ISABELLA
I took my time getting ready. Not because I wanted to impress Daniel or I wanted to look beautiful. But because I needed armor.
The maroon dress slid over my skin like liquid wine — rich, deep, and heavy with meaning. It hugged my waist, skimmed my hips, and fell just above my knees. Elegant. Mature. Final. I paired it with a set of heels. I hadn’t worn one in years — slender, sharp, the kind that made my legs look endless and my posture unbreakable.
Then came the hardest part. I slipped off the engagement ring Adrian had given me. The metal felt warm from my skin. Too warm. Too intimate. Too heavy with everything I didn’t want to think about. I set it on the vanity. The absence on my finger felt like a bruise.
Instead, I chose simplicity — diamond studs, a delicate necklace,
