PART 6- CHAPTER 194
JESS
The days had blurred together since I’d arrived in Paris. Time felt irrelevant when every hour was just another battle to keep my mind from collapsing into itself. But Paris felt wasted on me in all its beauty, even though Laura did her best to pull me into her world. Whenever she coaxed me out of the apartment, I’d trudge alongside her, a shadow to her light, watching the city from a distance.
“Jess,” Laura’s voice cut through my thoughts. She was standing by the couch, arms crossed, her brows knitted like she did when she was officially done putting up with me. “You’ve been here for almost a month now, and you barely leave the apartment unless I drag you out. And even then, it’s like you’re not even there. Are you really going to let one guy ruin the rest of your life?”
I groaned, pulling a pillow over my head, but she yanked it away. I glanced up, half–heartedly annoyed, meeting her determined stare.
“Seriously, Jess. I get it. He was a big part of your life, and I know he hurt you. But he doesn’t get to keep hurting you. Not now, and definitely not. for the rest of your life.” She sighed, her tone softening. “This isn’t you. You’re strong and resilient, and one guy doesn’t get to take that away from you. And right now, you’re in Paris, of all fucking places! People would kill to be here, and you’re just… not even living.”
I stared at her, knowing she was right but feeling like it was a truth I couldn’t quite reach. My mind was stuck in this deep, dark hole, and no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t climb out of it.
Laura sighed, clearly losing patience. “Okay, I’ve had enough,” she said,
TWIT & CHAPTER 101
grabbing my arm and yanking me off the couch.
“Hey! What are you-”
She ignored me, practically dragging me down the hallway. “You’re going to the shower, and you’re getting in, even if I have to throw you in myself. And after that, we’re going out. There’s an art exhibition tonight, and you‘ re putting on that sexy black dress we bought, and you’re coming with me whether you like it or not.”
I shook my head, half–laughing at her absurd determination. “Laura, I’m not in the mood for an exhibition. Can we not?”
But she didn’t even pause. Before I could protest again, I felt a freezing burst of water cascade over me. I yelped, cold soaking through my clothes
instantly.
“Laura!” I shrieked, but she only grinned, pulling the door shut behind her as I scrambled out of the icy spray. There was no getting out of this now.
Grumbling under my breath, I finally stripped off my soaked clothes, feeling the cold water jolt me awake in a way I hadn’t felt in days. I stood under the spray for a moment, letting it wash over me, like maybe it could rinse away the stale sadness that clung to my skin.
It was the first time I’d properly washed my hair this week, and somehow, it felt like a small victory.
Afterward, I wrapped myself in a towel and peered into the mirror. My skin looked pale, my eyes tired, and I barely recognized myself. But there was a flicker of something else, too–maybe a glimmer of the old me Laura seemed so sure was still in there somewhere. I took a deep breath and padded back to the bedroom, where Laura had already laid out the little black dress on the bed, her own dress hanging on the back of the door.
PART & CHAPTER 194
She took one look at me and nodded approvingly. “See? That’s better already. Now, hurry up and get dressed. We’re not going to waste another night.”
Twenty minutes later, we were out the door. Laura had somehow
managed to curl my hair into loose waves, swipe some mascara on my lashes, and shove me into a pair of heels before I’d fully registered what was happening. As we stepped into the balmy Parisian evening, she linked her arm with mine, smiling like she’d just won a prize.
We took the metro, emerging into a cobblestone street that led to a grand old building. The exhibition was already buzzing with people, laughter and conversation filling the air as we made our way inside. Soft music played in the background, the kind that felt more like a heartbeat to the evening’s ambiance. I took it all in, feeling something inside me ease just a bit.
Laura squeezed my arm, giving me a smile that was both proud and a little mischievous. “See? Isn’t this better than moping around at home?”
I nodded, though I couldn’t quite shake the tension in my chest. It felt strange to be out, to let myself breathe a little, even if it was with one of my best friends.
We drifted through the exhibit, and Laura chattered away, pulling me from one painting to the next. She was vibrant and full of life, her eyes lighting up every time she found a piece she loved. And as I watched her, I started to feel lighter, like maybe I could shed some of the weight I’d been carrying.
“Jess,” she said suddenly, stopping in front of a painting of a couple standing on a bridge, their faces turned toward the stars. “This is what I want for you. Not that guy who made you feel less than yourself, but someone who makes you feel… alive. You deserve that, you know?”
PART 6–CHAPTER 104
I felt a pang at her words, and I bit my lip, nodding. “I don’t know if I’m there yet, Laura,” I admitted softly. “But… I’ll try.”
Her face softened, and she pulled me into a hug. “That’s all I ask. Just try. And remember, you’re not alone. I’m here, dragging you to every gallery and café until you find something–someone–worth smiling for.”
That would never happen…
