17 years later
Erin looked in the mirror and adjusted her dress. Mother had had it made special by a seamstress for her birthday and it was certainly beautiful. Blue had always been her best color. It didn’t fit as well as the dresses Mother made for her. Instead it was about on par with the ones she was learning to make for herself. This wasn’t too surprising since the seamstress hadn’t been able to get as accurate of measurements as Mother usually took. That would have required her undressing down to her undergarments while the seamstress measured her and that she could not do. Modesty was of the utmost importance. Her parents had been very clear about that. It was very well made though in spite of this and the perfect gift for her birthday party.
Her sister Samantha had one exactly like it made to match. Erin hadn’t seen her in it yet, but she was sure her sister was much better suited to it and looked absolutely gorgeous. She had always envied her sister especially since they had started the journey into womanhood. Samantha had blossomed into a portrait of femininity and beauty while Erin, simply put, had not. Mother often liked to assure her that she was just a different kind of woman than her twin and that was okay. There were plenty of men out there who prefered the kind of woman she was, the kind with broad shoulders and thin hips.
To be honest she didn’t believe this as she had yet to meet a man who prefered her tall, thin frame over Samantha’s curves. If Samantha could have so much attention from men of all ages was it so much to ask for attention from just one man? But maybe that could change.
Mother had come from a family of merchants. It was how she had met Father when her father had brought her with him on a trip to Aefril. Grandpapa would be visiting tonight for her and Samantha’s birthday and had invited many of his merchant friends to make it a real party. Perhaps the reason Mother insisted that there were men out there who would find her beautiful was because her body type was for in fashion where Mother was born. In which case she felt a little bad for her mother whose figure was more similar to Samantha’s than hers.
That had to be it, she told herself as she looked in the mirror again this time feeling a little bit better about what she saw. She was turning seventeen, she had a beautiful dress, and maybe today would be the day she found love. Life was kind today.
“Erin!” The voice of her twin sister broke her out of her musings. “You look absolutely beautiful!”
“So do you. Let me get a look at you.” Samantha twirled around in front of her, laughing happily and showing off. Despite her dress being made to match Erin’s hers was yellow and made her look bright like the sun.
“Now you! Twirl for me.” She did, feeling her sister’s giddy laughter infect her and a smile leap to her face. Samantha clapped her hands together and grinned at her. “Wonderful!”
The two laughed together and hugged.
“Today we are no longer girls, but women!” Erin exclaimed. “Our lives can begin in earnest.”
“Indeed,” Samantha replied. “And it all starts tonight at this party. Isn’t it magical?”
“For you maybe. Isn’t Darren coming?” Darren was the only one of Samantha’s suitors she had ever given a chance to.
“I sent him an invitation, but he hasn’t sent a reply so I don’t know. I hope he comes.”
“He’ll be here, I’m sure of it,” Erin assured her sister. “I’d even wager on him proposing to you tonight.”
“No, you don’t think…” Samantha said, blushing. “You really think he’d propose?”
“I know he will. Have you seen the way he looks at you like you hang the stars in the sky? Besides, you’re beautiful, he’d be lucky to have you.” Erin smiled wistfully. “You are fortunate to have someone to love you the way he does. I often find myself envying what you have.”
“Erin, you don’t need to envy me. You are beautiful to and I know you’ll find a man who will sweep you off your feet. With all of Grandpapa’s friends coming from all different countries for our birthday one of them is bound to see how beautiful you are,” said Samantha.
“You’re just saying that to make me feel better,” Erin said, looking down at the ground. She had felt confident earlier and had even agreed with her sister, but now with Samantha here for her to compare herself to she wasn’t feeling as confident. “I’m not beautiful and I doubt any man would want to sweep me off my feet. I’m going to die an old maid alone while you live your perfect life with Darren.”
“Stop that. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You are beautiful even if you can’t see it. And if you can be so sure that Darren is going to propose to me then I can be so sure that you will find love. One of those men down there will see you for your beautiful self if I have anything to say about it.”
“What do you mean if you have anything to say about it?”
“I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve, little sister,” Samantha said with a smile.
“You know I don’t like it when you call me that.” Erin couldn’t help herself from smiling a little to. “We’re twins.”
“Yeah, but I was born first so that makes me the older sister which is why I know tonight is going to be amazing.”
“Alright so what are your tricks then?”
“First we’ll start by doing up your hair and makeup then we’ll go from there.”
“That’s your plan?”
“We’ll make you look so good that no man will be able to resist,” Samantha said leading her over to the mirror and pulling over a seat for Erin to sit down.
“But I can’t look that all of the time. He’ll see what I really look like and not want me anymore.”
“You are truly an eternal pessimist.” She began brushing through Erin’s hair in long, slow strokes. “The new look is just supposed to draw him in long enough for him to get to know you and see your true beauty.”
“I don’t think this is going to work, but I’m not going to stop you from trying” said Erin.
“Trust me. This is going to work.”
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