Jace stirred awake to the dull light of morning pressing through the windows. The studio felt unusually quiet, even for a Tuesday. Just him, buried under a wool blanket on the couch, one arm flung over his eyes.
He hadn't meant to fall asleep here again. Maybe the pictures he'd been developing needed him there or he was just too lazy to drive home. Besides there was nothing to come home to except emptiness and the memories of the times he spent with Amy in the house.
Rubbing his eye, he reached for his phone on the coffee table, thumbing through notifications until his screen paused over a photo....bright, sharp, and impossible to ignore.
A wide shot of Sophie's living room....balloons, cake, and at the center, Sophie was grinning beside Amy.
Amy.
It'd been long he saw her after she asked for a break, he knows it's been 14 days since he saw her last. It hurt not having her by his side but he had to respect her decision.
She was wearing a soft pink sweater, hair slightly curled. The warmth in her face was familiar. Then he swiped to the next picture but it was the man beside her that made Jace's stomach knot.
Who was he?
They were standing close. She was mid-laugh, eyes slightly tilted toward him. His hand rested lightly on the back of the couch near her. It wasn't overly intimate, but it was… familiar. Comfortable.
Another picture followed....Amy, head tossed back laughing at something, He was holding out a slice of cake like an offering. Another shot had the two of them dancing, blurry with motion,
The final picture hit the hardest. Amy leaning into this unknown person slightly on a couch, their shoulders brushing. She was holding a wine glass and grinning.
Jace locked his phone and exhaled sharply, letting it fall onto the couch beside him.
So that was it?
A total of 14 days. That's all it had taken for her to… move on?
His chest burned with the kind of ache that didn't scream but simmered....quiet and persistent. He ran both hands through his hair and sat up. The walls of his apartment felt narrower somehow, like they were closing in on him.
He stood up pacing around.....needing air, needing distraction.
She looked happy. Lighter. And she hadn't looked at him like that in weeks.
He rubbed his face with both hands. Maybe this was what she needed… to move on. Maybe she already had.
His thoughts spiraled, circling guilt, regret, and the slow throb of jealousy he hated admitting. He stared blankly at the picture they took on their first date.....wondering if all of it....everything they'd built had already started to fade for her.
Then his phone rang.
Jace almost didn't answer. He didn't recognize the number. But something nudged him. He picked up his phone swiped up.
"Hello?"
"Good morning. Is this Mr. Jace Prescott?" A woman's voice, polished and efficient.
"Yes… speaking."
"This is Marianne Colbert from the VistaCollective Gallery here in Manhattan, we're curating a mixed feature exhibit this weekend titled 'City Light, Soul Sight.' It's a showcase of photographers capturing emotion through everyday pictures. We'd love to feature a collection of your photographs alongside six other artists. We believe your work captures a certain emotional texture..... raw, deeply human."
Jace swallowed, still a little stunned. "That's… flattering. But I haven't really been showing lately. I'm not sure I'm in the right fit."
"That's okay," she said quickly. "We're happy to send someone to your studio to review potential pieces with you. All we're asking is for you to consider contributing 5–7 pieces for the gallery wall. You wouldn't be alone....it's a group exhibition."
He hesitated. "I don't know. I've been taking time off. I'm not even sure the work I've done lately is… ready."
There was a pause. Then, her tone softened.
"Mr. Prescott.....i know I'm a stranger, but your work is already known. People respect it. There's a quietness in your shots that pulls people in. And honestly?.... You being part of this show would help draw even more interest. It's not just about the work....it's about your voice as a storyteller."
He closed his eyes.
Amy used to say the same thing. That his camera told stories he didn't know how to put into words.
When he didn't reply, Marianne continued, gentler now. "I understand you've been low-key lately, no new posts.....you've gone completely radar silent but maybe this could be something good. A reminder of what you love. No pressure....we just really hope you'll say yes."
He sighed.
"You don't have to decide right this second," she added. "But we'd like to send a team member over to your studio to look at the pieces you're willing to showcase. We'll work with you, not pressure you. You'd be helping the gallery as much as we hope to spotlight you."
He was quiet for a beat. His heart still felt heavy, but there was something in her voice...a conviction, maybe. A belief he hadn't had in himself lately.
"…Alright," he said finally, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'll consider it."
"Fantastic! I'll send you an official email with the details and arrange for one of our curators to come by in the next few days to review selections."
"Alright,send someone over, I'll see what I can put together."
"Wonderful!" Marianne sounded genuinely pleased. "We'll be in touch within the day to set up a time. And Jace? This is going to be a beautiful showing."
"Thanks Marianne" he half smiled.
When the call ended,Jace let the silence settle for a moment. He could stay in this situationship, sure. Scroll through the moments he missed. Or he could move forward. Not to forget, but to remember who he was before heartbreak.
The photos from Sophie's party still lingered in his mind but maybe it was time to finally let it all go.