Stepping down the grand staircase, the soft rustle of her gown swept across the polished floor, a delicate echo in the vast ballroom. The fabric of her dress shimmered under the low, golden light, its silken folds catching the glow as she moved. Her eyes, wide and bright with anticipation, scanned the room, her gaze darting from one familiar face to the next. She was searching for something—or someone. A subtle crease appeared between her brows as she paused, her fingers tightening around the railing. Her chest tightened, and a flicker of disappointment passed across her face.

The room buzzed with laughter and music, but for her, everything seemed to blur as she realized that the person she sought, the one who had been her focus in this moment of hope, was nowhere to be found. Her hopeful expression slowly darkened, the light in her eyes fading, replaced by a quiet resignation. She turned away slightly, her posture now less certain, her eyes drifting to the sparkling chandeliers overhead, perhaps searching for the strength to move forward without the one she had expected to be by her side.