| 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚍 | 𝙶.𝙱𝚕𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚎 | 𝙳𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚎𝚍

12 | ALICE'S 16TH BIRTHDAY

     ALICE FAINLY HEARD the floor boards of her room creak under the pressure of three people coming into the room. Alice slowly opened her eyes and a large smile creeped onto her face when she saw her family stood at the side of her bed, each with something in their hands.

"Morning." Anne smiled brightly at her sister, sitting on the edge of the bed as she sat up.

Anne placed a small box on her sisters lap and watched in glee as she began to open the box. Alice slowly took out two books, Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice.

Alice smiled at her sister, wrapping her in a tight hug. "Thank you, Anne. I shall read them soon." She kissed her sisters cheek and placed the books on her bedside table.

Marilla smiled at her adoptive daughter and handed her a smaller box as well as a closed letter. Alice decided to open the letter first, it was a small card with a few names written on them all wishing the girl a happy birthday. She knew a few of them and some she didnt know but she was thankful anyway.

Alice turned to the small box and opened it to find an even smaller box ontop of a brand new dress. The girl pulled out the smaller box but Marilla insisted she look at the dress first. It was a lovely dark green dress that both Anne and Marilla said would compliment Alice's hair and skin tone.

"Thank you Marilla."

"Its nothing dear, it's your 16th. I'm allowed to spoil. Open this."

Alice was handed the smaller box from earlier, she slowly opened the top to see the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. Her mouth fell open in shock at the expensive jewellery, she carefully pulled it out and placed it on her finger.

"Its beautiful, Marilla."

The woman smiled and kissed Alice's head. "It was my mothers, she passed it to me and said I should give it to my daughter."

Alice hugged the woman. Marilla was her mother figure and well, actually, Alice felt like she was her real mother.

Matthew coughed slightly and Alice chuckled when she realised he had actually been holding a small tray with some toast and orange juice on it the whole time. Anne and Marilla stepped to the side and allowed Matthew to place it on Alice's lap.

"This is amazing, thank you so much."

The three only shrugged but Anne smiled even more. "Just wait until later!"

Marilla nudged the small girl and smiled too, they had a secret planned for Alice's birthday. A very big secret. The three left Alice to eat her food and get dressed for the day.

As the now sixteen year old girl, left her bed she looked under the furniture to find the box Mrs Lynde had given her only a month prior. She pulled it out and placed it onto the bed, opening it to reveal the corset.

The young woman took a deep breath and began to put it on. Once it was finally on, with quite a big of struggle, Alice looked in the mirror. She was shocked to say the least, her whole body shape had changed. Her waist was now much slimmer and her chest was...well...bigger.

The girl licked her dry lips and smiled slightly. She decided to wear it today as she didnt actually know when she would ever wear it again. She grabbed her new dress and pulled it on, it felt quite flowy on her due to her now smaller waist.

She walked downstairs to see Marillia quickly hiding a basket behind her and Matthew. She smiled at the young girl in awe.

"You're wearing a corset! Oh, it looks beautiful on you dear." Marillia moved to the girl and gently placed her hands on her upper arms. "You've grown up quick."