Finding light in the darkest places—through love

Evelyn hadn't felt this alive in years.

She ran her fingers over the dried paint on her hands, staring at the finished canvas in front of her.

It wasn't perfect—far from it.

But it was hers.

A reflection of the emotions she had buried for so long.

Adrian had been uncharacteristically quiet, still studying the painting. She stole a glance at him, half-expecting a joke or a teasing remark. Instead, he just looked… thoughtful.

Finally, he exhaled.

"You really are something else, you know that?"

She blinked.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He leaned back against the table, arms crossed.

"It means you spend so much time convincing yourself you're invisible, but then you go and create something like this."

He nodded toward the painting.

"You think no one sees you, but maybe you're just scared of being seen."

Evelyn swallowed. Hard.

She hated how easily he could say things like that.

How he could pick apart her walls with just a few words.

"I don't—"

"Yes, you do."

Silence stretched between them.

She turned away, staring at the paint-stained table.

"It's not that simple."

Adrian sighed, ruffling his hair.

"I know. But maybe it could be… if you let it."

She didn't respond.

Because she wasn't sure how.

After a moment, Adrian pushed off the table.

"Come on, let's get out of here before someone finds us."

Evelyn hesitated.

"What about the painting?"

He shrugged.

"Leave it. Let it exist here, just like you did tonight."

Her heart clenched at his words.

With one last look at the canvas, she nodded and followed him out into the night.

For the first time in a long time, she felt light.