Once Upon a Story [ INCONSISTENT UPDATES ]

The Designer

Additional information
I described the dress after the Blossom Intone dress from the game Love Nikki-Dress UP Queen! (picture above)

❝ 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘦 ❞

Word count: 1502

— 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 🪡 ❞

It all began with you; you and your smile, always heartfelt and sweet. You started our journey laughing, always joyful and full of mischief. Every day was a time I wished would never end. Away from you, my heart eagerly craved the next sunrise, knowing my eyes would see you again.

But one day, everything had changed. Your smile fell to faint lines; your laugh faded, lips stilled, and that dazzle in your eyes—the shine that softened my smile—glazed over, dull.

Those mornings, I would wake up, holding you, looking at the remnants of tears on your face. My heart ached, wondering what horror called your name last night. And you would open your eyes, tired, alive but not living a moment.

From that day...that fateful, most miserable day, I made a promise. I swore this before you,

"I will open your eyes to a world your hands can see."

***

You came to me one morning, asking what I was doing. It was a quarter till noon, and I had spent the past three hours following our breakfast secluded in my room. You knew what I was doing, but I felt you hoped to see that for yourself. At first, I was reluctant to allow you inside.

My room was my space, but most importantly, it was a mess. Nylon, cotton, silk, every fabric you knew had its plot on the floor. Few were still neatly rolled or folded in corners. Most surrounded me, closing me in one place at the center, with enough space to step in every direction.

I was afraid you'd slip and fall. Of course, you were no weakling; you were physically strong, but the pins and needles caught in some fabrics would take you down and pierce my heart from the sight. I couldn't take the chance. I had almost lost you before. To lose you again would force my soul to its last breath.

I explained this to you. I told you the reason I couldn't let you in. Still, you insisted. You refused to leave my little sanctum. "Please?"

I sighed, but my lips quickly formed a smile. If there was something of you I admired most strongly, it was your mind and how incredibly stubborn you were. Relentless in the face of your curiosity.

"Please, don't move from where I place you." I held your hand, smooth and warm, and helped you sit in my little circle. I explained my latest design, a dress inspired by a forgotten era with a boned corset bodice and ridiculously enlarged frump. You laughed and jokingly said, "You might as well add flowers and leaves."