The Ties That Bind

Chp 1: fragile apologies

Z A R A H

"What do you think?" A bright smile lightened up my face, as I smoothed the fabric of the flowery dress I had picked up at the mall. The high neckline and long sleeves hugged me in just the right way—not too tight, not too loose—offering a sense of comfort and elegance. The skirt flared slightly as I moved, its hem brushing against my ankles with every step, the lace trim adding a touch of vintage charm. I couldn’t help but smile; it was simple yet undeniably beautiful.

I hesitated for a moment tempted to give him a playful twirl, but his mirrored expression exuded lack of interest, and a clear distaste for the dress. I immediately regretted my decision. "You don't like it?" I asked, my voice quieter now as I glanced down at the dress, my earlier excitement faltering.

"It doesn't suit you." He says flatly, his attention already shifting back to work.

Liam has a great fashion sense so I respect his decision on all my dresses. I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a small nod. Of course, he was right. His taste was impeccable. Still, I couldn’t shake the faint sting of disappointment as I smoothed the skirt one last time. Maybe it wasn’t the right choice after all.

"Are you su—"

"Oh, please, Zarah!" he snapped, cutting me off mid-sentence. The warmth I thought I’d seen in his eyes just moments ago was gone, replaced with a sharp, simmering anger. "For goodness’ sake, let me be! Why are you going on and on about this dress?"

Disappointment washed over me, heavy and suffocating. I blinked back the sting in my eyes, my heart sinking at the sharpness in his tone. I hadn't meant to upset him. "I’m sorry," I murmured quickly, my voice trembling. "I’m sorry, Liam. I just wanted to look good to meet your parents this weekend."

He didn’t respond. Instead, he shot up from his chair, his laptop in hand, and strode out of the room without a glance back. The sound of his footsteps faded down the hall, leaving an aching silence in their wake.

"I'm sorry," I whispered again, the words meant only for myself this time. Standing there, I let the weight of his words sink in. My fingers brushed over the soft fabric of the dress again, and suddenly, it didn’t feel as beautiful as it had when I’d first put it on. The flutter of excitement I’d felt earlier had vanished, replaced by a dull ache in my chest. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t see it the same way anymore. His words had tainted it.

This weekend was important. Meeting his parents was a big step, and I wanted everything to be perfect. I just had to find another dress—one that wouldn’t annoy him, one that he’d actually approve of.

With a deep breath, I grabbed my phone and scrolled through my contacts, stopping at Ella’s name. My best friend always knew what to say, and maybe she could help me figure this out. I hesitated for a second before pressing the call button.

“Zarah!” she answered cheerfully, her voice a warm contrast to the chill in the room. “What’s up?”

I hesitated, unsure how to put my feelings into words without sounding pathetic. “Hey, Ella. Do you think… do you think you could come dress shopping with me tomorrow? I need a second opinion.”

There was a pause, and I could almost picture her tilting her head in concern. “Of course. But… didn’t you already buy a dress for this weekend?”

I swallowed hard. “Yeah, but… Liam doesn’t like it. He says it doesn’t suit me.”

Her silence on the other end of the line was deafening. When she finally spoke, her voice was softer, more cautious. “Zarah, do you like the dress?”