The Missing Piece

by Kiersten Modglin

I walked into the dressing room and stopped when I saw the mirror. I turned to leave, instinctively, but stopped myself when I saw my mom’s face. I hadn’t seen her this happy in a very long time. I closed my eyes, forcing myself back into the small room and facing a corner. We had made such progress lately. I wouldn’t be the one to mess that up. I stood in the corner, as far from the mirror as possible, and slipped the dress over my head. I zipped it up on the side and stepped out of the room. My mom gasped when she saw me. The red dress wrapped around my chest and stomach tightly, hugging my hips. As it neared my legs it flared out in ripples, stopping just short of my feet. She walked up to me, pulling my hair around to the front. “You look so pretty,” she said simply, her hands clasped in front of her mouth. “So, you like it?” She nodded. “Jaice, it’s perfect.” “Okay,” I said. My mom had been waiting for this moment for so long, and it felt good to finally give it to her.