"I’m sorry..." Sara said, her voice barely above a whisper, the words heavy with an unspoken weight as they hung in the air.
Aeri, standing near the door in her shimmering light blue dress, froze mid-step, her hand lingering on the doorknob. Her eyes widened slightly as she turned, catching Sara’s reflection in the mirror from across the room.
"What are you apologizing for?" she asked, an awkward smile tugging at her lips as she tilted her head, confusion knitting her brow. "Sara, what’s going on?"
Sara’s gaze dropped to her gloves, her fingers twisting the fabric as she managed a soft, uncertain smile.
"I don’t know... just felt like saying it," she said, her voice light but trembling at the edges. She lifted her eyes, meeting Aeri’s reflection, and her expression softened further, a hint of guilt creeping into her features. "You’ve always been with me, Aeri, and... I’ve troubled you so much with my recklessness. All these years, I’ve been a mess, haven’t I?"
Aeri exhaled sharply, a long *sigh* escaping her as she placed both hands on her hips, her posture shifting to one of fond exasperation.
"Now you’re realizing that? Huh!?" she said, her voice rising with playful indignation, though her eyes sparkled with affection. "After all the chaos you’ve dragged me through? Come on, Sara, you’re a walking disaster sometimes!"
Sara let out a forced laugh, a nervous "Heheh...Sorry..." that faltered as her smile wavered, her face betraying a flicker of dread, as if she knew she was doomed. Her shoulders slumped slightly, strands of hair falling to hide half her face.
Aeri’s expression softened, her teasing giving way to something warmer, more sincere.
"But..." she said, her voice dropping to a gentle tone as she stepped closer, resting a hand on the back of Sara’s chair. "You’re still my best friend, Sara. Always have been."
Sara’s eyes widened, one glistening with the threat of tears, the other half-hidden behind her hair. The words hit her like a wave, her breath catching as she stared at Aeri’s reflection, her lips parting slightly in surprise.
Aeri smiled, a genuine, heartfelt curve of her lips that lit up her face. "Never once have I regretted being with you," she said, her voice steady and warm. "If anything, it’s been an adventure. You’ve made my life so much less boring. Without you and your wild ideas, I’d probably be stuck in some dull routine, counting down the days to nothing. You’ve kept things... alive, Sara."
Sara’s single visible eye shimmered, a tear clinging to her lashes as Aeri’s words sank in. Her chest tightened, the guilt and gratitude warring within her, and she swallowed hard, unable to speak for a moment.
The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of music seeping through the walls from the grand hall, a lively melody that felt distant in the weight of this exchange.
Aeri straightened, "So, get done with your prep and come out fast," she said, pointing a playful finger at Sara. "Daniel’s waiting, and the crowd’s probably ready to storm the stage if you don’t show up soon."
Sara nodded, her smile returning, though it was softer, tinged with emotion. "Yeah, I’m almost ready," she said, turning back to the mirror to
adjust her earrings, her movements slow but deliberate. "Thanks, Aeri... for everything."
Aeri waved a hand, dismissing the sentiment with a grin. "Save the mushy stuff for the vows," she teased, turning toward the door.
She pulled it open, stepping into the hallway, the faint *tap, tap, tap* of her heels echoing as she walked away. But as she moved down the dim passage, her smile faded, her brow furrowing with a quiet question.
"What’s up with her today?" Aeri thought, her steps slowing slightly. "She’s acting weird."
Aeri sighed, her breath a soft huff as she glanced back at the closed door. "She’s way more emotional than usual," she muttered to herself, her fingers brushing the watch on her wrist. "Maybe it’s just the wedding getting to her. Big day, big feelings." She shook her head, trying to dismiss the unease that lingered in her chest.
As she reached the grand hall, the music swelled, a lively tune that wrapped around her, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the guests. The chandeliers cast their golden glow, and the crowd buzzed with anticipation, waiting for the bride’s entrance.
Aeri slipped back into the crowd, her smile returning as she nodded at familiar faces, but her thoughts stayed with Sara, with my absence.
The bride’s dressing room was a quiet cocoon, its soft glow dimmed by the heavy silence that settled after Aeri’s departure. The vanity lights cast a warm halo over Sara, seated in her white wedding gown.
A single tear welled in her eye, trembling on the edge of her lashes before falling, landing with a soft *pat* on her white gloves, the droplet soaking into the fabric.
Sara’s breath hitched, her fingers tightening on the gloves as she stared at her reflection in the mirror, her face a mask of guilt and regret. The room felt smaller, the walls closing in with the weight of what had transpired here, hidden from the world outside.
A sudden *clack* shattered the silence, the wardrobe door creaking open behind her.
I stepped out, my shirt crisp, pants neatly pressed, and shoes polished, as if no trace of our desperate sex remained. My hair was smoothed back, my expression unreadable as I stood in the shadows, staring at Sara’s back. The wardrobe, tucked in the corner, had concealed me perfectly, its dark wood blending into the room’s elegance, a secret hiding place.
"Sara..." I said, my voice low, barely breaking the silence, heavy with a question I didn’t know how to ask.
"Leave..." she said, her voice cold, cutting through the air like a blade. "Don’t say a word and just leave..." Her words trembled, filled with something deeper—pain, perhaps, or shame.
I closed my eyes, a slow breath escaping me as I nodded, though she couldn’t see it. Without another word, I turned on my heel, my shoes scuffing softly against the carpet as I crossed to the door.
My hand closed around the cool brass knob, and I pulled it open, the faint hum of the hall’s music growing louder for a moment before I stepped out and closed the door behind me with a quiet *click*.
Inside, Sara remained at the vanity, her head dropping into her hands as her body began to tremble. A soft sob escaped her, muffled against her palms, and her shoulders shook with the force of it. Tears spilled freely now, streaking down her cheeks and dripping onto her gloves, the white fabric darkening with each drop.
Her fingers clutched her face, as if she could hold herself together, but the guilt crashed over her like a wave, relentless and unforgiving.