The Road Back to You

Violet awoke to the golden hue of morning seeping through her windows, casting long shadows across the room. The events of last night clung to her, lingering like the faint scent of paint on her hands. But today was not about the past, it was about the present. And the exhibition.

She exhaled sharply and pushed herself out of bed. Today would be a whirlwind of people, art, and carefully crafted smiles. It was the culmination of years of effort, and she refused to let anything, or anyone, cast a shadow over it.

The silence was comforting, a stark contrast to the turmoil inside Violet's mind. She had barely slept. The memory of the letter still lingered in the back of her mind, but she refused to acknowledge it. It was in the trash. Gone. It didn't matter.

Or at least, that's what she kept telling herself.

Violet rushed into the gallery, her heart pounding with anticipation. Today was a monumental day. As soon as she stepped inside, she sank onto the couch, pausing for a moment. Before diving into the whirlwind ahead, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, steadying herself for everything to come.

"Coffee," Jade's voice cut through her thoughts as he placed a cup in front of her. "You look like you've wrestled a ghost all night."

"Something like that," Violet let out a small chuckle, shaking her head as she wrapped her hands around the warm cup. 

"It's the exhibition, isn't it? You always get weird before big events," Jade leaned against the counter, studying her with his ever-observant gaze. 

Liam appeared next, balancing a stack of papers. "Guest arrangements are finalized. Press is set to arrive by six. And we need you to approve the last-minute details before noon."

"Are you okay?" he paused, narrowing his eyes. 

"I'm fine," Violet answered too quickly. Then, forcing a breath, she added, "Just… let's focus on the exhibition, yeah?"

The group exchanged looks but nodded.

The gallery was already alive with movement by the time Violet arrived. Staff bustled around, making last-minute adjustments to the lighting, positioning floral arrangements, and ensuring that every piece was displayed just right. The air buzzed with anticipation, the faint notes of a string quartet rehearsing in the background adding a touch of elegance to the space.

"Finally!" Kathy spotted her from across the room, waving a clipboard like a weapon. "I was starting to think you'd run away."

"Tempting thought, but no," Violet chuckled. 

"Guest list, schedule, and last-minute press requests. You're a hot topic today. Enjoy," Kathy rolled her eyes before thrusting the clipboard into her hands. 

Violet glanced at the list, skimming past familiar names and sponsors. Nothing out of place. Nothing unexpected. Maybe she had imagined seeing that name yesterday. Maybe....

"Violet!" Liam's voice cut through her thoughts as he jogged over. "The media wants a statement before the doors open. You good?"

"I can handle it," she forced a smile. 

Minutes later, she stood before a small crowd of reporters and cameras, answering questions about her journey, her inspirations, and what this exhibition meant to her. She had done this before, but today, every word felt heavier, as though she was speaking through layers of something unsaid.

As the doors officially opened, guests began to flood in, their murmurs and admiration filling the gallery. People moved from piece to piece, whispering their interpretations, their awe evident in their expressions. It was everything she had hoped for... almost.

She drifted through the crowd, offering polite smiles, accepting congratulations, but her mind felt detached. This should have been one of the greatest nights of her career, yet something gnawed at her, something she couldn't quite place.

"Miss Harrington, your work is truly breathtaking," an elderly man complimented her as he studied one of her more abstract paintings.

"Thank you," she replied, offering a practiced smile.

"This piece," he gestured toward a canvas streaked with deep blues and fiery reds, "feels like a storm and its aftermath all at once. Was that intentional?"

"I suppose every storm leaves something behind. Some things survive it. Some things don't," Violet hesitated, fingers tightening around the wine glass in her hand. 

The man nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer, but Violet felt a lump in her throat.

Across the room, she spotted Jade and Liam deep in conversation, and Kathy chatting animatedly with a group near the entrance. The atmosphere was lively, warm, exactly as it should be. Yet, she couldn't shake the sensation that something was just slightly out of place.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught movement near the entrance. A figure stepping in. Someone unfamiliar... or maybe too familiar.

Her breath hitched.

She turned her gaze fully, but by the time she did, the moment had passed. The space where she had seen the figure now filled with a swirl of guests and the hum of conversation.

Maybe it was nothing. Or maybe, tonight was about to change everything.