Chapter 195

Lila's POV

The morning light sprawled across the studio windows, beading warm upon the canvas in front of me. Like nothing I'd felt in weeks, I was clear-headed and purposeful. Picking up my paintbrush, an overwhelming surge of inspiration hit me, unlike any other. For once, I knew precisely what I wanted to create that day.

I had started mixing colors when the door opened and Megan walked in with her sketch pad. She looked at me, smiled, and said, "Morning, Lila. You look like you're on a mission."

I grinned back. "Morning, Megan. I'm finally feeling a clear vision for this piece."

She set down her stuff and came over to take a look. "Wow, those colors are stunning. What's the theme?"

"It's about transformation," I said, feeling my blood pulse. "Turning pain into something beautiful. Finding strength in vulnerability."

Megan nodded thoughtfully. "That is powerful. I can't wait to see how it turns out."

She now focused on he