Lost in thought, Shauwn didn't notice Lily slipping behind him, grasping his hands on his shoulders. She gently pulled him back so he could get a full view.
"Look closely at the paintings from left to right."
He followed her instructions, examining the canvases in that order, and then he understood.
"You see, they all follow a chronological sequence. I didn't realize it at first, but I confirmed it when you asked if I'd seen the first man; first comes the man with the rune, then your fight with the one wielding the bident, and finally your encounter with the five shadows."
"So that means…."
"Exactly. You've got it," Lily exclaimed behind him. "It's your meeting with the man with the runes tattooed on the back of his hand that sets the other two events in motion—let's call it a singular point."
Claire had finished packing the artworks and was ready to ship them, but she still needed to carry them to her car.
"All right, I'm done packing. Now Lily, you need to get ready, and so does your mother. I told you last time—you have to be at the exhibition."
Claire turned and glared sternly at Shauwn before continuing.
"And you too, of course. Don't pull that stunt on me like last time."
Lily winked at her friend and took his hand, guiding him toward the shop exit. Shauwn helped Claire carry two of the paintings, letting them walk ahead before losing sight of them. Out of his mother's and Claire's view, Lily released his hand.
"Shauwn, I don't think you're in the headspace to attend the exhibition. You have a lot to ponder and a choice to make."
"A choice? What choice are you talking about?"
"I don't know, it's just a feeling."
Coming from a fortune teller, that had to count for something. And Claire? I promised her…
"Since when do you make promises? Listen carefully, Shauwn: promising is giving someone hope for something you can actually provide. So a promise creates expectation. And I know what that crazy Claire wants by pushing you, and I also know you can't give it to her. I don't know why, and I won't force you to tell me, so my advice is to cut it short."
Lily sighed deeply and continued.
"I don't even know why you're forcing yourself. I mean, just let her be."
He knew all of this; it wasn't like he hadn't been clear in his intentions, but it was Lily who insisted.
"Sometimes, it's better to let a child touch the fire than forbid them from doing so; otherwise, they won't understand why the warning mattered. Anyway, I came for you too."
"Did I ask you to?"
"No, but friends support each other."
"Don't take this the wrong way. I truly appreciated your visit today. You've always been honest, and I value that. Don't use friendship as an excuse to do something you don't want. We don't need to have expectations of each other—your needs always come before mine. Friendship shouldn't make us sacrifice personal desires. You always come first, and so do I."
Lily's view of friendship wasn't ideal; it was a distorted version that served her needs—a selfish form that prioritized the individual over the bond. Shauwn knew it wasn't perfect, but it suited him.
He sighed and leaned over the paintings, eyes fixed on the asphalt below, searching for an answer.
"What am I supposed to do?"
She smiled at his question, adjusted her glasses, and lightly tapped his shoulder.
"You already have the answer. Don't worry about Claire; I'll handle it. You should stop worrying about others and think about yourself for once."
"All right. I guess I should go. Good luck with your exhibition, but before that…"
Shauwn took what he had helped Claire move and loaded them into her car. He had come with her, but after that conversation and the supposed choice he had to make, he preferred to return home alone, just walking. Before leaving, Lily called out.
"Shauwn…" She hesitated, even looking away. "Do you think we'll see each other again?"
Surprised, he replied with a laugh.
"Of course! Aren't we in Silver Creek?"
For the first time, Lily realized Shauwn wasn't being entirely honest, because she knew—and he suspected as well—that this might be the last time they saw each other. She had taught him to be selfish, to think of himself first, so why did it hurt so much? Was it regret? Perhaps, but she couldn't keep him chained to a mundane life just for them.
He had to detach from everything holding him here—and that had already begun. As Shauwn walked away, Lily continued to watch from afar. What she hadn't told him was that the spark in her chest was growing visibly, and soon, everything would awaken.
"When he meets the man with the rune, the one with the mysterious origins will embrace his destiny… won't he?" she whispered into the wind.
Lily turned and eventually rejoined Claire in the studio. Her mother noticed but didn't start a conversation—she had to let her handle her own feelings.
Claire waited to finalize some details, and when she saw Lily, countless questions arose in her mind. Yet, she only said one thing.
"Shauwn is gone. Don't bother trying to catch him. I sincerely think you should let go and let him breathe."
For Claire, that was the last straw. Her hand slammed down on the nearby workbench, a testament to her anger.
"What business is it of yours? I don't see how this bothers you—it's between him and me anyway, so don't interfere. Besides, he accepted it willingly."
"In that case, I advise you not to use me to force him your way. I know that's what you're doing. Shauwn doesn't need to talk to me—I'm his friend. I know you're forcing him, and it tires him. He has more important things to handle than a furious girl pressing him. I'll say it again: let him breathe."
Claire had always envied the closeness between Lily and Shauwn, and always resented Lily's tactile nature toward him. She felt it should be her place, the one to benefit from all her efforts.
Jealousy and anger toward Lily—that's what she felt.
"Ha! I see. So it's you too, huh? You want to push me away from him to have him all to yourself! I won't allow it. He's mine and mine alone."
Lily's eyes narrowed, a mix of shock and exasperation.
"Am I not right to call you a raging lunatic? Too bad for you—I have no romantic feelings for Shauwn. I know exactly what I feel, and I can distinguish love from obsession. Watch the path you're taking; it could lead you to ruin… words of a pseudo-seer."
Claire bit her lip until it bled, but didn't respond. She simply grabbed the remaining items she came for and left without a word.
"I suppose we'll see each other at the exhibition openings."