Faded Lines

They say life imitates art, but mine seems determined to make me its accidental masterpiece—complete with smudges, spills, and oh-so-messy edges. My name's Emma, and I'm a painter struggling to find the perfect brushstroke in a city that never stops moving. Once, I thought I had it all—a promising career, a gallery that believed in me, and a love story worth framing. But that was before Kellan, the man who turned my world into a battleground of control and chaos, and Ethan, the one who vanished like a dream I barely remember but can't quite forget. Now, my studio feels more like a cage than a sanctuary, and the art that once gave me life seems to be pulling me under. When Ethan shows up unexpectedly, claiming he's ready to face what we've both been avoiding, my carefully guarded world starts to crack. Add in a looming gallery deadline and a phone call that could upend everything, and I'm left wondering—can I reclaim my voice, or will I always be painting over someone else's lines? This is my story—messy, raw, and maybe a little too colorful for its own good. But then again, isn't that the best kind?