28

SIRA

Mom softly flipped my hair across my shoulders. She was grinning at me through the mirror, and honestly it was contagious despite the nerves I was feeling at this point. How could I be this lucky to have something like this?

“You look like a doll,” mother said softly.

I smiled as I got to my feet. Mother easily helped flare my gown in a way that it would not hamper my movements. I walked slowly with the heels on and really stared at my reflection on the mirror. Mother was right. I looked so beautiful. It was as though I had been born again with the makeup as a booster.

Why couldn’t I have been born this way instead? Then, the bullying would stop. I sighed. Who was I kidding? There was no way the bullying was ever going to come to an end. I’m sure someone would do something at the party.

“Sira, what is with that look?” Mother asked calmly.

I gulped as I turned to look at her. “Nothing, mom,” I lied.

She gave me one of her looks. “Look, you have to be confident in yourself. You’re