It hurt to think he might do itagain.“It’s not appropriate for me to wear these clothes,” I whispered in a calm voice to hide mysadness.“Isabelle.” She touched my hand and I looked at her, silently thanking for the comfort sheonce again provided me with. Andre to brand new expensive clothesthat turned me into someone I didn’t want to be. It’s just that,” I swallowed, trying to speak in a calm voice, but suddenlyit had become much more difficult to control my emotions, “I can’t accept it.”“Why not?”She narrowed her eyes at me and I looked away, replaying the memory of Sebastian’s crueltyand the humiliation he’d made me feel because I was simply being myself.It dawned on me how he had said that he liked I didn’t fit into his world, yet he did everythingto try to make me fit in.

Although he tried to make thingsbetter between us, I knew that appearances still meant a lot to him.“Thank you. I couldn’t embarrass Sebastian by walking around in rags.

Her surprise was wonderful, but I knew better than toaccept it. I gave her hell.”I looked at her with a pinch of sadness. The lady in the store will kill me if I take itback. Do you like it?” Helen asked impatientlyand then started joking. They reminded me of my former life and the simplicity I hadlonged for.“I thought it might be a good time for a makeover. Thoseclothes belonged to that other world. It was hard to suppress the overwhelming feeling of nostalgia as I observedthe clothes that resembled those that Sebastian shamed me for and threw out of my closet. Confused, I looked towards Helen who glared at me with afirm smile on her face. All I could see were ordinaryjeans, T-shirts and pretty, but obviously cheap, dresses you could buy on a sale for a price next tonothing. As I started going through thepile, I noticed there wasn’t even one fancy piece of outfit in there. “Open it,” sheencouraged in a small whisper.I took off the lid from the box and to say that I was surprised wouldn’t do the justice todescribe how I felt when seeing its content.

I don’t know what I would dowithout you.”“Well, what are you waiting for?” she spoke in her light, happy voice.

I was so luckyto have her in my life.“Whatever it is, I like it already. “I hope you like it,”she said modestly and I looked up at her with gratitude. Open it and you’ll see what it is.” Her voice sparked with excitement as Itook off the huge bow on top of the box and unwrapped the shiny golden paper.

Virtue & vanity by astrid jane ray