We eventually picked ourselves up off the bench, still laughing over this ‘giant daffodil’ jumper we’d just seen, and wandered back towards the changing rooms.
Nelly rubbed her hands together dramatically.
“Right.” She looked me up and down.
“We’ve got the everyday clothes sorted.” I looked at the growing pile in the shopping basket.
Three pairs of jeans.
A couple of hoodies.
Some vest tops.
A few T-shirts.
Shorts.
White trainers.
Even a pair of black boots.
“I don’t think I’ve ever owned this many clothes.” Nelly smiled.
“You deserve every single one.” She glanced towards the opposite side of the shop.
“And now…”She grinned mischievously.”…the fun begins.” I followed her gaze.
Rows upon rows of dresses stretched across the shop.
My stomach tightened.
“I don’t know…” “Oh yes, you do.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me over.
The blue moon festival is black tie, evenyone dresses up, even the little ones”.
The dresses came in every colour imaginable.
Blue.
Green.
Pink.
Purple.
Some were covered in flowers, others sparkled under the shop lights.
I slowly ran my fingers across the fabrics.
“They’re so…”I searched for the right word.
“Pretty.” Nelly smiled.
“I know.” She began flicking through the rail with the concentration of someone on an important mission.
“Hmm…no…definitely not…” “Ooh…”She held up a bright neon orange dress.
I burst out laughing.
“If I wore that people would need sunglasses.” She looked at it again.”…Fair point.” Back it went.
A few more dresses later she suddenly stopped.
Her smile widened.
“I think…..I’ve found it.” She carefully lifted a beautiful blue dress from the rail.
It was simple and elegant.
The skirt flowed gently, and tiny silver details shimmered around the waist whenever it caught the light.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered.
“I know.” She held it against me.
“Oh…”Her eyes widened.
“Lilah…” “What?” “This is your dress.” I looked down at it.
“I’ve never worn one before.” “Then today’s another a first.” She pushed it gently into my hands.
“Go on.” I disappeared into the changing room.
For a moment I simply stood there holding the dress.
It almost felt too nice to wear.
Like I’d somehow ruin it.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly changed.
The material was softer than anything I’d ever touched.
When I finally turned towards the mirror…I froze.
A girl I’d never seen before stared back at me.
Her long black hair fell over her shoulders instead of being tied back.
The dress made her bright blue eyes seem even brighter.
She looked…Confident.
Happy.
Beautiful.
I barely recognised myself.
There was a knock on the cubicle door.
“Lilah?” “You alright?” I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“Yeah.” “I just…..I don’t think I’ve ever looked in a mirror properly before.” Nelly’s voice softened.
“Can I come in?” I nodded before remembering she couldn’t see me.
“Yeah.” She stepped inside.
For a moment…She simply stared.
A huge smile spread across her face.
“Oh wow.” She placed both hands over her mouth.
“I knew it.” “What?” “You don’t just look beautiful.” She smiled warmly.
“You look like yourself.” I frowned.
“I’ve never known what myself looked like.” “I think…” She gently adjusted a strand of my hair.
“…you’ve just met her.” I looked back at the mirror.
Maybe she was right.
After buying the dress, we wandered into the shoe section.
Nelly insisted that “every dress deserves proper shoes.” She eventually found a lovely pair of silver flat shoes.
I slipped them on.
“They’re surprisingly comfortable.” “Told you.” Our shopping bags were beginning to pile up.
“I’m starving,” Nelly announced.
“Fancy lunch?” My eyes widened.
“We’re eating out too?” She laughed.
“Of course we are.” “I’ve never…”She smiled knowingly.
“I guessed.” A few minutes later we were sitting inside a little café overlooking the retail park.
The smell alone made my stomach rumble.
“What do you normally have?” I asked.
She shrugged.
“Depends.” She looked at me.
“What have you never tried?” I laughed.
“It’d probably be easier to ask what I have.” She blinked.
“You’ve never had pizza?” I shook my head.
“Milkshake?” “No.” “Garlic bread?” “No.” “Chocolate brownie?” I laughed.
“No.” She looked horrified.
“Oh…we’ve got work to do.
“Twenty minutes later our table looked ridiculous.
Pizza.
Garlic bread.
Curly fries.
Chocolate milkshakes.
Mozzarella sticks.
I stared at it all.
“This is….a lot.
“Nelly grinned.” We’re making up for sixteen years.” She picked up a slice of pizza.
“Trust me.” I copied her.
One bite later…My eyes widened.
“Oh my God.” “I know.” “This is incredible.” “I know.” “I’ve been missing out.” “You really have.” We spent the next half an hour laughing, sharing food and talking about everything and nothing.
For the first time…I felt like an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl.
Not an orphan.
Not a servant.
Not an outsider.
Just…Lilah.
As we walked back towards the car carrying our shopping bags, Nelly suddenly stopped outside a small jewellery stand.
“Wait here.” Before I could ask why, she’d disappeared inside.
A few minutes later she came back smiling.
“What did you buy?” She shook her head innocently.
“You’ll see later.” “You’ve got that look.” “What look?” “The one that says you’re planning something.” She laughed.
“Maybe.” I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
“I’m watching you.” She linked her arm through mine.
“Good.” “It’ll make the surprise even better.” I smiled.
I wasn’t sure what she was planning.
But somehow…I already knew it was going to make me smile.
As we loaded the shopping bags into the boot of the car, I looked down at them in disbelief.
Every single item belonged to me.
For the first time in my life…I wasn’t wearing someone else’s story.
I was beginning to write my own.
Nelly smiled as she closed the boot.
“Ready to head home?” I looked towards the road leading back to the Compound.
Back…Home.
The word no longer felt strange.
It felt right.
I smiled.
“Yeah.” “I’m ready.”