"What I meant was...," Elisa stammered, her voice steady despite the quiver in her heart, "The opportunity to meet new people." Her facade remained unyielding, even though she was gently weaving a tapestry of untruths.
"Oh.. Is that so?"
Carlos chuckled softly, shaking his head as they strode forward, pulling her along. They were approaching Miguel and Lucia.
Lucia, however, seemed to be lost in her thoughts, her eyes cold and glum as she stared at a stranger across the clearing.
Lucia silhouette shimmered in a haute couture gown, a masterpiece of threads that caught the light in a way that made her appear ethereal. But she was so surprised to see the lady's black dress was unlike anything Lucia had ever seen, glistening like a night sky filled with stars—each glimmer serving as a painful reminder of her own splendor.
