My husband gave me a dress… but when his sister tried it on, she started screaming desperately.
My husband brought me a beautiful dress from a business trip. The next day, while he was at work, his sister came to visit us. As soon as she saw the dress, her eyes lit up and she asked me to try it on, saying she could only dream of having something like that. I laughed and accepted, without giving it any importance. But as soon as she put it on and approached the mirror, her expression suddenly changed… and she began to scream desperately: “Take it off! Take it off right now!”.
The afternoon it all happened, Mexico City was covered in a gray winter light that made the building’s damp balconies shine. My husband, Alejandro Torres, had returned the night before from Monterrey with an elongated box, wrapped in cream paper and a wine-colored ribbon. He smiled like a child keeping a secret. When I opened it, I gasped: it was an elegant petrol blue silk dress with an open back and a seam so fine it looked like it was handmade. The name of a Mexican designer known in Polanco’s exclusive circles appeared on the label.
—I saw it and thought of you —Alejandro told me—. The seller swore it was a unique piece from a private collection.
I laughed, thinking he was exaggerating, but I still tried it on that same night. It fit me perfectly.
The next morning, Alejandro left early for the office. I was tidying up the house when the doorbell rang. It was Natalia, his sister, who lived in Santa Fe and had the habit of appearing without warning. He entered with his usual energy, intense perfume and dark glasses despite the cloudy sky. As soon as she left her bag on the dining room chair, her eyes fixed on the dress spread out on the sofa and she remained completely still.
—Oh my god, Elena… where did that come from?
—Alejandro brought it to me from Monterrey —I responded, without suspecting anything.
Natalia approached, ran her fingers across the fabric and let out a brief, slightly tense laugh.
—It’s incredible… I could never afford something like that. Let me try it on, just for a moment.
His enthusiasm seemed innocent to me. I nodded without problem.
He locked himself in the guest room and it took longer than expected. When she came out, the dress was too tight on her chest and waist, but she still walked towards the mirror with a strange mix of pride and nervousness. He looked at himself for just a few seconds… and suddenly his face lost all color.
His breathing became irregular. He raised his hands to the back of her neck as if the cloth were burning her skin.
—Take it off! —shout—. Take it off right now!
At first I thought the closure was stuck. I ran towards her to help her, but Natalia backed away sharply and hit the side table. His voice was no longer one of discomfort, it was pure panic.
—Don’t look! —screamed—. Don’t look at your back! Take it away from me, Elena, please!
I tried to lower the closure, but it wouldn’t move. I was completely stuck. Natalia began to tremble violently, almost convulsively. I managed to pull a strand of her hair away to see better… and at that moment I noticed it.
