Chapter 56

• The rhythmic pounding of hammers and the buzz of drills filled the gallery space, a cacophony of new beginnings. I stood in the middle of it all, hands on my hips, surveying the progress with a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration.
• The walls, once bare and lifeless, now sported a fresh coat of white, a blank canvas ready to house the dreams I’d nurtured for so long.
• Annie walked in carrying two steaming cups of coffee, her face glowing with excitement. She handed me one and took a seat on the dusty counter we’d been using as a makeshift desk.