Evelyn's POV
The knock on my door was soft, but it made me jump, the sudden noise pulling me away from the static of my thoughts. I closed my laptop, heart still racing from whatever it was I’d been lost in, and glanced up to see Mariam standing there with her usual warm, almost motherly smile.
“Mariam,” I said, my voice slightly hoarse, still caught in the swirl of my emotions.
“Your dad sent me,” she said, stepping into the room. She was older than most people I knew, her face lined with time, but her eyes were bright and welcoming. “He wants us to go shopping for your dress today. He said something about making sure you’re taken care of.”
I sighed. Of course, Dad had to make it a task. Always transactional. But Mariam’s presence, so steady and familiar, made it feel... less like a chore. She had a way of easing everything.
“Come on, dear. Let’s make it fun. I know a place where they have beautiful dresses, something perfect for you,” Mariam coaxed gently, her hands clasped in front of her like she was holding onto hope.
I was about to protest, to tell her I didn’t need a new dress, but the kindness in her voice quieted the rebellion that stirred inside me. “Alright,” I muttered, offering her a small smile. “Let’s go.”
---
The afternoon sun hung in the air like as Mariam and I walked through the local shops. She insisted on telling me stories about the dresses she had seen over the years, about how her own children had once picked out clothes for special occasions. It didn’t sound like much, but I could feel the care in her words, as if she was weaving warmth into the day.
When we entered the little boutique, the soft chime of the bell above the door seemed to wash over me. I wasn’t sure what I had expected, but the place was calm. Quiet, in a way.
Mariam immediately started flipping through racks, her fingers moving with practiced ease. “You’ve got to try this one, Evelyn. It’s exactly your style.”
I hesitated but let her pull me toward a soft blue dress with delicate lace trim. “It’s... beautiful,” I admitted, a bit surprised by how much I liked it. It wasn’t what I had imagined, but the idea of something new, something that might make me feel more like myself, tugged at me.
Mariam was already leading me toward the dressing rooms. “Go ahead, try it on. Let’s see how it looks. No rush.”
As I stepped into the changing room, I glanced at my reflection. The dress fit well, the color bringing out something softer in my eyes. I could almost forget the tension at home, the strained silence that always hung in the air. Here, in the quiet of this small shop, I could pretend for a moment.
I stepped out of the room, and Mariam’s face lit up when she saw me. “That’s perfect. Absolutely perfect,” she said, her voice like a gentle affirmation.
I smiled, feeling the smallest shift inside me. Maybe I wasn’t so lost after all.
---
After the dress, we moved on to other errands, picking up small items here and there, things I hadn’t even thought about but that Mariam insisted would make everything easier. As we walked through the aisles, we talked, mostly about nothing important. It felt good, in an uncomplicated way, to have someone care about the little things.
We bumped into a few people who knew her, exchanging greetings and light conversation, and before I knew it, the weight that had clung to me all morning seemed to lift, even if just a little. Mariam’s company was a quiet, constant balm, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt... okay.
---
The day ended with us grabbing ice cream at a small café. Mariam was already telling me about her gardening plans for the summer, a subject that always seemed to make her eyes sparkle. It was impossible not to smile in her presence, impossible to stay in my own head when she was so determined to pull me into the world outside it.
“Sometimes,” Mariam said, her voice dipping into something more serious, “we need to step away from the chaos. Even if just for a little while. Don’t let it swallow you, Evelyn. You’ve got more than you know.”
I nodded slowly, the words hanging in the air like a small but potent truth. It was exactly what I needed to hear.
YOU ARE READING
EVELYN
AcakEvelyn, a 17-year-old girl from a wealthy family, is raped by her father's business partner during a weekend gathering at their lavish estate. In the aftermath, she confides in her father, believing he will protect her. Instead, he strikes a deal wi...
