A Sky Full of Stars

Chapter 5 - Lena - A Thread of Destiny

Lena's eyes met Val's, and she felt an inexplicable pull. She remembered Tumi's words: "Sometimes you need to take risks and put yourself out there." Lena took a deep breath, her shoulders squaring as she stepped closer. Her heart beat faster, but she tried to appear nonchalant, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

As they spoke, the sounds of the party swirled around them - the clinking of glasses, the murmur of conversations, the soft strains of indie folk music. The party's din receded into the background, a distant hum of laughter and music that faded into insignificance as Lena's attention zeroed in on Val.

Val turned, her eyes locking onto Lena's. For a moment, they just stared, the air thick with tension. Then, Val's gaze softened, and she smiled wryly. "Thank goodness, someone who looks as out of place as I do."

Lena's cheeks flushed, but she laughed, feeling a sense of kinship. She nodded towards Tumi's vibrant paintings. "The colours are incredible. They seem to capture the essence of chaos theory."

Val's eyes sparkled with amusement. "You're not just here for the free wine and pretentious conversation?"

Lena's lips curled into a smile. "No, definitely not. I'd rather be anywhere else." She glanced around the room, her eyes scanning the crowd with a mixture of disdain and discomfort.

Val nodded in agreement. "I know what you mean. Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a constant state of cognitive dissonance."

Lena's eyes widened in surprise. "Exactly! I've been feeling that way too. Like I'm trapped in this never-ending cycle of superficiality."

Val leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've been having these...episodes, I guess you'd call them. Moments where I feel like I'm seeing the world for the first time, and it's terrifying."

Lena's heart skipped a beat. She had been having similar experiences, but she had never dared to share them with anyone. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Val hesitated, glancing around the room nervously. "I feel like I'm waking up from this dream, and I don't know what's real anymore. It's like I'm living in a simulation or something."

Lena's eyes locked onto Val's, her mind racing. She had been having similar thoughts, but she had never dared to share them with anyone. "I know exactly what you mean," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Just then, a waiter rushed past, dropping a glass of wine on the floor. The sound of shattering glass echoed through the room, but Lena and Val didn't flinch. They were too caught up in their conversation.

As they continued to talk, they were lost in their own little world, sharing secrets and fears that they had never dared to share with anyone before.

It was only when Alex approached, his voice dripping with condescension, that they were jolted back to reality.

Val's eyes narrowed, her jaw clenched. "I'm not interested in his money, Alex. I'm interested in having a real conversation." She remembered her mom's words: "Never compromise your values for someone else's gain."

Lena felt a pang in her chest as Alex's condescending tone reminded her of her dad's behaviour. Her leg twitched, and her jaw clenched in anxiety.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Oh, come on, Val. Don't be naive. This is a great opportunity for you."

Val's gaze didn't waver. "I'd rather have a conversation that means something than sell out to some investor who only cares about making a profit." She leaned in, her voice taking on a hint of frustration. "Can't you see that this is just a superficial transaction to you? You don't care about the impact or the value it brings."