The Dress^^
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Rowan puts a final pin in my hair, finishing my preparations for dinner. I look in the mirror at the braids on top of my head, taking a shaky breath.
"Do I go to dinner now?" I ask. I hope that my voice isn't as shaky as it sounds to me, or as it feels.
"Wearing that?" Rowan questions and it's only now that I realized I'm still wearing the robe. "No, there are so many gorgeous things to choose from!" Rowan runs to wardrobe, flinging the doors open excitedly. I smile, realizing that she's used to making her own clothes from what she can get, not fancy dresses meant to impress the foreign women. Within the wardrobe there's about a dozen beautifully detailed handcrafted dresses and the simplicity makes them more beautiful than the ones in Eden. She pulls out a lacy red dress that is tight fitting in the top half and gradually moves out into a soft mermaid style skirt. She lets out a loud gasp. "Oh, I've never seen anything like this in my life!"
It wouldn't even be in style in Eden, Yarrow says. I tried to suppress a grin, missing my old friend.
"It's a little too flashy for the occasion, don't you think? It's just not really my style," I say, laying the red dress across the huge bed. "Which one next?"
She pulls out a white dress, stacked in several layers and lays it on the bed herself with a slightly disgruntled look on her face. She pulled out a poofy grey dress which I then again decline. I want to tell her that I just rather wear pants or something casual but she seems so happy and I don't want to hurt her feelings. She pulled out a black dress with a boat neck cutting straight across, leaving my shoulders bear and I almost decide on that one. She pulls out another beautiful white dress but I can hardly bear the thought of wearing something so pure when I feel like such a mess. Finally, she pulls out a red dress with tight lace sleeves on the top half and a solid red princess bottom.
"I actually like that one," I say. "It's not too much, do you think?"
"I think you'll definitely be the best dressed one there but that's fitting considering who you are," she says dragging the dress towards me but it's larger than she is. I replay her words in my head, considering who you are. That makes me squirm. Still, I just smile taking the dress from her and try it on in the bathing room. Luckily, it fits like a glove. I look into the mirror and I feel numb as I do. The girl, who is starting to look more like a woman, I see in the mirror looks so elegant, so beautiful, and you would think that what she feels would match. But it doesn't match. I don't feel the way I look at all. I step back into the main room, dragging the heavy ballgown skirt behind me and the look on her own face is enough to light up my soul.
"Oh, it's so beautiful!" She gushes. "Have you ever seen anything like this in your life?" She feels the soft fabric of my dress.
"No actually. They didn't wear dresses like this in Eden," I say. "Thank you for helping me, and thank you for keeping me company. I can't help but feel like you've been my comfort since
arriving here again."
"Of course," she says, taking my hands. "This is the most fun I've had in all my life!"
"Is it time to go to dinner?" I ask and she nods. "Rowan, what if I can't do this?"
"What do you mean?" She asks and I see the childish giddiness leave her and it replaced by the mature wisdom I saw before.
"I...I don't know if I can face them all. What if it's all different? What if they don't even want to know me anymore?"
"Rowan," she sighs and I can hardly believe I'm confiding in a child. "Your mom, Ash, and Lark love you unconditionally, it will take time but I know you'll be close to them again soon."
YOU ARE READING
Rowan: The EcoPan
Fanfiction"I'm cut off by my own cry. I silently sob into confused Lachlan's chest, who obviously woke up from my screams. He holds me, shushing me, telling me that it will all be okay, when in fact it won't be okay. He has no idea how afraid I am. Aaron can...
