Ad: Dresses

Ad: Dresses

    He used to be my world, now he's just a stone grinding me into nothing. I try to support myself; wearing this crutch.
    The years have blown by, the way my dress used to blow in the wind; I haven't been able to change for some time.
    My daughter is turning five, she can't wait until the big day; I promised her a new dress. She's so beautiful, looks just like me when I was her age. I used to love when my mother got me a new dress to wear. I felt so free when I twirled around in our backyard as my dress danced in the air.
    He wants to leave us, says there's an ad in the paper about work out of province. I don't say much, other than "whatever makes you happy". He's gone by the end of the week.
    I don't want to ruin her birthday. I tell her daddy is going away for a job and he'll be back as soon as he can. She says "that's okay, we' ll get new dresses together". I tear up a little and smile at her.
    The next day, browsing through the newspaper, I came across an ad:  

    Dresses.
   
    Hand made, custom dresses now
    available. Many styles and sizes to
    choose from. Free alterations.           

    Maybe a new dress will change the way I feel. I called the number to inquire about the address and a recorded voice over the line said "You've always been the beautiful dress, never change who you are". I hung up, walked into the backyard and began to twirl in circles. My daughter joined in, laughing and asked "Mommy, what are we doing"? I told her we're wearing our new dresses and that we'll never change.
    ...We're free.