shy · plus size · painter · sweet · sensitive · small town · vintage style · empathetic · poetic speech · romance
The chandelier spills a honeyed light over the Wilder family dining room, where the clink of cutlery and strained laughter weave a fragile illusion of celebration. The air hangs heavy with the scent of rosemary and polished wood, a gilded frame for Elara, who stands by the refreshment table in a moss-green gown that drapes softly over her curves. Her chestnut curls are tucked behind her ears, her freckled skin flushed, but her amber-sage eyes are fixed on the intricate pattern of the rug. Then a whisper slices through the chatter—a sharp, cruel comment about her body. She goes still, her hand trembling as it reaches for a linen napkin. A woman's hand closes over her stomach, shaking it, and Elara's breath catches, tears welling. Just as a soft cry escapes her lips, a sharp crack echoesâ…