Gabriella's days started to shift. Between her shifts at the hotel and her time at the shelter, she now found herself carving out moments to work on her new project. Zay had helped her set up a small online shop selling handmade candles, an idea she initially scoffed at but quickly grew attached to.
She spent her evenings watching tutorials, learning the basics of candle-making, and jotting down ideas for scents. The coworking space became her sanctuary—a place where she could dream without the weight of her past dragging her down.
One night, as she poured wax into molds in the shelter's tiny shared kitchen, one of the older residents, Ms. Denise, walked in.
"What you up to, girl?" the woman asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Just...trying something new," Gabriella replied, her tone cautious.
Ms. Denise leaned over to sniff one of the molds. "Mmm, that smells nice. You made this?"
Gabriella nodded.
The older woman gave her a smile. "You got talent, baby. Don't let nobody tell you different."
The words lingered long after Ms. Denise had left.
By the end of the week, Gabriella had her first batch of candles ready. She sent pictures to Zay, who immediately responded.
Zay:
Those look fire! I'm 'bout to post 'em for you. Watch.
Gabriella wasn't sure what he meant until her phone started buzzing with notifications. Zay had shared her shop on his social media accounts, tagging her and hyping up the candles as "the next big thing."
Within hours, she had her first few orders.
"Are you serious?" she whispered, staring at her phone in disbelief.
Zay:
I told you, people gonna love this. You just needed a platform.
Gabriella didn't know whether to feel grateful or overwhelmed. Either way, there was no turning back now.
The next time Zay picked her up, Gabriella was quieter than usual. He noticed almost immediately.
"What's on your mind?" he asked as they cruised through the city.
She stared out the window, trying to find the right words. "I'm scared," she admitted finally.
"Scared of what?"
"Messing up. Disappointing people. Getting my hopes up and then watching it all fall apart."
Zay pulled over to the side of the road and turned to face her. "Gabby, listen. Ain't nobody successful that ain't been scared. But you gotta push through that. You got somethin' real here, and the only way you're gonna fail is if you stop tryin'."
His words settled over her like a blanket, warm and reassuring.
"You really believe I can do this?" she asked softly.
"I believe it more than you do," Zay said, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Over the next few weeks, Gabriella threw herself into her work. The orders kept coming, and though it was overwhelming, it was also exhilarating. For the first time, she felt like she was building something of her own, something that could pull her out of the cycle she'd been stuck in for so long.
Zay stayed close, always just a text or a phone call away. His support was steady, unwavering, and Gabriella found herself leaning on him more than she ever thought she would.
But even as she started to trust him, a small voice in the back of her mind warned her to be careful.
One evening, after a long day, Zay took her out for a drive. They ended up at a lookout point overlooking the city. The skyline glittered in the distance, a reminder of how far they'd both come.
"You ever think about leaving all this behind?" Zay asked, his voice low.
Gabriella glanced at him. "What do you mean?"
"Just...getting out. Starting fresh somewhere new. No past, no baggage. Just a clean slate."
The idea was tempting, but Gabriella shook her head. "I don't think it's that easy. You can't just run from your past."
Zay nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the city below. "Maybe not. But you can use it to build somethin' better."
Gabriella didn't reply, but his words stayed with her long after they left.
That night, as she lay in bed, Gabriella thought about everything Zay had done for her. He'd given her a chance when no one else had. But a part of her couldn't help wondering why.
What did he see in her that she couldn't see in herself?
To Be Continued...
