Return to the Meadow

Chapter Five: A Total Stranger

His eyes held a glimmer of desperation which didn’t go unnoticed by Liza. Standing her ground, she waited for him to break the silence. It felt like an unnecessarily long time before Damian moved out of the shadows, opened one of the doors of the cabinet, and reached inside. Pulling out a beautiful floor-length dress. He held it up for Liza to see.

Liza stared at the delicate, flowing gown Damian had taken from the cabinet. He hung it in front of her, so she could have a better look at it. It looked like a shimmering dream, its lacework and soft colors begging for attention. But Liza was more of a jeans and sweater kind of girl, and she couldn’t imagine herself wearing such an elegant dress.

“You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to,” Damian said, almost as if he could read her mind. His voice carried a hint of hesitation and regret.

Liza glanced up at him, unsure whether she misunderstood his intentions. “It’s beautiful,” she spoke softly, “but it’s just not really… me.”

Confused by his unexpected offer, Liza tried to figure out why a man like him would treasure a cabinet filled with dresses. Though he’d been kind and caring, taking her home after he found her on the streets, and making sure she was comfortable, Liza had reached the limit of her politeness. “Whose dress is it anyway?”

Liza turned her gaze from the dress to Damian, her eyes searching for an explanation. She waited impatiently for him to speak, sensing that this beautiful garment held deeper meaning than it appeared. Damian took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts before he started to explain the painful truth.

“This dress,” Damian began, his voice cracking ever so slightly, “belonged to my wife… uh, ex-wife.”

"She disappeared from my life years ago, gone without a trace. But these dresses… they hold countless precious memories, so I kept them, hoping she’d come back to me and wear them again.”

Curiosity mingled with sympathy, compelling Liza to ask further. “Why’d she leave so suddenly?”

Damian’s face tightened. "I honestly don't know, Liza," he murmured, his voice tinged with anguish. “Let us forget I showed you this, shall we?” He lowered the dress and reached for the doorknob on the cabinet.

Her heart heavy with guilt, Liza took a step forward, placing her hand gently on his arm. “No, please don’t. I’ll wear it. It’s too beautiful to be kept stowed away.” She moved her hand from his arm to the dress, touching its soft fabric. “Besides, I can use a change of clothes, to be honest.”

As she delicately pulled the dress from its hanger, her fingers lingered on the detailed lacework. What kind of woman would leave her husband without a notion or explanation? It broke her heart just imagining doing such a thing to her husband.

“I’ll be right back.” Without waiting for his reaction, and to ensure she didn’t change her mind, Liza carefully swung the dress over her arm and headed back to the bathroom. Breathing deeply and trying to ignore the eery vibe of the hallway she walked as fast as she could and locked the bathroom door behind her. For the second time that day, she undressed herself, placing her folded clothes on the wooden stool next to the tub.

As she slipped the dress over her head, it fit her like a second skin. Transforming her from the unnoticed wallflower she had always been into someone entirely different. It was as though the dress possessed an enchanting power that whispered, "You are worthy of being noticed."

Liza turned to the mirror, momentarily lost for words. The reflection staring back was a woman she had only ever dreamed of becoming. The dress hugged her curves in all the right places, accentuating her femininity. Imagining her husband’s reaction when he saw her in this dress, made Liza smile internally. Not once had Nate made any remarks on her dress style, but he had dropped some hints in the past that she had the perfect body for a dress such as this. Thinking about her husband sent a warm flutter through her heart, and her desire to go home arose with full force.

Blessed with a new sense of confidence, Liza unlocked the bathroom door and strode into the hallway. Damian stood at the top of the stairs. An approving smile played on his lips while his eyes wandered over her body. Unbothered by whatever he had to say about her new appearance, Liza walked past him down the stairs. Meeting his eyes in passing, she held her head up with an air of determination. “You’re taking me home, NOW.”

It felt nice to be outside again. Liza deeply inhaled the fresh air, filling her lungs, a sensation of energy rushing through her body. Her body was still painful, but she refused to let it bother her as she had finally convinced Damian to drive her back home. The rhythmic drizzle hitting the windshield created a soothing ambiance, cocooning her in a sense of calm. Outside the confined space of the bathroom, Liza felt a lot more self-conscious about her new attire. Absentmindedly, she stroked the soft fabric with her fingertips, her heart filled with anticipation of seeing Nate again. As Damian turned the corner to a familiar street, Liza took a deep breath. The robotic voice informing her that Nate’s phone number was no longer in service, echoed in her head. There must be a reasonable explanation, she kept telling herself.

“Here it is,” she told Damian, who responded immediately by parking at the first available spot. “Thank you,” she started, “for your hospitality and, basically, keeping me alive.”

Damian nodded, barely noticeable, accepting her gratitude in silence.

“I’ll make sure to get the dress freshened up at the dry cleaners and sent back to you,” Liza continued, taking off the heavy leather jacket he had given her to protect her against the cold. Opening the car door, she was filled with an eagerness to hug her husband extensively, not to mention the kiss she had in mind. Not wasting another second, Liza stepped out of the vehicle, placed the jacket on the passenger seat and made her way to the house that she called home. Realizing she didn’t have her purse nor her keys with her, she knocked loudly on the wooden surface. She shivered as the cold air cut through the thin layer of fabric covering her skin. After what felt like forever, the door was finally swung open, and her eyes fell upon a man with a handsome face and the kindest eyes. His muscular physique was visible under his tight t-shirt and a sigh escaped Liza. The desire she’d felt to jump into his arms jolted to a halt when she noticed his puzzled expression.

“Hi, can I help you?” Nate’s bewildered gaze softened as he studied Liza with curiosity. He seemed genuinely oblivious to her identity, which confused Liza. What kind of game was he playing? Why would he not recognize her, his wife? Taken aback by his response, Liza muttered, “I… uh…”

Out of nowhere, Damian stood by her side, placing his hand on her shoulder, gently pulling her backwards. “Wrong house, my apologies.”

Nate’s polite demeanor shone through as he kindly replied, “No worries, man. But she’d better put on some clothes, it’s freezing outside.”