Finding light in the darkest places—through love-Chapter 54 – Colors of Confidence

Evelyn stood in front of her easel, biting her lip as she studied the nearly completed painting. The cityscape had come to life in vibrant hues of orange and pink, the reflections on the water shimmering as if kissed by the last light of day.

She had spent hours refining the details, adding depth to the buildings, and ensuring the colors blended seamlessly.

But was it good enough?

A sigh escaped her lips as doubt crept in. She reached for her phone, hovering over Mia's message. She had promised to send an update tonight, but suddenly, the idea of sharing it made her palms sweat.

Before she could spiral further, a familiar knock sounded at her door.

"It's open,"

she called out, already knowing who it was.

Adrian stepped in, holding two cups of coffee and a paper bag.

"Brought caffeine and snacks,"

he announced, setting them down on her desk. He gave her a pointed look.

"Figured you might be overthinking yourself into oblivion by now."

Evelyn huffed a laugh, crossing her arms.

"I'm not that predictable."

Adrian smirked.

"Evie, I've known you long enough to recognize the 'I'm questioning my entire existence' face."

He motioned toward the painting.

"Let me see."

She hesitated before stepping aside, allowing him to take it in. He stared at it for a long moment, then let out a low whistle.

"Wow."

Her fingers twisted together.

"Good wow? Or 'wow, this is a disaster' wow?"

Adrian shot her an incredulous look.

"Evie, this is incredible."

He stepped closer, studying the details.

"The way the light hits the water? The depth in the skyline? It looks like I could step right into it."

Evelyn felt a small flutter of relief.

"You think so?"

"I know so,"

he said firmly.

"Mia's going to love it."

She exhaled slowly, then reached for her phone.

"Okay. I'm sending it."

Adrian watched as she snapped a picture and sent it off. Within moments, her phone buzzed.

Mia: Evelyn, this is STUNNING. It's everything I imagined and more!!! I can't wait to see it in person.

Evelyn's chest tightened, warmth spreading through her. She turned the screen toward Adrian, unable to keep the smile off her face.

"She likes it."

Adrian grinned.

"Of course, she does."

She set her phone down and reached for her coffee.

"I guess this means I officially completed my first commission."

Adrian raised his cup.

"To your first of many."

They clinked their cups together, and for the first time, Evelyn felt like she was truly stepping into something new. Something real.

Expanding Horizons

The next morning, Evelyn woke up to three new messages in her inbox—people asking if she was open for commissions.

Her heart pounded as she read through them. Word was spreading. People liked her work enough to want a piece of it for themselves.

She sat up in bed, rereading the messages as excitement warred with nervousness. Could she handle more commissions? Did she have the confidence to keep putting herself out there?

Before she could second-guess herself, she typed out a reply.

Evelyn: Thank you so much for reaching out! I'd love to discuss a commission with you. What kind of piece are you looking for?

The moment she hit send, a knock came from her door—her second-morning ritual, courtesy of Adrian.

"Morning, coffee addict,"

he greeted, handing her a cup as he sat at the edge of her bed.

"You look suspiciously awake for this hour."

Evelyn held up her phone.

"I just got three more commission requests."

Adrian's brows shot up.

"See? You're already in high demand."

She exhaled, shaking her head.

"I didn't think it would happen this fast."

He took a sip of his coffee.

"Because you underestimate yourself. But the world is catching on."

Evelyn looked down at her phone, then back at Adrian.

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"Do you think I can do this?"

Adrian met her gaze, his expression was soft but sure.

"Evie, you already are."

A Step Forward

By the afternoon, Evelyn was at her desk, setting up a proper commission list. She drafted pricing, estimated completion times, and even sketched out a few ideas for future projects. Each step made the dream feel more tangible.

Her phone buzzed again. Another message. This time from an unfamiliar name.

Olivia R.: Hey Evelyn, I saw your work through Mia's post, and I love your style. I was wondering if you'd be open to a larger project. Something for a local gallery?

Evelyn's breath caught in her throat. A gallery?

Before she could panic, her door creaked open again.

"Okay, I know I was just here, but I forgot to tell you—"

Adrian stopped mid-sentence when he saw her expression.

"What happened? Did someone say something bad? Do I need to fight someone?"

She shook her head, still staring at her phone.

"No. Someone wants me to do a piece for a gallery."

Adrian blinked.

"Wait. Like a real gallery?"

She nodded.

He let out a triumphant whoop.

"Evie, that's HUGE!"

"I haven't said yes yet,"

she mumbled, overwhelmed.

Adrian grabbed her shoulders.

"Why not?"

"Because it's terrifying!"

she admitted.

"What if I'm not ready for something like this?"

Adrian softened, his grip on her shoulders loosening.

"Evie, listen to me. You're ready. You're more than ready. You've been ready for a long time—you just didn't believe it."

Evelyn swallowed, glancing back at her phone. Her heart was racing, but this time, it wasn't just from fear. It was from something else.

Possibility.

She took a deep breath and started typing.

Evelyn: I'd love to hear more about it. Let's talk.

She hit send and looked up at Adrian.

"Okay. I'm doing this."

His face split into a proud grin.

"Hell yes, you are."

As she turned back to her canvas, she felt something shift inside her.

She wasn't just creating anymore.

She was becoming the artist she had always wanted to be.