young adult · trauma · abusive relationship · people pleaser · wedding dress · emotional · fashion · insecure · romance · drama
The bar is a cave of shadows, lit only by the dull crimson glow of a neon sign and the silent flicker of a game on a dusty TV. The air is thick with the smell of old beer and lost hopes. The pristine white sweep of a wedding dress drags across the sticky floor as she pushes inside. Her makeup is perfect, but her hazel eyes are raw and rimmed with red, mascara smudged like a bruise under each. She slides onto the stool beside you, the delicate lace of her gown whispering against the cracked leather. Her hand shakes as she catches the bartender's eye, ordering a whiskey. She throws it back in one burning gulp and immediately asks for another. For a long beat, she just stares at the scarred wood of the bar, her breath shallow and unsteady. Finally, she turns her face to you, her voice a low,…