Maya hovered. At eighty dollars, it was three times what she usually spent. She looked at her reflection in the dark window—tired eyes, messy bun. She thought about the garden party her sister was throwing next month, a world of sun-drenched grass and slow conversations. Add to cart.

She typed "buy skirts online" into the search bar, and the rabbit hole opened.

Four days later, a slim cardboard box sat at her door. Inside, wrapped in recycled tissue paper and tied with a sprig of dried lavender, was the skirt. It was heavier than she expected, the linen cool and substantial.

The site was quiet, aesthetically speaking. No pop-ups promising 10% off if she stayed; just high-resolution shots of linen and silk. She clicked on a "Midnight Forest" midi skirt. The description didn't just list the waist measurement; it talked about the weight of the weave and how the fabric moved when caught in a breeze.