“Hold your breath, Elara! Just a few more inches!”
"Saskia, I can't! This is too tight. I’m going to pass out!"
"It’s all in your head. Just suck it in. One, two—"
Zip!
The sound of the zipper being forced upward ended our struggle. I gasped, clutching my chest as I tried to force oxygen back into my lungs.
Saskia stepped back, crossing her arms with the smug satisfaction of an artist who had just unveiled a masterpiece.
"Perfect. Look at yourself. You look ten times better than you do in those oversized flannel shirts that make you look like a carpenter's apprentice."
I turned toward the cracked mirror leaning against the wall of her cramped bedroom. The reflection staring back felt like a stranger.
The dress was a soft sage green, dotted with tiny white flowers. It was simple, ye
