. There was nothing in there either.

When it came to the last day, which was today, I sat at the end of my bed and held my hands in my head, worrying about what I would turn up in.

Eddie had snuck out of the window not too long ago and I had reassured him I'd found something to show up in, but what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

"Kim!." I heard the calls of my father from below my feet, suggesting I was wanted. I stood up without effort and tiredly made my way down to him, expecting to hear 'would you look after your brothers whilst me and your mother..' but he was sat with a package on his knee. Quite a big one actually.

"What's that?." I asked him, pointing to the cardboard box that had multiple stamps on it.

"It's for you." He said and picked it up from his lap, holding it in the air for me to take. I raised my brows and moved my legs infront of my mother and towards my father besides her.

I took the box from his hands and sat down besides my mother on the couch she never got up from unless she needed another bottle of whiskey or she was going upstairs to sleep away the alcohol for tomorrow.

My eyes scanned the stamps ontop of the box and saw one of them was from the UK. Huh. I quickly opened the box with wonder and saw the brightest dress my eyes had ever seen. It was very pink.

I lifted it up in astonishment and saw a little piece of paper fall from the dress. I laid it back down into the box and picked up the note, reading it with concentration.

Hello, love.
Jonnie and your father told me about your troubles for the school dance regarding your dress, so I stitched up a little something for you. Something beautiful to match my beautiful niece. I miss you more and more everyday, love. I hope you're getting better and that we meet again soon.
Lots of love
From your auntie Lin x

A singular tear slipped from my eye and rolled down my cheek as I read the note. I looked over to my father and saw the happiness radiating from his smile.

"Thankyou." I mumbled and placed the box down, walking over to him in his recliner and embracing him in the tightest hug I've ever given to another human. "Thankyou." I whispered again, more over the moon than he had expected me to be.

"Anything for you, Pumpkin." My dad whispered back as I let go, still smiling at me as I took the dress and quickly made my way up to my bedroom.

I had expected to either turn up in one of my dads oversized suits tonight or not turn up at all, but now I had this dress.