[Previously titled 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲]
❝No, Ace. I can't do it," I sob.
"I know you can take more than that, sunshine, come on," he encourages, pummeling into me in fervent motions. "One more for daddy, yeah?" He coaxes in a gruffly voice...
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O L I V I A
Four years later.
Four years have passed since I moved to London, and my life in here is nothing short of incredible. When I first arrived, it was tough, but the city soon became a place where I could follow my dreams. Moving here was the best decision I could've made. I did well in my studies and graduated with honors.
While in college, I started sharing my paintings and my life as an art student on social media. In less than three years, I gained over 250,000 followers. It's amazing to get so many positive feedback and see people enjoying my art.
Art galleries across London have reached out with offers to showcase my work. Seeing my paintings in these galleries and hearing people's praise has been wonderful. Each new exhibit and compliment makes me even more excited about what I do.
I've made new friends and enjoy every moment, all while staying close to Jordan and my other friends—Sam, Isabel, Everett, and Jaxon. I make sure to call them every weekend to catch up, and I do the same with my mom.
Despite everything going well, there's a lingering emptiness inside me. I've gone on a few dates, but none of them led to anything serious. It's not that the dates were bad or that the people weren't nice; it's just that there's a deep, unfillable void in my heart. Despite my success and the joy in my career, I often feel like something crucial is missing, leaving me feeling almost soulless at times.
My morning usually starts with a quick run through the park, a habit I've grown to love. After running, I shower, dress in comfy clothes and pull my hair into a casual bun. Then, I hop into my car and drive to the supermarket. Did I mention I had my driver license last year?
With my income from social media and painting, I was able to buy my own car. The store is busy as usual. While I pick out some apples, my phone rings with a video call from Jordan. I chuckle and answer right away.
"Guess what, Vee?" Jordan's cheerful voice comes through, making me smile. "I finally got a job at that gallery I wanted. I'm so fucking excited!"
"That's awesome! How's it going so far?" I reply, genuinely happy for her and she lets out a dramatic sigh.
"Well, it's not as glamorous as I thought. There's a lot of paperwork and not enough time to actually enjoy the art,"
"I can imagine. Adult life isn't as fun as we thought, huh?" I say, grabbing a carton of eggs and adding it to my cart.
"Tell me about it," Jordan laughs. "The other day, I had to deal with tons of forms and invoices. I thought I'd signed up to be an artist's assistant, not a damn accountant," she complains and I chuckle, picking up a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter.
"Sounds like you're living the dream," I tease and she sighs dramatically. "Any new developments on the dating front?"
"It's been a complete disaster. I've been juggling dates with this guy who's never on time, and another who's constantly texting me about his ex. One day, I went out with this guy who seemed great, but then he ghosted me. Like, what the fuck?"
