The Bride
The following is a quick scene I did for an assignment so it is short and really has no sense of an ending.
The Bride
“Stand still.” A prick of a pin.
“I’m trying. These heels are ridiculous.” She pulled straighter and tried to hold her breath.
From the small couch at the back of the viewing room, her mother, aunt and cousin, along with Peter’s mom and sister, watched, sipped their champagne and chatted.
She concentrated on standing still, but her hands were trembling, though from anxiety or excitement she could not be sure.
I have my mother’s hands, she thought.
A simple diamond ring graced her left hand, the only piece she wore today.
Peering into the mirror, she examined the woman and the dress she wore. The empire style dress cupped her chest gently and flowed to the floor where the seamstress was busy pinning the hem shorter. Her long hair fell in messy waves over her shoulders, dark and inky. She had let Pen do her makeup and her cousin had used subtle hints of purple to emphasize her hazel eyes. The shiny deep plum gloss across her lips had now faded to a more matte shade of raisin.
The high waist and long skirt of the gown hid her flaws. She was not skinny by any stretch, not like Bella, Peter’s sister, and certainly not tall like Pen. She loved this dress; it was not blindingly white, not too ivory, but simply perfect. Lacy cap sleeves tickled her shoulders reassuringly. The lace motif added style to the length of the dress without being too fussy.
She would wear the diamond necklace that had belonged to her great-grandmother and…
An anxious giggle escaped her throat.
Her family looked up from their chattering.
“Are you alright, Zanne?” Pen took a step toward the dais.
“Careful,” pronounced the seamstress around a mouthful of pins.
“I don’t know why I’m shaking.” She said, her voice huskier than normal. Her quivering hand moved as if to touch her throat. “I can’t decide if I’m nervous or what.”
“No need to be nervous. Be excited. The dress is beautiful, your hair is beautiful and Peter is going to love it.”
Pen knew what she was talking about, had fashion experience and had even walked a few catwalks in their junior high days. Zanne took a deep breath and thought about her classroom, cool and neatly organized, books on shelves, desks in rows, pencils and pens in their cups. Gradually, the shaking subsided to the occasional tremble, saving her ankles and toes from pinpricks.
Pen, Amy and Pen’s stepdaughter Lindsay would be wearing bridesmaids’ dresses in the same style, but in cool shades of blue that slid gracefully from a light sky to deep sea. The style complimented each of them, highlighting their strengths while matching the vests of the groomsmen. The elfin Kendall would wear her own empire waist gown in just sky blue as she spread rose petals down the aisle.
From the small couch at the back of the viewing room, her mother, aunt and cousin, along with Peter’s mom and sister, watched, sipped their champagne and chatted.
She concentrated on standing still, but her hands were trembling, though from anxiety or excitement she could not be sure.
I have my mother’s hands, she thought.
A simple diamond ring graced her left hand, the only piece she wore today.
Peering into the mirror, she examined the woman and the dress she wore. The empire style dress cupped her chest gently and flowed to the floor where the seamstress was busy pinning the hem shorter. Her long hair fell in messy waves over her shoulders, dark and inky. She had let Pen do her makeup and her cousin had used subtle hints of purple to emphasize her hazel eyes. The shiny deep plum gloss across her lips had now faded to a more matte shade of raisin.
The high waist and long skirt of the gown hid her flaws. She was not skinny by any stretch, not like Bella, Peter’s sister, and certainly not tall like Pen. She loved this dress; it was not blindingly white, not too ivory, but simply perfect. Lacy cap sleeves tickled her shoulders reassuringly. The lace motif added style to the length of the dress without being too fussy.
She would wear the diamond necklace that had belonged to her great-grandmother and…
An anxious giggle escaped her throat.
Her family looked up from their chattering.
“Are you alright, Zanne?” Pen took a step toward the dais.
“Careful,” pronounced the seamstress around a mouthful of pins.
“I don’t know why I’m shaking.” She said, her voice huskier than normal. Her quivering hand moved as if to touch her throat. “I can’t decide if I’m nervous or what.”
“No need to be nervous. Be excited. The dress is beautiful, your hair is beautiful and Peter is going to love it.”
Pen knew what she was talking about, had fashion experience and had even walked a few catwalks in their junior high days. Zanne took a deep breath and thought about her classroom, cool and neatly organized, books on shelves, desks in rows, pencils and pens in their cups. Gradually, the shaking subsided to the occasional tremble, saving her ankles and toes from pinpricks.
Pen, Amy and Pen’s stepdaughter Lindsay would be wearing bridesmaids’ dresses in the same style, but in cool shades of blue that slid gracefully from a light sky to deep sea. The style complimented each of them, highlighting their strengths while matching the vests of the groomsmen. The elfin Kendall would wear her own empire waist gown in just sky blue as she spread rose petals down the aisle.
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