When the second day of the exhibition arrived, my heart was still racing, but this time, it wasn't fear, but intense determination. Selin's shadow still hung over me; her works were there, and every glance, every silent assessment, both spurred me on and motivated me. But now, my sole purpose wasn't her approval, but to show my own light.
That morning, as I was putting the finishing touches on in my studio, Emir called:
"Lina, do you remember? Your light shines brighter when you're brave. Work for yourself today."
His voice made me take a deep breath and ease my anxiety.
As I stepped into the exhibition hall, the audience was intensely examining the works. I tried to focus on my own work while simultaneously observing Selin's impressions of her. Just then, Selin approached. Our eyes met; the silence between us spoke louder than words.
"Lina… you've come a long way," he said softly. "But are you still ready to confront your shadows?" In that moment, I felt both a challenge and a sense of relief. Selin had become not only a rival but also a guide, but I had to be the one to decide.
As the audience approached my works, I suddenly realized that the comments were resonating not only externally but also within me. Facing my own fears and my own light was perhaps the most difficult and most rewarding moment I'd ever had. I raised my brush, my heart pounding, but every line, every color choice, was an expression of my own courage.
Selin took a step back and smiled slightly. "Okay," she said. "It's your time now."
In that moment, I transcended the stage, the audience, and the competition; I was now facing only my own art. Managing the light and shadow within me had made me both powerful and free.
That day, in the middle of the exhibition, I realized that true competition wasn't with others, but with our own limitations. Encountering Selin had offered me an opportunity to demonstrate my own potential. And now, without fear, I could forge my own path.
As I walked back to my studio, I felt a sense of contentment and peace in my heart. The road was still long, the challenges still numerous, but I knew now that I could move forward, guided by my own light.