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    The morning sunlight had barely started creeping through the curtains when the soft knock on my door pulled me from my slumber. Enzo stillid fast asleep beside me. Groggily, I sat up and blinked at the clock on my bedside table. 6:30a.m.


    "Nina, darling, are you awake?" My mother''s voice filtered through the door, tinged with an excitement I hadn''t heard in years.


    "Yes, Mom, I''m up," I called out, rubbing my eyes.


    The door opened, and my mother stepped in. She looked different, happier somehow, as if the promise of the day ahead had already worked its magic on her.


    We''ve got a big day ahead of us," she whispered, her eyes sparkling. "The ball is tonight, and we have to find you the perfect dress and get our hair done."


    I swung my legs over the side of the bed, feeling a surprising rush of enthusiasm wash over me. My mother and I hadn''t done anything like this together-ever. Our rtionship had always been cordial, but somewhat distant. Today, it seemed, was going to be different.


    "Okay, Mom. Let''s do it," I replied, grinning.


    The smell of fresh flowers filled the air as my mother and I skimmed through the boutique racks, holding up every colorful dress we came across.


    "What about this one?" I held up a dark green silk gown in just my right size. It reminded me of the misty forest. My mom looked at me thoughtfully. "It''s stunning, but I just can''t see you wearing something like that."


    I nodded and returned the gown to its ce, secretly relieved. It was beautiful, but it wasn''t me. My eyes soon caught sight of another dress, an elegant ck one that shimmered subtly as it caught the light. This was me. I felt a tingle of excitement as I held it up.


    "How about this one?" I asked, turning to my mother.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    She nced over, and her eyes widened in approval. "Now that looks like a winner."


    After that, we headed to the hair salon, which was alive with the chatter of patrons and the hum of hairdryers. My mom and I were led to a plush chair and greeted by a petite stylist with a name tag that read ''Sophia''.


    "So, what are we thinking for today?" Sophia asked, her eyes meeting mine in the mirror.


    "A half-up, half-down style maybe? Something romantic," I suggested.


    "And for you, ma''am?" Sophia turned to my mother.


    "Oh, just an updo for me," my mom replied, her eyes meeting mine with a soft smile.


    As Sophia began working on our hair, I caught sight of my mother''s reflection in the mirror. She looked happy. genuinely happy, and I couldn''t help but feel a warmth spread through me.


    "Mom," I began, "I''m really d we''re doing this. It feels.... special."


    She met my eyes in the mirror, her own brimming with a mixture of joy and nostalgia. "Me too, Nina. It''s long overdue, isn''t it?"


    I nodded, struggling to articte the tomado of feelings swirling inside me. Finally, I managed, "It''s like we''re starting a new chapter, isn''t it?"


    My mom''s eyes softened, her lips trembling as she whispered, "Yes, a new chapter indeed. I''m sorry that this is


    the first one, but I''m d it''s happening now nheless."


    Sophia pinned thest strand of my hair into ce, and I turned to my mother, our eyes meeting once more. "We clean up well, don''t we?" my mom dered, her eyes shining with pride and maybe a hint of tears.


    "That we do," I agreed with a chuckle, standing up and giving her a tight hug.


    The salon shifted back into its normal activity again-or maybe it just felt that way to me. But either way, in that moment, something had shifted between us. Something intangible, yet also deeply important.


    My mom took out her purse to pay, but I stopped her. "Mom, allow me. Consider it a small token for all the years we missed doing this."