250. Sugar

It was ten o’clock.

Jemma held Gracie’s photo frame close to her heart, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Placed gently on her bed was the wedding gown that Gracie had once chosen for her own wedding when Ryan proposed to her. Jemma felt a deep pang of sorrow, knowing how eagerly Gracie had prepared for her special day, only for fate to cruelly take her away before she could marry Ryan.

"Mom... Can you hear me?" Jemma spoke softly, her voice trembling with emotion as she addressed the photo. "I wish you were here. You would've loved to see me in wedding gown. You had so many dreams for me... for us. We were supposed to plan this together, my wedding. You were so excited about it, weren't you?"

She paused, fighting back the tears that threatened to overflow.

"I miss you every day, especially today... on this day when I'm supposed to feel the happiest. It's not fair, Mom. Why did you have to leave me so soon?" Jemma's voice quivered with a mix of grief and longing.

Gently runn