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It was Thursday, and Tegan felt the weight of the world pressing heavily on her. She had been continuing to avoid any sketchbook, the blank pages mocking her every time she glanced at them. Today, though, she decided to confront her creative paralysis. She picked up a notepad, hoping that the act of drawing might help her find her way back to her art. But instead of opening it, she stuffed it into her pocket and left to meet Juliette, who had offered to take her to the park after school and ballet practice. The weather was perfect, and Tegan welcomed the distraction. Waiting for Juliette outside the school, she watched students milling about, laughing and chatting. The energy was palpable, a stark contrast to her own quiet, introspective days.

Juliette emerged from the building, her ballet bag slung over one shoulder and a radiant smile on her face. "Hey, Tegan!" she called out, waving enthusiastically."Hey," Tegan replied, smiling back. "Ready for the park?""Absolutely," Juliette said. "Let's get going."The walk to the park was pleasant, the golden hour casting a warm, amber glow over everything. They found a quiet spot near a pond, the light filtering through the trees creating a magical atmosphere. Tegan felt a sense of calm settle over her as they sat down."So, how are you feeling about the party on Saturday?" Tegan asked her friend, her tone gentle yet probing. Juliette shrugged, looking out over the water. "I don't know, honestly. Part of me is excited, but the other part is just... anxious."Tegan nodded, her expression understanding. "I get it. Parties can be overwhelming. And with Matthieu coming, it might be even more intense. How do you feel about that?"Tegan didn't fully understand the relationship dynamic between the pair. As far as she had been told, he was almost Juliette's boyfriend, a charming, talented guy who seemed genuinely interested in her. 

"It's complicated," Juliette admitted. "I like him, but I'm not sure where we stand. I don't want to ruin what we could have by pushing too hard."

Tegan nodded. "I understand. Just take things one step at a time. From what I've heard, Matthieu seems to like you a lot, though. Maybe you should talk to him properly about how you feel."As they continued talking, Tegan found herself reaching into her pocket and pulling out the notepad. She began to doodle absentmindedly, her pencil moving almost of its own accord. The lines on the paper started to take shape, capturing the essence of Juliette in the golden light.Juliette noticed and leaned over to look. "Hey, are you drawing me?"Tegan looked down, surprised to see a remarkably accurate sketch of Juliette. "Oh, I guess I am," she said, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.Juliette's eyes widened in admiration. "You're really good, you know?"Those words triggered a memory, one that Tegan had buried deep within her. A flashback to a different time, a different person. Kayleigh, her ex-girlfriend, had said those exact words to her once. "You're really good, you know?" But Kayleigh's words had always been a double-edged sword, a gateway to manipulation and control.
The memory flooded back, unbidden and unwelcome. Tegan remembered the way Kayleigh used to praise her artwork, only to use it as a means to belittle her later. "You're really good, you know? But you could be so much better if you just listened to me." Kayleigh's compliments were always laced with a bitter undertone, and Tegan had spent months feeling like she was never enough.Their relationship had started beautifully, as many do. Kayleigh was charming, attentive, and seemed genuinely interested in Tegan's art. But gradually, the charm gave way to criticism, and the attention turned into control. Tegan's sketches were never quite right, her techniques always lacking in some way. "You should try this instead," Kayleigh would say, taking the pencil from Tegan's hand and altering her work without permission. It wasn't long before Tegan's passion for drawing became tainted by fear and self-doubt.The breaking point had come one evening when Tegan had spent hours on a piece she was particularly proud of. Kayleigh had taken one look at it and sneered. "This is what you wasted your time on?" she had said, her voice dripping with contempt. "I thought you wanted to be an artist, not a hobbyist."Tegan had felt her heart shatter. The love she once felt for Kayleigh was replaced by a crushing realization of the toxicity of their relationship. It took all the strength she had to leave, to reclaim her art and her life from the shadow Kayleigh had cast over them.
"Thanks... thanks..." Tegan said, her voice barely above a whisper, echoing the response she had given Kayleigh so many times before. But this time, it felt different. There was no malice behind Juliette's words, only genuine appreciation.Juliette seemed to sense the shift in Tegan's mood. She reached out and gently touched Tegan's arm. "Hey, you okay?"Tegan nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just a lot on my mind."They continued their walk, the silence between them comfortable and companionable. Tegan's thoughts drifted back to Juliette, to Matthieu, to the party, to the tangled web of emotions she was navigating. As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows and bathing the park in a deep, golden hue, Tegan felt a sense of calm. The golden hour had always been her favorite time to draw, and it felt nice to share it with someone who she was slowly beginning to get closer to. She would definitely call Juliette a friend.They reached Juliette's house, and Tegan walked her to the door. "Have a good night..."Juliette smiled. "See you on Saturday."Tegan gave her a quick smile and watched as she disappeared inside. Turning back towards the metro station, she felt a mixture of relief and lingering anxiety. The conversation had been therapeutic, but it had also dredged up painful memories she wasn't quite ready to face.Waiting for the train, Tegan absentmindedly pulled out the drawing of Juliette from her notepad. She studied it for a moment, appreciating the way she had captured the light in Juliette's eyes, the softness of her smile. But the memory of Kayleigh's voice still echoed in her mind, tainting the moment.In a sudden burst of frustration, Tegan ripped the drawing from the notepad and crumpled it into a ball. She shoved it deep into her pocket, determined to rid herself of the ghosts of her past. The train arrived, and she boarded, heading back to Jen's place, where she was staying for the week.As the train rocked gently, Tegan leaned back and closed her eyes. The rhythmic clatter of the tracks provided a soothing backdrop to her thoughts. She knew she couldn't let her past with Kayleigh define her future. Juliette's genuine appreciation for her art was a reminder that she was talented, that she was worthy of praise and kindness.The metro ride was short, and soon Tegan found herself walking the familiar path to Jen's apartment. The evening air was cool, and the stars were beginning to twinkle in the night sky. She reached into her pocket, feeling the crumpled paper against her fingers. Instead of discarding it, she smoothed it out and looked at it one last time.Juliette's smile, captured so perfectly, seemed to reassure her. Tegan carefully folded the drawing and tucked it back into her pocket. It wasn't perfect, and it wasn't meant to be. It was a reminder of a moment of peace, a moment of clarity amidst the chaos of her emotions.She reached Jen's door and let herself in, greeted by the comforting warmth of the apartment. Jen was in the kitchen, preparing dinner, and she looked up with a smile as Tegan entered."Hey, how was your day?" Jen asked, her voice filled with genuine interest.Tegan smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude for the people in her life who cared about her. "It was good," she replied. "I think I'm starting to find my way again."