Epigraph :
"love starts as a feeling, but to continue is a choice. And I find myself choosing you, more and more every day." - Justin wetch.
She stood by the glass window of her art studio, the room was filled with some painted, some empty, some incomplete canvas. She looked down at the city light, everything was passing in matter of seconds.
She ran her thumb over the pendant gifted to her by him.
It's crazy how something as little of that can bring so many memories.
He was the first guy she loved, he changed her pessimism into optimism, her hopelessness into hopefulness. He unknowingly made her, a better version of herself. She didn't know when it started but, she decided to hold onto it because he was her ray of light in the dark night.
He never advised her to be someone else, it was always how he did things. How he made everyone around him happy and a little better just by his existence, how he always found good in the bad.
It was a shooting star pendant, he gifted her on her 17th birthday. The same year, he moved away.
On being asked why he gifted her this
"you won't have to wait for the shooting star, you can always look at it and wish for whatever you want", he said.
That night she sat by the window, with moonlight casting shadow over her, she held the pendant and wished for just one thing. One person.
Him.
The very next day, she found out, his father was transferred to another city.
She was heartbroken. Her soul, her heart ached for him. Craved for him.
She felt her heart sinking. It completely sank the day their car left the garage.
She stood at her window, looking at him going away from her.
Only if she knew that he was going to come back.
They were never the best of friends, just had casual hellos here and there but, their families were good friends.
She never wished for anything after that night by looking at her pendant.
Things change, people come and go but life goes on. That's what happened with her. She never stopped wearing it though.
6 years later, she clutched the same pendant between her finger and thumb, wishing her art exhibition to be held on the day after tomorrow, to go well.
The exhibition was going smoothly, many of her artworks were sold. She told her secretary, she was going to take some rest.
Entering in her office, she poured herself a glass of water. She sat down, taking sips from it. It felt good to be away from the crowd.
Few moments later, her secretary knocked the door.
"come in." she said placing down her glass.
She entered in, closing door behind her.
"ma'am, there's a customer who wants to buy the painting hanging beside the door"
She immediately stood up "how could I forget to take it off" she thought.
"tell him it's not for sale", she composed herself.
"ma'am I did! But, he's keen to buy it." she paused. "he is willing to pay any price you want." she added excitedly.
Layla threw a sharp glance her way, signaling her to zip her mouth.
Layla worriedly rubbed her forehead.
