Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
❦
As the evening continued, the team slipped back into the easygoing rhythm they'd shared before Gio's intrusion. Imani felt the support from her friends echoing through each laugh and every clink of a glass, and her heart settled into a steady beat, the earlier anxiety slowly fading.
After snapping a few more candid shots, she noticed Trent motioning to her from across the table. "Imani, you've been behind that camera all night," he said with a grin. "Come on, give yourself a break. Let's get you in a few of these photos!"
Imani hesitated. She'd always felt more comfortable on the other side of the lens, capturing stories rather than being part of them. But tonight, surrounded by friends who had just stood up for her, she felt a surge of confidence. She handed her camera to Declan, who aimed it at her with an exaggerated, "Alright, give us a smile!"
They gathered close, pulling her into the center, and Declan snapped the photo just as everyone broke into laughter. It was a perfect, unscripted moment—the kind that Imani knew fans would love. She didn't need to be behind the lens to realize it was special.
Afterward, Imani drifted to the side of the room, scrolling through the photos she'd taken, smiling at the ones capturing her friends in their truest forms: Keisha's mischievous grin, Trent's easygoing laugh, Bukayo's unbreakable focus as he tried to win at every game they played. The atmosphere was lighthearted, the team's bond shining through with each photo she reviewed.
Just then, her phone buzzed. Imani glanced down, her stomach dropping when she saw a message from
IMESSAGES +44 7819 467210
+44 7819 467210 You won't get rid of me that easily
She felt her hands shake as she read the words. It was unmistakably Gio.
Imani quickly turned off her phone, willing herself to stay calm. She didn't want to ruin the night or worry her friends. She took a deep breath, grounding herself. She'd come so far and had earned her place here. Gio wasn't going to take that away from her.
But as the team dinner wound down and everyone started gathering their things, Imani's mind drifted to what she would do next. She knew she needed to confront Gio's hold over her, somehow, so she could finally move on. But she wasn't sure how.
Back in her apartment later that night, Imani sat on her bed, replaying the evening in her mind. Gio's message cast a shadow over her relief, reminding her that her past still lingered in unexpected ways. But her friends' support had also strengthened her, making her realize she didn't have to face this alone.
Determined, she pulled out her phone and texted Keisha
iMESSAGES Kei 🎀
Can I talk to you tomorrow? I want to handle this Gio thing for good.
Kei 🎀 Of course. Whatever you need.
Imani finally exhaled, feeling the weight lift just a little more. This was her story to shape now, and she was ready to write the next chapter on her own terms.
