I came out of my room changed into my dress, having retouched my makeup, I still couldn't find the courage to look up. Once I got to the end of the hallway, I took a deep breath in and smiled, fake it till you make it! As soon as I stepped into the living room I heard whistles and claps and I smiled at Leo. "And the most gorgeous woman we've ever met walks into the room, the crowd erupts in cheers!" He said and clapped his hands harder. "You look beautiful, Nia!" He winked at me and I chuckled, shaking my head.  "You don't look so bad either, but your bow tie is crooked, " I said, fixing his tie. "That's better, are you going to be charming all the girls tonight?" I asked him and he gave me a knowing smile.  "You know the vibes baby!" I high fived him and we laughed about it. 

"How about the lady next to Theo Walder?" Andrew said and I looked to Theo’s left and noticed that was the end of the aisle. "The one in the black shiny dress," he said pointing to me and I looked at Theo and he cocked his head slightly giving me the go-ahead. "I- uh, I didn't volunteer though," I said with a giggle as I accepted Andrew's hand that helped me climb up the stairs. "Your beauty charmed me," he said flirting and I had the urge to roll my eyes and gag but instead I giggled touching his shoulder slightly. "Ahahaha, you're so sweet, aha," I giggled, this is exhausting. I'd rather be in bed watching some drama about people falling in love without one of them being married or anything so bizarre, I'm just saying. Andrew chuckled and

 "U-ugh," I groaned as I opened my eyes. Why does my body hurt so much? I brought my hands to rub- wait, why can't I move my hands? I pulled at them once more and felt restraints on them.  In a panic, I finally assessed where I was. The room is dark and I can see little light pouring in through the cracks in the walls. Wait a minute, I've been here before...  "Hello?" I called out and heard no response. "Adam? Leo, Luke?" No response again. "If you guys are playing tricks on me, this isn't funny!" I yelled and still, there was no response. I shift in the chair feeling uncomfortable and felt that something was wrong. "Did you guys take off my bra! I'm going to kill you once I'm out of these bonds!"  Once again, the response I received was silence. 

FIVE YEARS LATER I started at the three canvases hung on the wall with as little as three-centimetre space between them. The first canvas was painted in black and white. The gardenias populated the canvas and the contrast in the painting was compelling. The second canvas that followed a light palette of colour, the sky blue that met the black and white colour that flowed onto the other canvases, aiding as a surface to the floating white gardenia’s gave me a calm feeling. The bold red colour on the third canvas that filled the clouds stood as its own story, staining the black and white water with a bit of its red, the painting stood complete. “What are you going to name it?” Joshua, my lecturer, asked me as he passed me my coffee and I smiled gratefully at him.  “Seasons,” I answered and took a sip of my coff

“Theo,” I repeated angrily and took a step back. “What are you doing here?” He opened his mouth to answer and I shook my head. “As a matter of fact, don’t say anything. I’m leaving,” I said as I turned around and he grabbed me by my arm and I gasped feeling my heart violently beat against my chest.  “Xania, please,” he said softly and I told myself I wouldn’t cave in but I did. Here I am sitting in front of him with my arms folded against my chest glaring at the man I once loved, a love that only brought despair. “Stare at me any harder, your daggers might pierce me,” he joked and I huffed rolling my eyes.  Fuck that accent that made me weak in the knees even when I’m seated. I looked at him again and noticed he had grown his hair longer and it was shoulder-length, he had also grown out a beard and he looked irresistibly fucking hot. What am I think