Lina couldn't sleep that night after completing the canvas. Even as she lay in bed, her eyes kept drifting to the painting in the corner of her room. The sky, shining on the canvas, seemed to radiate its own light throughout the dark room. An inner voice told her, "You must hide it; no one can see it." Because her family might find this dream meaningless and even take her brush away.
The next morning, when the sun crept into her room, Lina panicked about where to hide the canvas. First, she pushed it under the bed, but it would be easy to find there. Then, she leaned it against the back of her bookshelf; but the massive canvas couldn't be hidden. Finally, she tucked it behind her closet, among her clothes. Even as she stood there, her heart pounded. It felt like someone would open the door at any moment, and her secrets would be revealed.
At school, Elif pulled her aside immediately. "What happened? Have you started?" she asked, her eyes shining.
Lina nodded slightly. "I started… and I finished. But no one can see it, okay?"
Elif's face showed a mixture of curiosity and admiration. "Are you serious? That fast?" "I don't know... the painting flowed naturally. It was as if my heart, not my pen, drew it."
They met in the backyard of the school during lunch break. Lina quickly drew small sketches on the pages of her notebook and began discussing other ideas for the competition. Elif excitedly said, "We should definitely send this to the competition. I'm sure the jury will love it!"
But Lina hesitated. "What if we don't win? What if people find my dream strange?"
Elif held her hands. "Lina... you even fit the sky into your painting. No one would find your dream strange. It's the voice of your heart. And I'll be with you."
That evening, when Lina returned to her room, she took out her painting again. Her paints had dried, but the canvas was still vibrant. She gazed at it for a long time, lightly touching the surface with her fingers. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Her heart began to race. Her mother's voice was heard:
"Lina, my daughter... are you in the room?"
For a moment, she didn't know what to do. She quickly tucked the canvas back into the closet and threw on her coats. She quickly wiped the paint stains from her hands on the sheet. Then, taking a deep breath, she opened the door. When her mother entered, her eyes immediately scanned the room. Lina's heart felt like it was about to jump out of her chest.
But her mother just smiled. "Dinner's ready, come on."
When the door closed, Lina let out a deep breath. But at that moment, a decision was finalized within her: This secret couldn't be kept forever. One day, this painting would touch everyone's sky.
And now, for the first time, Lina began to walk the fine line between hiding her dreams and sharing them.