Elena sat in the back of the sleek black car, watching the city lights pass by her window.
As they drove higher up the hill toward the mansion, the houses got bigger and bigger, the lawns more perfectly manicured.
Finally, they pulled up to a massive iron gate with gold details. The driver spoke to a security guard, and the gates swung open slowly.
Elena’s heart started beating faster. The mansion itself was enormous, like something out of a fairy tale.
It was three stories tall with huge white columns, massive windows that glowed with warm light, and a fountain in the center of the circular driveway that shot water 20 ft into the air.
The car pulled up to the entrance and a valet in a crisp uniform opened Elena’s door.
“Good evening, ma’am,” he said politely, offering his hand to help her out. Elena took his hand and stepped out of the car.
The moment her heels touched the ground, she felt several people turn to look at her.
She stood up straight, remembering everything Marissa had taught her. Head high, shoulders back, confident steps.
“Thank you,” she said to the valet with a warm smile. She began walking toward the entrance.
With each step, more heads turned. Conversations paused mid-sentence. People stopped to stare. A woman in a sparkling silver dress whispered to her husband.
“Who is that?” “I don’t know,” he whispered back. “But she’s stunning.” Elena kept walking, her heart pounding, but her face calm.
She could feel the eyes on her, but instead of making her want to shrink and hide like they used to, now they made her stand even taller.
She reached the entrance where two staff members in elegant uniforms stood checking invitations. “Good evening,” one of them said with a professional smile.
“May I see your invitation, please?” Elena opened her designer handbag and pulled out the cream colored invitation.
The staff member glanced at it, then looked up at Elena with slightly wider eyes.
“Welcome, Miss.” He checked the invitation again. Miss Elena, please enjoy the wedding. He opened the door for her and Elena stepped inside.
Elena paused for just a moment, taking it all in. Then she remembered the piece of paper Marissa had given her.
She pulled it out and unfolded it. In Marissa’s handwriting, it said, “You belong anywhere you choose to stand.
You are not less than anyone in that room. You are enough exactly as you are.
Now go remind them of that. You got this, Elena.” Elena folded the paper carefully and put it back in her purse.
She lifted her head and walked into the room. The effect was immediate. Conversation stopped.
Heads turned. A woman actually dropped her champagne glass and it shattered on the marble floor, but no one looked at the broken glass.
Everyone was looking at Elena. She walked slowly through the crowd, her heels clicking on the marble floor.
People stepped aside to let her pass, their eyes following her every movement. “Who is she?”
Someone whispered. “I’ve never seen her before,” another voice said. That dress is incredible, a woman murmured.
