Chapter 101: Oceans

The ocean has always fascinated me. Dmitry would often carve me sea creatures he would see in books at school. He always felt his birds were more authentic because he was able to see them with his own eyes, rather than the depiction of a creature from another artist’s eyes. I would playfully disagree, always beaming with happiness to be able to run my fingers along the ridges of fins and scales.

The dress reminds me of the sea. A deep endless blue, always in motion, tumultuous and wild. The dress has long sleeves and is tightly fitted to my bodice. The boat neck, a nod to innocence and purity. The skirt is full and glides with a swish across the floor. I braid my hair and coil it into a chignon.

I look into the mirror. My reflection is strikingly similar to my mother. An irksome resemblance. The similarities are only amplified by my attire. Perfect porcelain doll dress. Perfectly coiffed and painted. The delicate wing of eyeliner and softly pink blushed cheeks. The playfully pink li