"Ma’am, the dress is ready," the maid’s voice broke into my thoughts. I turned to see her holding up a sleek, black gown, elegant and understated, the kind of thing that screamed class without trying too hard.

I took a deep breath and moved toward her, running my fingers over the fabric. "It’s beautiful," I said quietly, though it felt distant, like the words were someone else’s.

She smiled, handing me the dress. "Let’s get you into this, and I’ll work on your hair after."

I nodded, taking the dress into the adjoining room to change. As I slipped into the gown, I felt the weight of the moment pressing...