The drought in my heart

Chapter five

The morning sunlight spilled through Lily’s curtains, casting warm streaks of gold across her room. For the first time in months, she didn’t pull the blankets over her head to hide from the day.She had grown tired of living solely inside her mind.The endless brooding, the sleepless nights spent replaying old conversations, the relentless what ifs and if onlys had never made her heart lighter. Instead, they had pulled her deeper into a place where sadness felt inescapable, where grief wrapped around her chest so tightly that she sometimes forgot how to breathe.Three months had passed since the breakup.Three months of mourning not just the loss of Jayden, but the future she had imagined with him.And somewhere within those difficult months, Lily had discovered a painful truth: in the end, life is made up of moments we cannot keep.

Hands we didn’t hold long enough.

Words we didn’t say in time.

Love we believed would last forever.

What remains after loss is something softer than memory and heavier than pain a quiet truth that reshapes us long after everything we thought we would have forever is gone.She wasn’t healed. Not completely.But she was ready to start gathering the scattered pieces of herself.She wanted to find her spark again.Sitting at her desk, Lily pulled out her worn journal. She flipped through pages filled with old dreams, goals, and fragments of the girl she used to be.As she read, memories of happier days slowly surfaced.

Fashion sketches.

Plans for future collections.

Lists of places she wanted to visit.

Notes from therapy sessions with Dr. Jane.

By the time she closed the journal, she had made a decision.She would spend more time with her friends. She would continue therapy. And finally, she would pursue her passion for fashion.

For the first time in months, the future didn’t feel empty.She had enough time to balance her academics with something that made her feel alive again.She just needed to start somewhere.

Without overthinking it, she picked up her phone and called Mia.“Would you come with me to the Wilson Fashion and Art Gallery today?” she asked nervously. “I want to see if they have any opportunities. Maybe I could work there… design sketches, assist with projects…..anything.”

There was a brief pause before Mia squealed excitedly.“I’m fully up for it!”Lily couldn’t help but smile.An hour later, they were on their way.

Mia looked breathtaking in a fitted orange dress that hugged her waist perfectly and complimented her curves. Her hair was sleek and glossy, her makeup soft yet striking ,mia , however, kept things simple.She had never been much of a girly girl. She preferred jeans and oversized shirts over figure-hugging dresses. Today, she wore a pair of dark jeans, a cream blouse, and just enough makeup to make her feel put together.

As they approached the gallery, lily’sconfidence began to crumble.Her palms grew clammy.

What if they didn’t take her seriously?

What if she wasn’t talented enough?

She quickly searched through her bag, making sure her sketchbook was still there. If words failed her, perhaps her art could speak for her.

Mia noticed the tension immediately.

To distract her, she started talking about campus gossip, funny incidents from class, and the latest drama among their friends.By the time they stepped out of the elevator, Lily found herself laughing.Then she saw the gallery.Her breath caught.The space was stunning ,walls adorned with breathtaking artwork, elegant lighting illuminating every corner, mannequins dressed in exquisite designs that looked as though they belonged on international runways.

For a moment, her heart raced.Not because of Jayden.Not because of pain.But because of excitement.Real excitement.A feeling she hadn’t experienced in months.She realized then that healing wasn’t always loud or dramatic.Sometimes, it arrived quietly in moments when your heart beats for something new.A staff member approached them with a welcoming smile.“How may I help you?”Lily explained why she had come.“Go straight to the office on your right,” the woman instructed kindly.Suddenly, the anxiety returned.Lily was expected to go in alone.Seeing the panic on her face, Mia gently pulled her aside.“You’ve got this,” she whispered.She smoothed down Lily’s hair, handed her a lip gloss, and smiled reassuringly.“You belong here.”Lily took several deep breaths, just as Dr. Jane had taught her.Then she walked toward the office, pretending to be far more confident than she felt.

She knocked softly.“Come in.”The voice was deep and familiar.As she stepped inside, she froze.A familiar face looked up from behind the desk.Then came the scent.The subtle, woody cologne that had lingered in her memory long after their first encounter.His eyes widened in recognition.“The clumsy phone freak,” he said with a teasing smile.Lily blinked in disbelief.

“A phone freak?

He chuckled.

For a second, she forgot why she had come.“I think I entered the wrong office,” she said awkwardly, turning toward the door.He raised an eyebrow.“And why is that?

“Because I wasn’t expecting someone this young to own a gallery.”A smirk spread across his face.

“Who says young people can’t own galleries?”

Lily folded her arms.“As far as I know, the owner of this place is supposed to be an actual adult. You know, with a wife and grown children.”

He laughed.The sound was annoyingly charming.

After several minutes of arguments Lily insisting she wasn’t clumsy or obsessed with her phone, and him defending the capabilities of young entrepreneurs they finally returned to business.

He explained that he was the son of Mr. Wilson, the gallery’s founder, and had taken over the management of both the gallery and the modeling house.Lily felt slightly embarrassed.

Apparently, she knew enough about the company to recognize the founder, but not enough to know who was now in charge.The interview itself went surprisingly well.She showed him her sketches, spoke passionately about fashion, and explained how design had always been her way of expressing emotions she couldn’t put into words.

By the end of their conversation, he smiled warmly.“We’d love to have you onboard. Come back next week to sign your contract.”

Lily’s eyes widened.

“Really?”

“Really.”

As she gathered her things, he added casually, “One more thing you won’t always post your work on your personal i********:. Some of our designs are featured through partner pages before they appear on our official account.”

Lily rolled her eyes.“I’ve told you already. I’m not a phone or i********: freak.”

His grin widened.“Whatever you say.”

When she left the office, Mia was waiting impatiently outside.The moment they stepped into the elevator, Lily let out a dramatic sigh.

“He’s so arrogant.”Mia laughed.

“But you got the job.”Lily smiled despite herself.

As they walked back home, she told Mia everything.The teasing.The interview.The unexpected familiarity.Then her smile slowly faded.“There was something else,” she admitted quietly.Mia looked at her curiously.

“His cologne.”

“What about it?”Lily stared ahead.

“It smelled exactly like my dad’s.”

The words felt heavier once spoken aloud.For a moment, she was no longer standing beside Mia.

She was a little girl again, wrapped in her father’s arms, feeling safe and loved.Before he left.Before the empty promises.Before she learned what abandonment felt like.The scent had stirred something deep within her …a confusing mixture of comfort and resentment.Part of her wanted to pull away from him because he reminded her of everything she had lost.Another part wanted to stay close because, somehow, he reminded her of home.Of warmth.Of the father she missed despite everything.And for the first time, Lily realized that healing wasn’t only about moving on from Jayden.It was about confronting the wounds that existed long before she ever met him.