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“I hope everything works out okay for her.”
“So do I.” More than Clytemnestra will ever know. I pick up an iridescent pearl necklace and fasten it around her throat. “And here we are.” I step back, letting her see the mirror.
The model beams. “I doubt I’ll ever get used to this. Thank you, uh…”
“Tania,” I supply for her, surprised that she actually wants to know my name. Most species just think of us as worthless trash.
“Nice to meet you, Tania.” She glances at the wall clock. “I should be going. Thanks for the help.”
“Best of luck!” I watch her move in platinum heels with a grace I can only dream of.
And then it’s back to work.
I’m just grabbing a seafoam green dress made from actual seafoam when I hear a cry from Alice. “Shit!”
Handing the dress to the model, I tap one of my coworkers, Lilly, to help her put it on while I find Alice.
My best friend stands looking aghast at the ripped, gold tulle on the floor. Somehow, she had torn it from the dress, leaving a massive hole in the silvery gown. “I’m so fired,” she says, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Hey, it’s okay. Give it to me. I’ll think of something.” I stare at the hole for a moment before pulling out the synthfabric in my pockets.
Someone had done the stitches on the tulle very poorly. They’re uneven and left little leeway in terms of seams. It’s sloppy work. Not that I blame them. There are only so many sixteen-hour days you can take before things start slipping through the cracks.
I spot some silvery fabric. It looks a lot like what the dress is made of, shimmering and flowing like liquid mercury and is probably big enough to fill the hole. The tulle around the waist adds a golden contrast, like an umbrella in a rainstorm.
I snatch the scrap and stitch the tulle to it. Then, I push the scrap through the hole and sew the patch to the dress from the inside out. “I wish we had more time to fix it, but that’ll have to work.”
Alice throws her arms around me. “You’re a literal lifesaver.” Then, she scurries off to deliver the gown to the model.
Things eventually slow down enough that I feel safe sneaking backstage to watch the runway walk. There’s a nice, hidden corner that allows me to sit and watch without fear of discovery. My legs ache from being on my feet for the past several days, and the sudden rest is more jarring than the inertia of keeping busy. I ignore them and watch the show in awe.
The greatest designers on Glimner all line the front rows—Teanter Dro, Polet Hem, Walla Wanfred, and of course, Sathior Havani. They all ooh and ahh at the models as they pass, offering her congratulations as though she had made all those dresses by hand. Hell, she barely designed them. Like Alice said, half of these are just copies from previous years with a slight change or two.
But still, the part of me that has dreamed of this day since I was young is thrilled by watching this. It’s not everything I ever hoped for, but I’m still here at Glimner Fashion Week, and that has to count for something.
I wish Garet was here.
I blink, surprised by the thought. Ever since that night, Garet has been on my mind, but he never struck me as someone interested in fashion. As bored as he would be, though, I wish I could share this moment with him.
“There you are,” Alice whispers.
I jump, bringing my hand to my mouth to stifle my yelp of surprise. It wouldn’t do to be caught slacking off.
Alice smiles sheepishly. “Sorry, but we’re about to start the next rotation and we need you.”
“Right. My bad.” I stand up, only to be overcome by a sudden dizziness that has me swaying on my feet.
“Shit,” Alice hisses, grabbing me by the arms to steady me. “Are you okay?”
It takes me a moment to register what she’s saying over the buzzing in my ears. “Yeah, just need a sec.”
I must not be very convincing because she leads me to a makeup chair and sits me down before vanishing.
“Have you eaten at all today?” she asks when she returns.
And honestly, I can’t remember. “Probably?”
Her hand rests against my forehead. The heat of backstage combined with her activity makes it warm. “You don’t feel feverish.“ She shoves a sandwich and bottle of water in my hands. “Eat and drink. We’ll see if you feel better after that.”
