Two Lovers Entwined

20. Mom's Dreams.

The crisp autumn breeze filled the streets of New York as Sophia settled into her new apartment. It was smaller than the one she used to share with Noah, but it had everything she needed—a fresh start. From her window, she could see the skyline, and though she wasn't far from Noah's place, the distance felt significant. It was a new chapter in her life, one that was still entangled with unresolved emotions, but she was trying to find her balance again.

Sophia had gone back to her regular job at the gallery. The familiar space, with its high ceilings and pristine white walls, brought her a sense of peace. And, of course, having Liam there by her side made it easier. They had grown even closer over the past few weeks, working late hours as the gallery prepared for a huge exhibition. Liam, as always, threw himself into his work, his art consuming most of his time and energy. But despite their closeness, Sophia could sense that something held him back, as if he wasn’t quite ready to cross an invisible line between them.

Sophia brushed the thought away as she focused on curating the next collection. Today was supposed to be exciting—her father had called earlier, telling her he had a surprise. He hadn’t visited the gallery in a while, and his presence always brought with it a mix of emotions.

Around noon, the familiar sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the gallery, and there he was, her father, tall and imposing, with a warmth in his eyes that only his daughter could bring out.

"Sophia," he greeted, wrapping her in a tight embrace. "How’s my little artist?"

Sophia smiled. "I’m not the artist, Dad, that's more Liam’s title."

Her father chuckled and turned to see Liam, who was arranging a few canvases in the corner. He gave him a firm handshake, always impressed by his work ethic.

"I have a surprise for you, sweetheart," her father said, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "I want us to have dinner tonight. I’ve got something special planned."

Sophia’s curiosity was piqued, but she didn’t press him. Instead, she nodded and agreed to the dinner. "Liam’s coming too, right?"

Her father smiled knowingly. "Of course. It wouldn’t be the same without him."

That evening, they all gathered at a beautiful restaurant in the city, a place Sophia’s family had frequented since she was a child. The ambiance was elegant, with soft lighting and a view that overlooked the bustling streets below. Sophia felt a sense of nostalgia and comfort as they sat down, but also a slight nervousness. Her father rarely did anything without a purpose.

Over the first course, they laughed and reminisced about the past, but when the main dish was served, her father’s tone shifted to something more serious. He looked at Sophia with tenderness, and then at Liam, who was listening intently.

"I’ve been thinking a lot about your mother lately," he began, his voice softening. "It’s been years since she passed, but I feel like it's time for the world to see her work again. I want to auction off her paintings."

Sophia froze for a moment. Her mother had been a brilliant artist, her works stored away since her death. The thought of auctioning them off felt bittersweet, like letting go of a piece of her, but at the same time, it was an opportunity for her art to live again.

Liam, sensing Sophia’s hesitation, spoke up. "What if we exhibited them at the gallery first? I think it would be a fitting tribute to her work. We can host an exhibition, showcase her art in a way that honors her legacy."

Sophia’s father seemed to consider the idea for a moment, then nodded with a smile. "I like that idea. Let’s do it. It’s about time the world sees what a remarkable artist she was."

Sophia’s heart swelled with emotion. She had always admired her mother’s work, but the thought of sharing it with the world made her both proud and nervous. She glanced at Liam, who gave her a reassuring nod.

The rest of the dinner was filled with excitement as they discussed the logistics of the exhibition. Little by little, they started planning how to transport the paintings, how to set them up, and how to make sure the world understood just how special they were.

As they finished their meal, Sophia felt lighter than she had in months. For the first time in a long time, she wasn’t thinking about Noah, or Rosie, or the complications of the past. Instead, she was focused on the future—on the exhibition, on her mother’s art, and on the possibility of something more with Liam.

Walking out of the restaurant, her father gave her a long, tight hug. "Your mother would be proud of you, Soph. And I know this exhibition is going to be something special."

Sophia smiled, feeling a surge of warmth. "Thank you, Dad. For everything."

As they parted ways, Sophia and Liam walked back to her apartment in comfortable silence. The night was crisp, and the city lights twinkled around them. She looked at him, her heart full of gratitude. He had been there through it all, and she could see how much this meant to him too.

"Are you ready for this?" Liam asked, breaking the silence, his tone playful but with an edge of seriousness.

Sophia nodded. "I am. For the first time in a while, I feel like I’m ready for something real."

Liam smiled softly, a look of understanding passing between them. Though he still carried his own hesitations, Sophia knew they were moving in the right direction—together. And soon, the world would see her mother’s masterpieces, just as she had always dreamed.

The gallery had closed for the night, its halls dimly lit by soft security lights. The silence was thick, but a hooded figure moved quietly through the space, careful not to make a sound. A bag swung by his side, filled with what he needed. His footsteps echoed faintly as he made his way toward the new exhibition section, where the paintings of Sophia’s mother were proudly hung.

He stopped in front of the largest canvas—her most celebrated work. For a moment, he simply stared at it, his breath shallow. Then, with deliberate movements, he reached into his bag and pulled out a can of red paint. With one swift motion, he uncapped it, and the smell of fresh paint filled the air.

The first streak hit the canvas like a wound, bright red cutting across the delicate colors of Sophia's mother’s work. The hooded figure scratched at the painting with quick, angry strokes, covering the dreamlike images with jagged scribbles. He moved from painting to painting, each one defaced with the same violent red lines.

But when he reached one of Liam’s paintings, he stopped. His hand hovered over the surface, hesitating. The figure stared at the abstract form, as if something about it held him back. He didn’t touch it. Instead, he turned back to the final painting of Sophia’s mother and scratched out more of it, erasing the visions and dreams that once lived on the canvas.

With the damage done, he slipped the can back into the bag and disappeared into the shadows. The gallery was silent again, but the destruction was irreversible.