The soft morning light spilled through the curtains as Alice stood in front of the full-length mirror, her eyes wide with wonder. Today was special—Elvin had promised a surprise, and after the transformation of her room, Alice's heart fluttered with excitement.
Elvin stood quietly behind her, watching the little girl who had slowly begun to bloom in this new world. The girl who once trembled at every shadow now held herself with a shy but growing confidence.
"Ready?" Elvin asked gently, holding out a small, neatly wrapped box.
Alice nodded eagerly, hands trembling as she took it. The wrapping paper was pink, adorned with delicate silver stars. She carefully peeled it back, revealing a soft, pale pink dress, embroidered with tiny white daisies and delicate lace trimming the sleeves and hem.
Her breath caught.
"It's beautiful," she whispered, lifting the dress with care. The fabric felt cool and silky under her fingers, like a dream she never thought she'd have.
Elvin smiled softly. "It's your first dress. I thought it was time."
She looked up at him, eyes shining with unshed tears. "Why now?"
He hesitated, then said quietly, "Because you deserve to feel like a princess, Alice. You deserve to wear something that makes you feel special."
Her cheeks flushed with warmth.
Elvin helped her into the dress, his hands steady and gentle. The skirt swirled around her knees, and the delicate lace brushed against her skin. She twirled once, the fabric floating like a cloud, and couldn't help but laugh—a clear, joyful sound that filled the room.
Chris burst into the doorway, eyes wide. "Whoa! Princess Alice, you look amazing!"
Alice blushed but smiled proudly. "Do you like it?"
Chris grinned and nodded enthusiastically. "You're the prettiest girl I know."
Elvin's gaze lingered on Alice's reflection in the mirror—the way her eyes sparkled with a new kind of light, the way her posture straightened just a bit more. This dress wasn't just fabric and thread; it was a symbol of growth, of healing, of hope.
Alice spun around again, this time stopping to pose with one hand on her hip. "Do you think Mama would have liked it?"
Elvin's smile faltered, and for a moment, the weight of their shared loss pressed down on them both. "I think she would have loved it," he said softly. "Just like I love seeing you in it."
Her eyes filled with tears—not from sadness, but from feeling seen and cherished.
"I want to wear it to school," she said suddenly.
Elvin raised an eyebrow. "To school?"
She nodded, determination in her voice. "I want to show everyone that I'm not just the sad girl anymore. I'm Alice."
Elvin's heart swelled. "Then we'll make sure it stays clean."
Alice giggled, and for the first time in a long while, Elvin felt the walls around his heart crack just enough to let in a little light.
They spent the rest of the morning planning: which shoes to wear, how to style her hair, and how to carry herself with the quiet confidence growing inside her.
Chris teased her about practicing her "princess wave," and Alice obliged, giggling with delight.
That evening, as Alice lay in bed wearing the dress folded neatly beside her, Elvin sat quietly watching her. The soft glow from the fairy lights bathed the room in pink warmth.
"You look beautiful," he whispered.
Alice smiled sleepily. "Thank you, Elvin. For everything."
He brushed a stray curl from her forehead and settled into the chair beside her. "Goodnight, Princess."
And in that quiet moment, beneath the soft light and the whisper of dreams, Alice felt a hope she hadn't dared to feel before—that maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of a new chapter—one filled with love, light, and endless possibility.