Chapter 34: The Exhibit
Moana

I couldn’t bring myself to avoid Ethan’s exhibit after he had asked me to go so many times. So, after putting Ella to bed, I went to Selina with my hand on my stomach and a frown on my face.

“I’m afraid I might have contracted food poisoning,” I said, feigning illness. “Can you keep an eye on things if Ella wakes up? I’m going to go to urgent care.”

Selina frowned, looking at her watch. “Do you need a driver?” she asked.

I vehemently shook my head. “No. It’s okay. I’ll call a cab.”

“Well… Alright,” she said, pursing her lips. “Be careful.”

After that, I put on a simple dress that could pass for urgent care attire if anyone were to question me, and flagged down a cab outside of the penthouse.

Just as I suspected, the art gallery was packed to the brim when I arrived. As I got out of the cab, I felt a lump rise in my throat; all of the other patrons seemed to be dressed lavishly, which made me feel incredibly out of place.

There was a line with a bouncer to get in. I stood in line, patiently waiting my turn.

“Name?” the bouncer said, eyeing me up and down suspiciously as I walked up to him.

“Moana Fowler,” I replied.

he said. His voice was gruff and indifferent, and before I

invitation from Ethan,” I replied, clutching

simply scoffed. “I highly doubt the artist personally invited a human. Quit wasting my time and

bouncer,

the bouncer, resulting in a chorus of murmurs making their way through the line of people waiting. The bouncer’s eyes widened, and

through the foyer with his hand on my back. “He’s just doing his

around at all of

have to participate in some involuntary networking with a few of the patrons here, but feel free to take a look around. And have

the champagne and nodded, watching as Ethan disappeared into

champagne for courage, I made my way into the gallery so I could get

was even more amazing now beneath the gallery lighting. A jazz quartet played lively music from a small stage at the back of the gallery, creating an atmosphere that almost made the artwork come alive. Groups of patrons milled

speaking to anyone — not that anyone would have spoken to me, either — with my glass of champagne in my hand as I closely studied each and every piece of artwork. Each piece seemed to fit into a similar theme, which felt reminiscent of the childhood drawings that Ethan had

no one else seemed to notice it; but I did. I felt entranced by the depiction of a young boy, staring out at the viewer from a black void. His face was sad, but there was also a hint of

my trance. I jumped a bit at the sound of

said, feeling my face flush. “Yes. I think

replied.

silence before Ethan spoke.

and pulled out a single, folded piece of paper and held it out to Ethan. “It’s not much. Just a

anticipation, feeling my heart rate quicken as he carefully studied my drawing. It was the same drawing that I had been working on in my bedroom the night

he finally said after a few moments, “this is stunning.

felt my face go red at the famous artist’s words.

“You’ve got some real talent. You should try to tap into it a bit more; I could see you doing

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