Leafing hopefully, through the white garments hanging primly on the rack. I sigh in frustration at the lack of options. Why are there only ever twig dresses? Do they really expect every girl to be pencil thin?

By the lack of reasonable sizes, and the plain designs of the plus size gowns. The answer is obviously yes. How many shops am I going to have to enter? Before I can find at least one decent gown.

“Sasha! Sasha!” A loud shout behind me. Pulls me forcefully from my brooding. My fingers twitching across the beaded gown. I had just been glaring heatedly at.

“Sasha!”

With one last disdainful glare at the offending item. I slowly turn to face the hurricane barreling toward me.

“Oof.” I groan. A small ball of joy slamming into me. A white fabric already halfway over my head before I could process what was happening. Squeals of delight filtering through the suffocating fabric.

“Your going to love this girl. It’s the prettiest gown in the store. Your fiancé will be drooling when he sees you in this.” My bushy haired friend rambles. Oblivious to the fact that she is slowly suffocating me.

Thankfully, Ruby wasn’t as distracted. Noticing my battle for air. My much calmer friend. Snatches the dress from Kelly’s eagers hands. Smacking the energizer bunny over the head. My lungs sing Ruby’s praises as sweet air is allowed once more through my body.

“Kelly. Cool it. Your smothering the poor girl.” Kelly deflates at Ruby’s gentle scolding. Her sun kissed cheeks puffing out in an adorable pout. As her sparkling emerald eyes glare the unimpressed girl down.

“Humph. I just wanted to show her the dress you found.” Kelly grumbles. Shoulders hunching as she playfully sniffs in disdain at us.

“You do realize she actually has to be breathing still to admire the gown, right? Ruby’s lighthearted words gains a scowl from our black-haired friend.

Sigh and fondly rolling her eyes. Ruby turns her gaze to me. Her puppy dog browns. Scanning my face for any sign of discomfort. Satisfied that I am in fact still breathing. Ruby with a soft smile. Holds out the killer gown. Allowing me my first opportunity to see the dress that nearly ended my life.

“Thanks.” Carefully extracting it from Ruby’s fingers. I hold it higher in the air. Allowing the soft shop lights to shimmer down it’s silk fabric. My sea blue orbs widening in awe. At the overwhelming beauty. It simple yet stylish appearance has me captivated.

My hand unconsciously running along the flowered lace appliques illusion along the high neck, and capped sleeves. It’s soft satin, lace, flared bottom causing me to swoon in delight. The fabric twinkling like a million tiny diamonds in the shop lights.

I must try it on. As if reading my mind. Ruby wraps her fingers around my bony shoulders. Steering me away from the still fuming Kelly. Toward the back of the store. Where a single changing stall sat wide open. Her rose pink lips twitching in mirth as my eyes remained glued to the fabric in my hands.

“Go try it on. We will be right out here when you are done.” Pushing me into the stall. She gives me one last fond smile. Before closing the door behind me. Shaking myself from my stupor. I stumble over to the silver lock on the knob. Turning it so it will not swing open while I am half naked. Placing the gown carefully on the hook attached to the door. I made short work of my clothes. Tossing them carelessly to the grown. Before all but pouncing on the dress I deemed as mine.

The first heart stop moment occurs upon reaching my shoulders. The dress bunching up and refusing to lower further than my neck. After a short battle. In which I return the victor. I manage to force the dress over my over glass figure. A triumphant smile pulling across my lips. Which promptly falls a moment later. My snow-white fingers scuttling across my back. To the cold metal zipper laying across my spine.

I whimper in agitation. When the stupid thing refuses to rise past my hips. It is practically mocking me as I hop, wiggle, and squirm the zipper past my hips. All while I beg the frustrating thing to rise.

Finally, after years of war. I succeed. The zipper snapping past my hips and squeezing my lungs into a tight hug. It’s corset like feel. Making me feel as though I am being strangled.

My lungs pleading me for release. I nearly cave too, but than a set of deep-sea blue eyes. Catches my attention. A beautiful woman with fiery auburn curls cascading down her back. Stares back at me through the reflective surface attached to the wall. Ensnaring my attention and drowning out my bodies screams for mercy.

“Ah. I love it!” I gasp. Eyes drinking in my appearance.

“I’ve got to show the others.” Wattling like a penguin. I exit the stall. Scurrying over to my bickering amigos.

“I’m just saying I…. Oh Sasha.” Kelly cuts off her impassioned rant as I come into view.

“So, what do you think? Beautiful right?” I crow. Twirling painfully once I was in front of them. An uncomfortable silence greets my breathy question. My tired smile falling in concern at the awkward glances shared.

“Um well…” Ruby stutters. Her bottom lip sinking beneath her teeth as she struggles to form an appropriate answer.

“What? What’s wrong with it?” I demand. Impatience and fear winning over politeness.

“You look like your pregnant.” I sputter in outrage at Kelly’s blunt answer.

“KELLY!!” Ruby gasps. Horrified by our friend’s lack of tact. A beige hand raising to cover her lips. Puppy eyes blown wide in shock.

“What!? It’s the truth! It’s much too tight on her. Her lips are turning blue.” Kelly defends. Throwing up her hands in frustration.

“It is not.” I pout. My lungs cursing me.

“Look Sasha. So, the dress is too small. Just means we need to find a bigger size.” Kelly continues. Rolling her eyes in exasperation. Spinning on her heels. She hurry’s back to the rack where the dress was found. Where her fingers practically fly across the offered gowns. Pulling one out. She frowns at it. Her eyes narrowing as she scans the tag. Shaking her head. She returns it to the rack before returning to browsing through the last of them. After a moment of looking. She returns empty handed. An apologetic scowl upon her face.

“Sorry Sasha. Looks like they expect every girl to be a twig. I did find one in a bigger size, but not only would it drown you. Its designs are also not as nice. The beads are falling off in places.” My face falls at her words. Of course, she couldn’t find a bigger size that would fit me. This stupid world expects every girl to be the same. Sure, in the recent years they have started coming out with more plus sizes, but the designs aren’t as wide. You can’t find as many cute options in the plus size section. The cute items are reserved primarily for the smalls, and for those girls like me. Who are in-between sizes? Well, we are just out of luck.

Turning back to the stall I had vacated. I Ignore my friends concern laced questions as I fight to hold back my tears of frustration. Closing and locking the door behind me. I gasp. My knees nearly giving out as sweet air is once more allowed into my lungs. My body singing in joy as the offending article is finally removed from my limbs. Placing the gown back on the hanger. I hang it once more on the hook. My sad eyes avoiding its shimmering beauty as I yank my previous clothes back on.

Straightening my butterfly shirt and freeing my auburn curls from the black shirts grip. I snatch the gown up and march from the stall. Tossing the item into the discard basket without another glance.

Arms folded protectively over my chest. I slowly make my way back to my friends. Disappointment and frustration clouding my thoughts.

“I’m sorry Sasha. Maybe the next place will have better options.” Ruby offers. Patting my shoulder in sympathy.

“Yeah right. This is the ten shop we have tried with the same results. I really think it would be better to just let her dad hire a tailor. Like he wanted to do in the first place.” Kelly scoffs rolling her eyes at Ruby’s words.

“Kelly!” Ruby hisses. Her eyes darting worriedly to me.

“Kelly that may be the easier option, but I really want to find a dress at a dress shop. Just because I am royalty. Doesn’t mean I can spend frivolous amounts of taxpayers money on gowns.” I sigh. Brushing off her comment.

“If you say so girl. Well lets just head back. No doubt your dad is freaking out over the fact you ditched your guards again.” I wince at this. I can just see a fire breathing king. Stomping through the castle. Demanding to know why my security unit returned without me.

“Yeah, probably would be best.” I nervously laugh. Rubbing a hand across the back of my neck. Ignoring the disgusted eyes of the shop keeper as we leave empty handed.