Charlotte woke up much later than she usually did. Sleep had eluded her the night before, and it wasn't until around 1 a.m. that the drowsiness finally crept in and lulled her into slumber. She yawned, stretching her limbs before climbing out of bed.
Shuffling over to the window, she drew the curtains aside, allowing sunlight to spill into the room. Her luggage still sat untouched beside the wardrobe. The night before, she had managed to unpack most of her things from the smaller boxes, leaving only the largest one unopened.
With a sigh, Charlotte tied her hair into a messy bun, crouched beside the final box, and flipped it open. One by one, she began removing the dresses, folding and arranging them neatly in the wardrobe.
As she reached the last, her fingers brushed against a familiar fabric, the gown she had worn to the engagement ball. She smiled faintly, the memory tugging gently at the edges of her mind.
But then, a sudden wave of pain crashed through her head.
