Evelyn didn't expect to wake up feeling different.
But when she opened her eyes the next morning, something was lighter, like the fog she had been living in had thinned just enough to let some sunlight through.
She sat up in bed, staring at the painting she had started last night. It was still incomplete, but it existed, and that was enough.
A soft knock at her door startled her out of her thoughts.
Mia peeked her head in.
"You alive?"
she teased.
Evelyn rolled her eyes.
"Barely."
Mia walked in, her gaze landing on the canvas.
"Whoa. You did it?"
"I guess."
Mia grinned.
"I knew you had it in you. So…what's next?"
Evelyn hesitated.
What was next? Did this mean she was truly ready to face herself again? The thought scared her, but a part of her—the part that had woken up lighter—wanted to find out.
"I don't know,"
she admitted.
"But I think I want to keep going."
Mia beamed.
"That's the spirit! You should come with me and Adrian later. We're grabbing coffee."
"With Adrian?"
she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Mia smirked.
"You say that like he's not your biggest supporter."
Evelyn sighed but didn't argue.
Maybe she would go. Maybe being around people who cared about her wasn't such a bad thing.
---
Later that evening, the three of them sat at a corner table in the coffee shop near campus.
The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with the scent of roasted beans mixing with soft chatter and indie music.
"So, what's the plan, artist?"
Adrian asked, sipping his coffee.
Evelyn stared into her cup.
"I was thinking about finishing my painting. Maybe even showing it to someone."
Adrian nodded, clearly pleased.
"Good. You should."
Mia leaned in, excitement dancing in her eyes.
"Better yet, why not enter it into the campus art showcase?"
Evelyn nearly choked.
"What?!"Mia waved a hand.
"Hear me out! It's not a competition, just a showcase. No pressure. Just people appreciating art."
The idea made Evelyn's stomach twist.
Show her work to strangers? Let people judge it? No, no way. Absolutely not.
"I don't think I can do that,"
she muttered.
Adrian tilted his head.
"Why not?"
"Because…it's not good enough. I'm not good enough."
He set his cup down with a soft thud.
"That's a lie. And you know it."
Evelyn swallowed hard.
She didn't want to hear this—not from Adrian, not from anyone.
Mia reached out, squeezing her hand.
"Eve, it doesn't have to be perfect. Just let people see you."
She looked between her two friends, both of them watching her with quiet encouragement.
It was terrifying…but wasn't that why she had picked up the brush again? To stop running from herself?
She exhaled slowly.
"I'll think about it."
Adrian smirked.
"That's all we're asking."
And for the first time, she didn't immediately shut the idea out.