I cast one final glance at myself in the mirror. My hair was gathered in a sleek ponytail, and I had applied a touch of dark eye makeup. The dress Alex had bought fit me perfectly, and my powder-colored heels complemented the ensemble.
As I was about to leave the dorm room, a stroke of luck prompted me to toss the box containing my silver jewelry into my bag. Eager not to keep Alex waiting, I opted to insert the entire box rather than choosing each piece individually. The lid of the hard white cardboard box creaked open, and I spilled its contents onto the bed.
The pearl earrings would undoubtedly match the dress. While retrieving them, my attention was drawn to a bracelet dangling from the box. Part of it was entangled in the cardboard at the box's bottom, requiring me to lift the base
