Della Brought This Upon Herself

Della stared into the mirror, looking for any mishaps, like a lock of hair sticking out unattractively or a part of her dress bunched up against her stomach. But after seemingly minutes of meticulously searching, Della could only see that her French ponytail was perfect. Her dress wasn’t bunched up at all and fit her body perfectly. She only had mascara on, and it accentuated her eyes wonderfully. She looked great and fit for a ball.

However, instead of feeling relieved and happy about her appearance, Della only felt anxiety and dread as she stepped back from the mirror and frowned.

Because she wasn’t going to a ball.

She was attending her high school reunion.

Della bit her lip as she mentally searched within her for any ailments, looking for any reason to reasonably bail out of the reunion and just stay home. Unfortunately, she could find nothing wrong. Her nose wasn’t even acting like a broken faucet due to allergies. Traitor.

There was a knock on the door.

“Della! Are you almost done?” called her mother, somewhat excitedly. Della sighed.

When she had arrived at her parents’ place a couple of days ago, she hadn’t planned on going to the reunion. Heck, she didn’t even know it was happening. It was by chance that she ran to the girl running the reunion in Walmart while helping her mother buy groceries. The girl, Amanda, quickly called her name and ran to Della excitedly, much like she was a cheetah running to catch its prey. Della remembered pasting on a smile, a smile that, as time went on, became harder and harder to keep up as Amanda personally ‘reminded’ Della about the reunion.

If Della had been alone with Amanda at that moment, she would have just said something along the lines of 'that she was busy, but she would try.' A lie, but one of those polite, noncommittal ones that she doubted she would need to ask forgiveness of God for.

Oh, if only she had been alone.

But her mother, bless her heart, had been ecstatic and immediately chided Della for not telling her about the reunion. And before Della could voice her defense, her mother promised Amanda that she would go to the high school reunion.

From that moment on, Della only felt dread as the hours and days passed by. Not even the new dress her mother bought for her lifted her spirits. Della had tried to persuade her mother that she didn’t want to slight her parents by going to the reunion. But her mother had just waved her objection away, saying that it would only be ‘a few hours.’

A few hours. A few hours of awkwardness, loneliness, and misery. If her only friend from high school had been going, then Della would have been alright with going. But her best friend was vacationing in France right now, so no chance of that.

“Della?” called her mother again. Della sighed once again.

She reminded herself that her mother meant well, that she didn’t know the full extent of what happened in high school. That just because she finally made a real friend and was consistently bringing her over to hang out meant she had a great time at high school.

She didn’t know that she was still bullied, much like in middle school. And how could she when Della didn’t tell her?

So really, Della brought this on herself.

“I’m ready,” Della said with a wide, fake smile as she opened the bathroom door. Her mother clapped her hands in joy.

“Oh, you look so pretty! That dress was practically made for you!” Della accepted the compliment graciously, and before she knew it, they were out the door and in the car. In the short ride to the high school, Della tried her best not to grip her knees so she wouldn't mess up the honestly pretty dress that her mother paid so much for.

She didn’t succeed.

“Alright, here we are!” her mother exclaimed. Della blinked her eyes at the familiar red-bricked building. When it didn’t go away, Della smoothed out her dress as best as she could and got out of the car and onto the curb.

“Have fun, sweetie! I’ll pick you up in two hours!” her mother said happily before driving off. Della stood there for a moment, but for once within the last several hours, not in dread or apprehension.

Two hours...She could deal with this for about two hours, right? Right...she could! So what if she didn't have any friends at the reunion? She was a full-grown adult now, with a good job and a decent social life, along with loving parents. Della was not the same person that she used to be ten years ago.

So why should she be afraid?

So why should she be forced to be miserable?

Della quickly turned to the school and headed towards it, at a steady, confident pace and with determination flowing through her veins. Within a minute, she had reached the door.

And maybe...just maybe...she wasn’t the only one who changed.

A genuine smile graced Della’s face as she opened the door. As soon as she did, music that she could actually dance to hit her ears, and a familiar, indescribable smell hit her nose. Huh, Della hadn’t realized that she missed that old school smell.

Yeah. Della could do this.