Chapter 12 - THE WOMAN WHO LEARNED TO STAND TALL
Six months after the gala, I stood in front of a mirror wearing a bright red dress.
It was fitted.
Beautiful.
And completely unlike anything I'd worn before.
For years, I'd chosen clothes designed to make me disappear.
Dark colors.
Loose fabrics.
Anything that made me less noticeable.
But I was tired of hiding.
I looked at my reflection.
My curves.
My shoulders.
My smile.
For the first time, I didn't see a woman who needed to become smaller.
I saw someone who had survived.
My phone rang.
Leandro.
“Are you ready?”
I smiled.
“Almost.”
“Take your time.”
I laughed.
“That's dangerous advice.”
He chuckled.
“I've learned patience.”
I looked at the dress again.
“Leandro?”
“Yes?”
“Do you think red is too much?”
He paused.
Then said:
“Clare, I think you've spent too much of your life worrying about being too much.”
My eyes filled.
I smiled.
“You're getting good at this.”
May you like
He laughed.
“I have an excellent teacher.”
