The Tale Of Hearts

Chapter 100

Hazel's POV

I took a deep breath, my eyes locking onto the mirror. The dress hugged me perfectly, the lace tracing over my shoulders and the fabric flowed around my legs in smooth, weightless layers, the dress was everything I'd imagined, elegant, soft, and graceful but it felt like it was just clinging to me, binding me in a way I couldn't shake off. I ran my fingers over the lace, trying to steady myself, yet the pit of nerves only grew. The reflection staring back didn't look entirely like me.

I reached up, tucking a stray curl behind my ear, trying to settle the nerves bubbling up inside. Is this really right? The question whispered in my mind, making my heart pick up speed. I knew that once I stepped out there, showed everyone this side of me...there'd be no going back. Especially with him watching. I could already picture Hyden's gaze intense, unwavering, seeing more than I was ready to show.

My heart skip a beat at the thought, my fingers tightening around the fabric. Suddenly, the dress felt heavier, like a extra weight around me. Part of me wanted to stay hidden, safe in this little fitting room where no one could see the doubt written all over my face.

Do I really believe this was the right choice?

Was he the right choice? 

A wave of doubt and fear settled in my chest, and the events of the last few days spun through my mind. Things had moved so fast maybe too fast and here I was, on the edge of a decision that would change everything.

Can I trust him to make me happy? Is he even capable of that? I audibly sighed as all I could think about was the years that had passed between us. It felt like I'd known him forever, and yet, it always felt like we were standing on opposite sides of some invisible wall, coming close, only to drift apart again. A cycle that never seemed to end. Every time we seemed to get close, really close, something would pull us apart. A conversation left unsaid, a glance that didn't quite meet, the space between us growing wider until we were back at square one.

My fingers gripped the fabric of the dress, pulling it tighter against me as I closed my eyes. The weight of that truth pressed down on me, making my breath catch.The uncertainty felt almost suffocating. How could I take this step, make this choice, when everything between us had been nothing but a series of half-steps, miscommunications, and moments where we almost but never quite.

I' ve always tried convincing myself that things would change, that maybe this time would be different, that maybe we could be different. But deep down, I couldn't help but wonder had it always been like this? Had I been fooling myself into thinking that one day it would click, that all those little moments would add up to something real?

I' ve always had my doubts, my fears, but there was also a part of me that still wanted to believe. Still wanted to think that maybe this time would be the one where things didn't drift away.

But could I really bet my future on that?

Could I trust him to not let us slip back into the same pattern again?

Would we ever truly break free of that cycle? No i don't want to be in this delusion but the thought of backing out now felt impossible, like betraying everything my family had hoped for me. My mom, aunt and uncle they'd all put so much faith in this, in us. I could practically hear aunt's and mom's voices,  their hopes and expectations wrapped in every word they'd spoken about this wedding. How would they react if I refused this wedding? Would they be disappointed? Hurt? Would they understand?

Blurred tears gathered in my eyes, my vision clouding as I struggled to hold them back. It was becoming harder to breathe, each breath shallow and ragged, like the air was thickening around me. The weight of the dress felt more suffocating, pressing down on me like it wasn't just fabric, but the expectations, the decisions, the people around me, all closing in. One deep breath, then another. My hand shook as I reached for the handle, torn between the comfort of staying hidden and the fear of what might happen if I stepped out now. Because once I did, once they saw me in this dress, I knew there would be no going back.