Evelyn wiped her hands on her apron, stepping back from the canvas to examine her work.
The bold strokes of color spoke louder than words ever could, and she felt a sense of pride welling in her chest. Just as she was about to clean up, her phone buzzed in her pocket.
She pulled it out and saw a message from Mia:
Mia: "Hey, genius artist, when do I get to see your masterpieces? Don't make me crash the gallery uninvited. "
Evelyn smiled, shaking her head before replying.
Evelyn: "How about this weekend? I'll show you around."
Mia's response was immediate.
Mia: "Finally! I'll bring snacks. And Adrian. And probably some unnecessary drama. "
Evelyn chuckled, slipping her phone back into her pocket.
She turned to Sophia, who had been silently observing her.
"So,"
Sophia said, leaning against the table.
"Are you ready to showcase your work to your friends?"
Evelyn hesitated for only a moment before nodding.
"Yeah. I think I am."
---
Saturday – The Gallery Tour
Mia arrived precisely on time, which was rare for her.
Adrian trailed behind her, carrying a bag of snacks she had insisted on bringing. The moment Mia stepped into the gallery, her eyes widened.
"Wow. Okay. I was expecting... I don't know, something boring? But this is gorgeous."
Adrian let out a low whistle.
"You've been working in a place like this every day?"
Evelyn grinned.
"Yep. Welcome to my second home."
Mia wasted no time moving toward the paintings, her eyes darting from piece to piece.
She stopped in front of the one Evelyn had painted earlier that week—the one filled with stormy blues and golden streaks.
"This one,"
Mia said, pointing.
"This is you."
Evelyn felt her stomach tighten.
"What do you mean?"
Mia turned to her, a rare moment of seriousness in her expression.
"The dark, chaotic energy? The bits of light trying to break through? It's your life in a painting."
Sophia, who had been quietly listening from across the room, nodded approvingly.
"She gets it."
Evelyn swallowed hard.
"I didn't realize I was that obvious."
Adrian chuckled, resting a hand on her shoulder.
"It's not obvious. It's honest. That's what makes it so good."
Evelyn's lips curved into a soft smile. For the first time, she didn't feel exposed—she felt understood.
---
Later That Evening
The group decided to grab dinner after the gallery tour, ending up at their favorite diner. They slid into a booth, and Mia immediately started scrolling through the photos she had taken of the paintings.
"You should enter an art competition,"
she said between bites of her burger.
"Seriously, Ev. Your stuff is way better than half the things I've seen in those fancy galleries."
Evelyn laughed, shaking her head.
"I don't know if I'm ready for that."
Sophia, who had joined them at the diner, raised an eyebrow.
"You're more ready than you think."
Adrian nodded in agreement.
"We'll support you no matter what."
Evelyn looked around at her friends, warmth spreading through her chest.
For the first time in a long time, she felt like she belonged—not just in the art world, but with them.
Maybe, just maybe, she was ready to take the next step.