LOGINEPILOGUE Five years later I am nervous. Extremely so. But even in a million years, I wouldn’t have it any other way. “This piece. It’s amazing! I can’t believe something this magical was created from that type of inspiration!” I smile, rubbing my palms together to ease the nerves. The client in front of me looks intrigued. The same expression on the dozens of people swarming the gallery. “Thank you. I’m glad I was able to convey my emotions perfectly.” More words of praises gush out from the client, other random guests stopping by to chip in compliments. I receive them with warm smiles, in complete awe of how much I’ve grown over the years. Not only was my works on display in one of the most prestigious art galleries in the world, I was the headliner. A successful one at that. “Ivy! Ivy!” I turn around to meet my manager rushing towards me. Her movements manage to make me laugh, the smile returning to her face as she catches up to me. “Ivy, brace yourself,” she begins, clutc
A FEW DAYS LATER IVY “One more year till graduation.” Those words are now my mantra. The mantra I refused to stop uttering ever since I woke up, got dressed and made my way to college. Now, I’m at college and the words are still at the tip of my tongue. One year till I finish college is still enough time. Enough time for me to focus, get my grades up and live a normal life. The possibilities are endless. And as long as I can get through my first day with dozens of eyes threatening to bore holes into my skin, I can survive anything. I quicken my steps, flipping my hoodie to cover my face. I can still feel eyes following me though, every single person on campus refusing to move past my scandal. I survive the stares and make my way to my first class. With my hoodie still on, I pull out the few art supplies I managed to get during the weekend and we begin practicing. The next few minutes goes smoothly and I’m once again reminded of how much I love painting. Things are peaceful
KNOX “No, I’m not moving back to Pristine.” I furrow my brows, Catherine’s words taking both me and Sierra by surprise. Sierra glances at me and her frown immediately deepens. She still refuses to utter a word to me and instead, turns to face her mother. “Why?” I ask her through the screen. The entire purpose of the video call is to get to move back here and hopefully, it’ll get Sierra to finally stop giving me an attitude. “It’s better to—“ “No,” Catherine cuts me off before i can finish. “I’m fine here where i am. Coming all the way to Pristine is unnecessary. You’re already doing more than enough for me by worrying about me and taking care of my medical bills. I don’t need to come over there and be any more of a burden to you.” “Catherine—“ “That’s fine, mum,” Sierra cuts her off this time. “You don’t have to come here. I’ve chosen not to stay here anymore so I’ll just come to you instead.” Her words take me by surprise and I immediately turn to give her a sharp glance. She
IVY Home sweet home. My eyes linger on the words, a faint smile tugging at my lips. The first time I read them was at the airport—and back then, they felt ironic. Painfully so. But now, I’m determined to make them real.After all, I finally have a place of my own.I jingle the keys in my hand, the soft sound echoing through the wide, empty space that now belongs to me. Despite the house not completely belonging to me, it still feels nice to call it mine. I was left with no choice but to get it on rent despite my initial plan to buy the place. Buying a place like this would’ve cost more than I can ever afford and even getting it wasn’t easy. Endless calls, paperwork, negotiations—it almost felt like the universe was testing how badly I wanted a fresh start.Turns out, I wanted it badly enough. The smile on my face widens as I take in the bare walls and quiet corners of the room. I can already see it— a soft couch by the corner, maybe a canvas next to it so I can paint in my spare
KNOX For the first time in a long while, Sierra’s words do not have her desired effect on me. Not even at the slightest. Her words, her disappointment— no emotion she feels gets to me. Not as long as Ivy remains missing. Not until Ivy returns to me. “Dad!” I watch the realization dawn upon her as her eyes widen. She looks at me, clearly expecting an explanation but I have none. Not at that moment. “Not now, princess,” my tone is controlled and I turn to face Thomas almost immediately. “I don’t have time for this. Not right now.” “What do you mean not now?!” Sierra raises her voice and immediately storms towards me. She stands between Thomas and I, her arms folded as she continues to demand explanations. “Even after everything? Seriously, dad?! After everything we spoke about? You still went behind me to give her a car? What else did you already give to her? Tell me. Do I mean that little to you?” “Answer me!” her impatience is obvious from her tone. “What the hell is going on?
KNOX “What do you mean you don’t know where the fuck she is?!” I am fuming. Anger floods my veins like fire, burning through every rational thought in my head. Fear and worry follow close behind, gnawing at the edges of my mind, but they are nothing compared to the rage rising in my chest.Ivy is missing. Ivy is nowhere to be found?! The moment the word leaves Thomas’ mouth, fury takes over. The words are enough to make my vision sharpen, my hands curling into fists before I even realize it, my jaw tightening so hard it aches. A thousand worst case scenarios flash through my mind. “She’s ill!” Every word comes outside louder than the last. “So how the fuck could you lose her?! How could your men have left her alone in the house? Where the fuck did you expect her to go when she could barely sit straight?! How the fuck could they let her out of their sights?!” “They were on a break,” Thomas stands in front of my desk. His head is lowered but I need him to meet my gaze. “My men w
IVYHome sweet home.Yeah, right.The last time I was here, my aunt threw everything I owned into the streets. How does one even recover from that?I glance at my phone again, opening my bank app for the dozenth time since I landed. The numbers do not magic
KNOXSierra returns to Pristine on the same day, and I see her before she sees me.She walks through the side gate with her bag hanging off her shoulder. She doesn’t call out. Doesn’t slam the door. Doesn’t do any of the loud, dramatic things she used to do when she is upset.She just drops the bag
IVYMy shoulder still aches.It's not sharp anymore, but it's still a deep, stubborn reminder that a knife once lived there.The doctor says the sling comes off in a week. But no matter how many times I look at the calendar, a week still feels like a year.I can’t sit still even when I try to. I re







