The drought in my heart

Chapter 6

Lily woke up before dawn, her heart already racing with anticipation. Today wasn't just another day it was the beginning of the future she had dreamed of for years. Her first official day at the Wilson Fashion Gallery had finally arrived.
Unfortunately, reality refused to make things easy.She still had morning lectures to attend before heading to work, and missing them wasn't an option . As she settled into her seat in Mr. Barry's class, her attention wandered almost immediately. Instead of focusing on the lecture, her eyes remained fixed on the fashion sketches glowing on her laptop screen.
Hours after signing her employment contract, she had received an email assigning her first design presentation. Since then, she had spent countless sleepless nights perfecting every detail.
This wasn't just another assignment.
It was her first opportunity to prove she deserved her place among professionals.
Every stitch, every colour palette, every silhouette had been carefully chosen. She wanted her designs to speak before she ever had to. She wanted people to remember her name.Lost in thought, Lily barely noticed the classroom had fallen silent.
“Lily."She jerked upright.Her heart skipped.
Mr. Barry stood directly beside her desk, his arms folded across his chest."Oh no... not again," she muttered under her breath.
"Would you care to explain why your attention is on your laptop instead of my lecture?""I'm sorry, sir," she replied immediately, standing up. "It won't happen again."Mr. Barry wasn't convinced.
"You can apologize to me after you've visited the Dean of Student Affairs."
The entire class turned to look at her.Heat rushed to her cheeks.Without another word, she packed her laptop into her bag and quietly walked out of the classroom, feeling every pair of eyes following her.The Dean's office was exactly as she remembered calm, quiet, and somehow intimidating.
She sighed before knocking.
"Come in."As she entered, her footsteps froze.Sitting opposite the dean was a face she never expected to see.Jayden's new girlfriend.The girl he had chosen over her.

For a brief moment, the room seemed to disappear around her. The memories of that night came rushing back the music, the laughter, the way Jayden had avoided her eyes before walking away with this very girl by his side. It was a memory she had spent weeks trying to bury, yet seeing her again reopened wounds she believed were beginning to heal.Lily quietly took the empty chair beside them, careful not to draw attention to herself. She clasped her hands tightly in her lap, hoping the slight tremble in her fingers would go unnoticed.

She couldn’t help but steal another glance.

The young woman looked composed, effortlessly elegant in a simple cream blouse and navy skirt. Her long hair rested neatly over one shoulder, and she carried herself with a quiet confidence that wasn’t loud or attention-seeking. As she spoke to the dean, her voice was calm, polite, and warm enough to make anyone feel at ease.

So this is the girl he chose…

Lily’s eyes unconsciously compared every little detail.She wasn’t anything like Lily.

A hundred questions flooded her mind.

Is she kinder than me?Does she understand him better?Did he ever look at her the way he once looked at me?She hated herself for wondering.Perhaps the hardest part wasn’t losing Jayden.It was not knowing why she had been so easy to replace.Before her thoughts could spiral any further, the dean called her name, pulling her back to reality. Lily straightened her shoulders, forced a polite smile, and silently reminded herself that today wasn’t about Jayden.Today was supposed to be about her future.After offering a quick explanation and a tiny lie to escape what would have become another lengthy counseling session she hurried out of the office.

One glance at her wristwatch made her stomach twist.She was late.
Inside the elevator at Wilson Fashion Gallery, Lily finally allowed herself to breathe. She checked her makeup in a small mirror, straightened her blazer, and whispered, "You've got this."
When the elevator doors opened, she stepped out with determination despite the chaos of her day.As she entered the exhibition room, her boss's expression was anything but welcoming."You're late," Mr. Wilson said coldly.

"I'm so sorry, sir."

Without another word, Lily walked to the presentation stand. Her hands trembled slightly, but once she began speaking, everything changed.She spoke passionately about fashion, design, body shapes, and creating outfits that celebrated individuality. Every word reflected years of dedication.
When she finished, silence filled the room.
Then came applause.
Mr.Wilson’s stern expression softened into genuine admiration.
Later, he asked her to follow him into his office.

Mr. Wilson remained silent for a few moments, studying her with an expression Lily couldn’t quite read.

Then, almost unexpectedly, the corners of his lips lifted into a smile.

“I had a feeling your presentation came from somewhere deeper than fashion,” he said softly. “People can learn how to design beautiful clothes, but they can’t fake passion. Yours is real.”

Lily lowered her eyes, a shy smile tugging at her lips.

“Thank you Mr Wilson …that means a lot.”

“ it’s Alexander ,” he replied. “ And I don’t hand out compliments easily.”

She let out a small laugh, the kind that escaped before she could stop it. Somehow, the tension that had followed her throughout the day began to dissolve.Their conversation drifted naturally from fashion to creativity, then to childhood dreams, favourite designers, and the sacrifices people made to pursue the lives they wanted. Time seemed to move differently inside his office.For the first time in a long while, Lily wasn’t thinking about deadlines, grades, or proving herself.She was simply… enjoying a conversation.As she rose to leave, Alexander walked her to the door.

“I’m looking forward to seeing your next collection,” he said.“I’ll do my best not to disappoint you.”A faint smile crossed his face.“For some reason, I don’t think you will.”Their eyes met for a brief second just long enough for Lily to feel something unfamiliar flutter quietly in her chest. It wasn’t love. It wasn’t even attraction she could explain. It was simply comfort… the strange comfort of being seen and appreciated for who she was rather than who someone expected her to become.

She quickly looked away, almost embarrassed by the feeling.

After thanking him once more, she stepped out of the office and gently closed the door behind her.The corridor was quiet.

She leaned against the wall for a moment and released a long breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.Then, without warning, Jayden’s face crossed her mind.

There was a time when she believed every conversation with him carried the promise of forever. She remembered how effortlessly he had made her laugh, how she had imagined building a future around the plans they made together. She remembered the warmth of his hand wrapped around hers… and the unbearable emptiness that followed when he let go.Heartbreak had changed her.It had taught her to question every compliment, to doubt every act of kindness, and to build walls around parts of herself that once loved freely.

She had promised herself she would never again mistake someone’s attention for genuine affection.So whatever that feeling had been in Alexander’s office…

She refused to give it a name.Not yet.

With one last glance at the closed office door, Lily adjusted the strap of her handbag and walked toward the elevator.She didn’t know it then, but life had quietly begun writing a new chapter for her.

One that neither she nor Alexander could have imagined.