A Symphony of Scars

Part 1

Symphony of Scars: Part One

The hum of the city pulsed beneath the dim glow of Ivy Carrigan Blair’s studio, a stark contrast to the shadows that engulfed her heart. Ivy stood before her easel, the soft whir of neon lights outside barely registering as she stared blankly at the canvas. Once a vibrant painter, she now felt like a specter, her once-brilliant colors dulled by grief and self-doubt. The brush trembled in her hand, heavy with the weight of memories she was afraid to confront.

It had been over a year since the car accident that had stolen her mother, Sabine, from her. The ache of that loss echoed through every corner of her life, squeezing her heart until it felt like a fragile shell. Sabine had been more than just a mother; she was Ivy’s greatest inspiration, a vibrant art teacher whose passion for creativity had fueled Ivy’s own dreams. With her gone, Ivy felt stripped of her identity, hiding behind walls of paint that had become her prison.

Outside, the city buzzed with life—people moving through the streets with purpose, laughter and music spilling from nearby cafes. Ivy envied them, their carefree existence. She longed to escape the cocoon of sorrow that enveloped her, to feel the exhilaration of inspiration rushing back like a tide. But every time she picked up the brush, the memories of loss overwhelmed her, and the colors faded into a murky palette of despair.

Ivy sighed and chuckled "pfft, i feel pathetic. What kind of artist am i? Always sulking to losses that occured a while back..." As she talked to herself

Meanwhile, across town, Aiden St. Pierre was losing himself in the world of music. His fingers danced over the guitar strings, each note echoing the turmoil of his own life. The wealthy St. Pierre family was a façade of success and privilege, but beneath the surface lay a legacy steeped in addiction and betrayal. Aiden’s father, Philippe, towered over him with expectations that felt more like shackles than support, while his mother, Clara, was a master of emotional manipulation, always prioritizing appearances over the well-being of her children.

Aiden poured his pain into his songs, escaping through melodies that resonated with his struggle. But the shadows of his brother Noah’s addiction loomed large, and the chaos in his family threatened to suffocate him. Whenever Aiden thought he was finding his footing, Noah’s unpredictable behavior dragged him back into the darkness.

At night time Noah has just got home after going out drinking and vaping out with his friends, he walks into the music room finding Noah playing the piano in the middle of the night “Look at you, Aiden—so busy playing the good son while I’m the one who’s really living. You have no idea what it’s like to fight for every breath.” as Noah towers over Aiden's back

"....." Aiden just ignored his brother's yapping

“You’re so wrapped up in your music, thinking it’s going to save you. But when the notes fade, what do you have left? Just emptiness like me.” Noah still yapping and yapping getting into Aiden's nerves as Aiden stood up from the piano chair and shrugged, smirking.

“You know, I’d love to stay and listen to your life story, but I think I’d rather watch paint dry. At least that would be productive.” Aiden leaves the room leaving Noah speechless

Noah watches him as he leaves the room "What was that supposed to mean?"

One fateful evening, Aiden sought solace in a local art gallery—a place he often frequented to find peace amid the noise of his life. As he wandered through the exhibition, he stumbled upon an unfinished painting that caught his breath. The piece was hauntingly beautiful, capturing the raw emotion of a stormy sea, with dark waves crashing against jagged cliffs. It felt alive, echoing the chaos in his own heart. The artist, Ivy, had poured her pain onto the canvas, and in that moment, Aiden felt an undeniable connection to her struggle.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” a voice interrupted his thoughts. A woman beside him nodded toward the painting, her eyes reflecting understanding.

“Her name is Ivy Carrigan Blair. She hasn’t painted in a while. Not since…” Her voice trailed off, leaving an unspoken sorrow hanging in the air.

Aiden turned to the woman, curiosity piqued. “What happened?”

“She lost her mother in a car accident. It really affected her. She’s been struggling ever since.”

Something stirred within Aiden, a pull toward this mysterious artist who had captured his attention so completely
"...Really?"

Later that night, Ivy sat in her dimly lit studio, feeling the weight of the unfinished canvas before her. The brush lay abandoned, a symbol of her lost passion. Just as she contemplated surrendering to the darkness, her phone buzzed with a notification.

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[Soren]

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Soren] hey grumpy, wyd??                 19:27

Soren] I'm like near ur place rn, wanna meet up? I'm kinda bored.                  19:27

Soren] should i come knocking to ur apt door lol, are u sleeping or smth?       19:30

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I looked at my phone frowning "tsk, this guy... It's soo late at night" i answered his messages

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You] why the hell r u even here☠️   19:30

Soren] like i said, I'm boreeeedddd so come meet up with me                        19:30

Soren] I'll treat u to some frozen yogurt and other sweets if u come 😛😛      19:31

You] DEAL. Where u at?                      19:31

Soren] Well that's a quick response 😀 comes meet me infront of ur apt so we can walk tgt                                            19:31

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I quickly grabbed my coat as it was freezing this night in December in my city and rushed down to the lobby

I saw Soren waiting for me outside in the cold looking down on his phone and sneaked outside to scare him but he instantly responded "you know u can't scare me pipsqueak, try harder" he looks up from his phone and looks at me in the eyes smirking

"Hmph..." I crossed my arms looking annoyed at his cocky expression

"Y'know I've been waiting for too long for you to show up, I'm practically half frozen right now" as he continues to be dramatic

"Oh c'mon it hasn't even been that long, let's go i want some frozen yogurt"

He looks at me like I'm some type of weirdo "no way you're actually craving some frozen yogurt even when it's this cold outside "

"You promised me frozen yogurt and other sweets, so frozen yogurt it is!" I look at him with a cheeky smile

He sighed and ruffled my hair "hmph... I shouldn't be too surprised as I've already seen you drinking cold coffee or other drinks during the winter" he shakes his head is disbelief

Even tho her grief of the lost of her mother still lingers her deeply, she couldn't help but hide her pain when being around with her friends so they don't end up pitying her all the time they hangout. Even with the comfort of her friends she still remains helpless without her only will to live.