Incomplete Memories

Lana wiped the tear from her cheek, her hand trembling slightly. The letters in her lap seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, each one carrying an unspoken truth,
a love that could never be. She glanced around the café, at the laughter and lighthearted conversations. It felt like her world had torn apart.

January 31, 2023. The night that started it all

FLASHBACK TO THAT NIGHT

Lana sat on her bed, phone in hand, her heart racing with excitement. The decision had been made months ago, but tonight was the night she would finally
share her voice with the world. The thought of recording her first song on the platform made her happy, but a part of her was afraid-afraid of rejection,
of being laughed at.
Kia: "Lana, you're going to crush it. I believe in you."
Lana smiled at the message, but a part of her couldn't shake the doubt. Still, she took a deep breath, pressed record, and let her heart pour into the song.
When she finished, the silence in the room was deafening, but her heart beat louder with the hope of what could be.
Later, she messaged Kia again, a nervous excitement in her voice:
Lana: "Hey, Kia, I finally made the account! The video's up. Let me know what you think."
Kia: "Your voice is amazing! You've got this, Lana! One day, you'll be a singer-everyone will know your name."
Lana chuckled at her friend's encouraging words.
Lana: "Thank you so much, Kia! By the way, can you tell your friends to follow me too? I could really use the support."
Kia: "Of course! I'll make sure everyone knows about you. You deserve it."
The excitement Lana felt that night was still a whisper in her memory, but it had been clouded by everything that happened afterward.
That night was the beginning of something, but it was also the night when she first realized how much she would have to sacrifice.
Back in the café, Lana took a deep breath and wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks. Her phone buzzed.