Chapter 9: Lila Creates Free Plant Program Flyer Art
289 Words
Setting: Lila’s apartment art desk, weeknight evening. Mia sits on her couch sipping lemonade while Lila paints vibrant watercolor illustrations of children holding sunflower seedlings for Elias’s school gardening flyers.
Mia: You’re pouring so much time and care into these flyers for his project, you’re really going above and beyond for him. Does it ever feel like you’re putting in all this effort with nothing romantic to gain?
Lila sets down her paintbrush to stretch her wrists, completely unburdened by the one-sided nature of her care.
Lila: It never feels like wasted effort. Seeing Elias excited about his kid’s plant program brings me more joy than any date or confession ever could. I get to use my art to help him do something wonderful for the community, that’s reward enough all on its own. Even if he never returns my romantic feelings, being someone he can rely on for creative help makes me feel useful and happy.
Mia smiles warmly, flipping through the finished colorful flyers laid across Lila’s desk.
Mia: You’ve turned unrequited love into pure selfless kindness, it’s honestly inspiring. Most people would grow bitter realizing their feelings won’t be returned, but you just keep giving gentle support without expectation of anything back.
Lila adds soft green leaf borders around the flyer text, humming quietly.
Lila: Mrs. Henderson told me love doesn’t need to be mutual to hold meaning, and I finally fully understand that now. My affection for him pushed me to develop my art more, become more generous with my time, pay attention to community needs around town. I’ve grown so much as a person just from caring about him quietly, and that growth is permanent for me regardless of how he feels about me.
- Writer
