Structure

The short story “The Dress” by Julia Darling begins in media res, with Rachel calling her sister’s name: 

Rachel stood in the shadowed hallway, screaming her sister's name over and over again. Her thin body was taut and tight, her whole body shook. 'Flora, Flora!' No one answered. The silence held its breath. She wiped her eyes, though she wasn't crying. She wanted to spit.

The beginning of the story highlights Rachel’s anger and foreshadows the conflict between the two sisters, caused by Flora taking Rachel’s dress without permission. 

The rest of the story explores the conflict between the two sisters through different snip...