Artistic Lover

Ethan's hands trembled slightly as he flipped through the pages of his sketchbook that night. The weight of the decision to participate in the art exhibit pressed heavily on his chest. He hadn't committed yet, but Claire's words replayed in his mind.

"Your art tells a story. People are going to love this."

Sitting on the edge of his bed, he glanced at Luna, who was leaning casually against the wall, her arms crossed and her expression calm.

"You're thinking too hard about it," she said, her voice light but steady.

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Of course, I'm thinking too hard. What if they hate it? What if no one even looks at it?"

Luna walked over and sat down beside him, her presence as comforting as ever. "Do you remember what I said when you first showed me your sketches?"

Ethan looked at her, his brow furrowed. "That they were amazing?"

"That's right," Luna said with a grin. "And I meant it. You pour so much of yourself into your art, Ethan. That's what makes it special. It's not about whether everyone loves it. It's about sharing a piece of who you are."

Ethan stared down at his sketchbook, her words sinking in. "But what if it's not enough?"

"It is enough," Luna said firmly. "You are enough."

Ethan closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He wanted to believe her, but the fear of judgment loomed large in his mind.

---

The next morning, Ethan walked into school feeling more anxious than usual. He carried his sketchbook in his backpack, unsure if he'd actually follow through with his plan.

As he passed through the hallway, he spotted Claire near her locker, chatting with a couple of classmates. She caught sight of him and waved, her smile as warm as ever.

Ethan hesitated, his pulse quickening. He could turn around and avoid the conversation altogether. Or he could take the leap.

Baby steps, he reminded himself, echoing Luna's words.

Gathering his courage, he walked over to Claire.

"Hey, Ethan," she said brightly. "How's it going?"

"Good," Ethan said, his voice quieter than he'd hoped. He glanced around nervously before pulling his sketchbook out of his bag. "I... I think I want to submit something for the exhibit."

Claire's face lit up, her excitement evident. "That's amazing! I'm so glad you decided to do it."

Ethan managed a small smile. "I'm still not sure if it's a good idea, but... I want to try."

"That's all that matters," Claire said, her tone encouraging. "Do you want to work on it after school? We can pick out your best pieces and get them ready."

Ethan hesitated but nodded. "Yeah, that sounds good."

---

After school, Ethan and Claire sat together in the art room, the sunlight streaming through the windows as they sorted through his sketches. Claire's enthusiasm was contagious, and for the first time, Ethan felt a flicker of excitement about sharing his work.

"This one's incredible," Claire said, holding up a sketch of a boy standing on a hill, staring out at a vast, fantastical landscape. "It's like you're inviting people into another world."

Ethan shrugged, but there was a faint smile on his lips. "That's kind of the point, I guess. It's where I'd rather be most of the time."

Claire glanced at him, her expression softening. "You know, you don't have to escape to other worlds. You could let people into yours."

Ethan looked at her, his chest tightening. There was something in her tone, something that felt like understanding. He didn't know how to respond, so he simply nodded and returned to flipping through his sketches.

---

That evening, Ethan sat in his room, the selected sketches laid out neatly on his desk. Luna appeared beside him, her presence as steady and reassuring as ever.

"You did it," she said, her voice full of pride.

"Not yet," Ethan said. "I still have to actually submit them."

"But you took the first step," Luna said. "That's the hardest part."

Ethan looked at her, a lump forming in his throat. "I wouldn't have done any of this without you."

Luna smiled, her gaze warm. "You would have. Eventually. I just helped you see what was already there."

Ethan swallowed hard, the thought of losing her creeping back into his mind. "You're really going to leave, aren't you?"

"I'm not leaving, Ethan," Luna said gently. "I'm just letting you take the lead. You've got this now."

He didn't respond, his chest tight with emotion. Luna reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch grounding.

"No matter what happens," she said, "you're going to be okay. I believe in you."

Ethan nodded, his heart heavy but steady. He didn't know what the exhibit would bring, but for the first time, he felt like he could face it.

---

To Be Continued..