Sewing Swans
Their tone of voice seemed so void of love. “We regret to inform you that you’ve been engaged. We wish you the best of luck with your new spouse.”
Those words echoed inside my head. They had caused me to break down when they were said to me. I remembered every detail about that moment. My parents didn’t seem the least bit ashamed of their words and yet I was here, now married to a stranger.
It all seemed like one big dream. I was not sure if I could ever accept this fate I was forced into but I could never disrespect my parents with a divorce or rejection of his proposal.
It had been in our culture for centuries to marry before a certain age. Every woman had to be married before the age of twenty-five so she could begin making children before her eggs got too old. She had a chance to choose him if she happened to fall in love but if she hadn’t found someone by the age of twenty-four, it was her parent’s responsibility to find her a husband.
“Are you ready, Aryn?” Dax asked me as he grabbed his last bag.
I looked back at him and nodded my head, giving him a small smile. “Ready as I’ll ever be.” I scanned the room one last time before leaving it to be.
I gave my parents kisses and promised them I would be just fine.
Dax had bought us a house in a small town somewhere in Washington. I’d already forgotten the name of it but my only hope was we were not seen as aliens for moving in.
Saying one last goodbye, we set out on our long drive to our new home.
During the road trip, most of my time was spent looking out the window and admiring the nature that rushed by us. The other time was spent looking in the mirrors and fixing my hair. My bangs seemed to control themselves when it came to it.
~
Dax opened the door for me and I got out, taking in my new surroundings. “This town is beautiful. I can see why you picked it.”
He gave me a smile. “I thought we would enjoy the beautiful walks.”
We grabbed our bags from the car and began moving it all inside. The moving truck wouldn’t be too long now.
Dax was the type of husband who took his vows seriously. We were strangers but he was making attempts to make our marriage better, and how could a man do that without adding romance to it?
I was not a romantic. That was why I chose to be single for so long, but I knew my day would come.
“Why don’t we take a look around at the shops before the truck arrives with our stuff? It gives us a chance to explore and get to know one another.” Dax smiled at me, his brown eyes sparkling as the sun shined on them through the big window.
I agreed just for the sake of making him happy. I was not about to start arguing. I was married to a man I barely knew and this marriage was hard enough for that reason alone.
We left our humble abode and strolled through the town. The air was warm with a light breeze and the flowers blossomed as if they were welcoming us home. The sunshine was the perfect way to brighten it all.
Dax pointed to a shop with the name Sewing Swans. “That place looks interesting. We should try it sometime.” The wind picked up and moved the blonde hair on his head, creating waves.
It was nothing but a lucky guess that he knew I was into homemade outfits. There was something so beautiful about supporting those who made one-of-a-kind fabrics.
I pulled my short hair back into a small bun to keep it from flying around in my face. Most of the strands fell loose, not wanting to be trapped in the hair tie.
“Yeah, we should,” I said before we headed back home.
The bell pinged as I walked through the front of the shop. Dax was working his new job today while I was tasked with unpacking our things. I had spent so much time setting up the house for days on end that I forgot about the new places I wanted to see.
“Hello, is anyone in here?” I asked.
An older woman came from the backroom and patted her dress. Her clothing had to be from the 1800s. It covered every inch of her besides her hands and face. “How may I help you?”
I brushed my fingers across a few of her fabrics, observing her work. It was fine craftsmanship. “My husband and I just moved in and I wanted to come to check out your business. You have wonderful dresses here. How much are they?”
She grabbed the one I’d had my eye on. “This one will be fifty. Anything with threading designs will be above a hundred.”
I pulled some money from my wallet. “I shall take the one you are holding.”
She handed me the dress and took my money. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. My work has a mind of its own.” She left me alone after heading to the back room once more.
I folded the dress over my arm and went back home. The first thing I did was try on the dress. It fit me perfectly and didn’t at all hide my curves.
I smoothed at the dress and noticed the wrinkles forming on my hand. My fingers were thinning out and my hand began to age.
“What the hell?” I gasped at my reflection in the mirror, touching my face. My once black hair had now turned to gray while my cheeks were almost hollow. The blue of my irises lost their vibrant color and sight blurred to an extent.
I let out a scream, falling to the ground. That scream had taken much of my energy.
I grabbed my phone and texted Dax. I wasn’t sure if he would leave early on his first day but I had to warn him that something had happened.
I removed the dress from my body and held my hand against my chest as my wrinkles faded away. I checked my hair and let out a sigh of relief when all color had returned. My youthful glow displayed as if it hadn’t just aged in seconds.
The smooth and flawless texture of my olive-toned skin was back in place while my black hair regained its life. I glanced at the glass, keeping my eyes fixed on my appearance. I sat on the carpet in just a blue bra and some black underwear.
The front door slammed shut and someone came running up into the room. “Aryn, oh my gosh, I was so worried.” Dax bent down and pulled me into his chest. “What happened?”
I replied, “I don’t even know how to explain myself without sounding like I’ve lost my mind.” I knew one thing was for sure. I would never shop at Sewing Swans again, nor would I put on that dress.
