His name was Nathaniel

37

The day was uneventful until Adaliya received an email from the art gallery. She was on her way back from campus, her mind swirling with thoughts about the various projects she had to finish when her phone buzzed in her hand. She glanced down to see the subject line, "Regarding the Sale of Your Artwork" flash across her screen.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She stopped mid-step on the busy sidewalk, scrolling down to read the email in its entirety.

"Dear Ms. Adaliya A. Davis"

We are pleased to inform you that your artwork submitted in the recent student exhibition, **"Young Love"**, has been purchased. The buyer was particularly moved by your piece and has paid a considerable sum, which is being processed. You will receive the payment within 48 hours.

We hope this sale encourages you to continue producing incredible work and look forward to featuring more of your art in the future.

Sincerely,
The Gallery Team"

Adaliya blinked at the number listed, 50 thousand American dollars. The amount was... well, it was far more than she'd ever expected. Her breath caught in her throat. A part of her had hoped someone would connect with the piece-she'd poured so much of her heart into it-but she never imagined it would sell for this much.

Who would spend this much money on a student's artwork? she wondered, momentarily lost in thought. The name of the buyer wasn't listed, just the initials: "N.D."

Her mind ticked through the possibilities, but nothing concrete came to her. Perhaps it was a collector, someone who enjoyed supporting emerging artists, or maybe someone connected to the emotions she had tried to convey. Either way, she wasn't going to question it. She needed the money badly.

Rent was due in a week, and while her job at the coffee shop helped her scrape by, it wasn't enough to cover her art supplies, groceries, and other basic needs. Between studying full-time and working part-time, she was stretched thin.

Adaliya sighed, a mix of relief and gratitude washing over her as she continued her walk to the coffee shop. The weight of financial stress lifted just a little, and she felt the tiniest bit of hope bloom within her chest.

---

The familiar smell of roasted coffee beans greeted her as she stepped into the small shop. The place had become a second home, a place of refuge when her mind needed to wander, and she didn't want to think too hard about anything else.

"Hey, Adaliya!" called Lucy, her coworker, as she waved from behind the counter.

"Hey, Lucy," Adaliya replied, putting her bag down in the staff area and pulling her apron over her head. The snug fabric felt like a reset button for her mind-shifting her from student to worker.

"Good crowd today," Lucy said, nodding toward the half-filled tables, where students sat with laptops, some sketching in notebooks while sipping on their drinks. "Busy enough to keep us on our toes, but not too bad."

Adaliya smiled as she grabbed a rag and began wiping down the counters. "I could use a steady shift. My mind's been all over the place."

"I hear you. Final projects already piling up?"

She nodded. "Yeah, and... well, I just sold one of my paintings."

Lucy raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "What? No way! That's amazing! How much?"

"Way more than I expected," Adaliya admitted, trying to downplay her excitement, though it was difficult to hide. "It's just... surreal."

"That's awesome! Congratulations!" Lucy beamed, giving her a high-five. "You're going to be famous one day. Just don't forget us small-town baristas when you're living the high life."

Adaliya laughed softly, but a part of her couldn't help but feel bittersweet. Art was her passion, her escape, but it had also been a painful journey-especially when it came to that painting. It was Nathaniel she had poured into the canvas, their love, their heartbreak. And now, someone else, a stranger, owned a piece of her soul.

As she worked her shift, her thoughts drifted back to Nathaniel. It had been years since she'd last seen him-since he'd vanished from her life without a word. No explanation. No goodbye. After everything they had been through together, it was as though he'd decided to forget her, leaving her to pick up the pieces alone.

And she had tried to move on. She told herself again and again that it was over, that she had to let him go. She buried herself in her studies, dated a few guys-none of whom compared to Nathaniel-but something about him lingered, haunting her in quiet moments. It wasn't until she had painted that piece, pouring every ounce of her emotion into it, that she felt some semblance of release.

But now, knowing the painting was out there, purchased by someone, made her wonder if she would ever fully move on.

The hours passed, and as the day transitioned into evening, the café began to empty. Adaliya's muscles ached from standing, but she welcomed the distraction. Her mind had been circling the same thoughts for too long.

Just as she was about to close her shift, the doorbell jingled, and she turned to see her last customer-a woman in her mid-40s ordering a black coffee to-go. After quickly serving her, Adaliya took a moment to lean back against the counter and exhale deeply. Tomorrow would be another long day, both at school and at the café. The deadlines were approaching faster than she liked.

By the time her shift ended, the streets had grown quieter. She locked up the café with Lucy, waved goodbye, and began her walk home. It wasn't far, just a short trek through the art district, but the solitude of the evening allowed her thoughts to drift back to the sale.

She still wondered about the mysterious buyer, "N.D." Who were they? And why her painting? She shook her head, deciding it was better not to dwell on it. Whoever they were, it didn't change her reality. She had rent to pay, projects to finish, and a dream to chase.

---

Adaliya's life had become a balancing act-managing her passion for art while working part-time to survive. The world had not made it easy for her, but she was determined. And no matter how far she tried to run from her past, Nathaniel lingered like a shadow in the back of her mind, a memory she couldn't shake.

Even as she walked through the darkened streets, the question still nagged at her: "Who was 'N.D.'?"

And would she ever see that piece of herself again?