Chapter 2

The next day, the university's annual photography exhibition hall buzzed like a hive, a stark contrast to the hollow silence in my chest. I had poured my heart into my entry, a black-and-white shot capturing the reflection of the world in a single raindrop after a storm, with the sun breaking through the clouds-a raw, symbolic expression of my own journey. I had spent countless hours in the dark, my camera my only confidante, each click of the shutter a silent scream, a whispered hope.

The award announcement was moments away. I stood among the throng, not really seeing the other students, their excited chatter just a dull roar. My gaze was fixed on the photograph, already feeling a strange detachment from it. It was mine, but it no longer needed to be validated by this place, or these people.

Leo was there, of course, leaning against the wall with his usual entourage. Sophia was draped elegantly over his arm, her perfect blonde curls catching the spotlights. Her entry, a vibrant but technically mediocre cityscape, looked like it was copied straight from a travel magazine. I had "heard" him describe her working on it, often laughing with her, while I meticulously adjusted my aperture and shutter speed in a dark room, creating depth and shadow in my own piece.

The head of the art department, Professor Abrams, bustled to the front, beaming. "Alright, everyone! Thank you for your incredible participation!" Her voice was bright, but my blood ran cold with a familiar unease.

She held up two index cards. "It was incredibly close this year! In fact, we have a tie between Clara Foster and Sophia James!"

A gasp rippled through the crowd. My head snapped up, a flicker of surprise piercing through my carefully constructed calm. A tie? After everything, was I still to be measured against her?

"Unfortunately," Professor Abrams continued, a frown briefly marring her cheerful face, "the Dean of Architecture, Mr. Davies, who was supposed to cast the tie-breaking vote, was unexpectedly called away to an important city planning meeting this morning."

A collective groan. I felt a strange sense of relief. A reprieve. But also, a knot of dread. This wasn't over.

"So," Professor Abrams said, trying to regain control. "We'll have to wait until tomorrow morning for his final decision. Until then, both works will be displayed side-by-side!"

The crowd dispersed, murmuring about the tie. I watched Leo and Sophia. She was already pouting, clearly annoyed that she hadn't won outright. Leo, ever the charming peacemaker, whispered something in her ear, making her giggle. He glanced in my direction, a quick, unreadable look, then turned back to her, wrapping an arm around her waist.

It was a painful echo. I used to care like that. I used to hang onto every shared glance, every fleeting touch, believing it meant something more. Now, it was just a performance, a public display for their audience.

The next morning, the tension was palpable. Students crowded the exhibition hall, waiting. The Dean of Architecture, Mr. Davies, a tall, imposing man, finally arrived, looking harried. Sophia immediately detached herself from Leo, rushing to his side. "Dean Davies! We've been waiting for you!" she chirped, a hand gently touching his arm, her smile dazzling and fake. "Hope your meeting went well."

Dean Davies gave her a tired smile. "Thank you, Sophia. Yes, it was... productive." He patted her hand, a gesture of paternal affection.

My stomach clenched. Sophia's father was the biggest sponsor for the school's new architecture building. Everyone knew it.

Leo, now alone, caught my eye. He gave me a small, almost imperceptible nod, a ghost of an old reassurance. My heart, against my will, fluttered. A foolish, dying ember of hope. He wouldn't let them take this from me. Would he? He knew how much my photography meant. He knew.

"All right, students," Dean Davies announced, clearing his throat. "After careful consideration, and a very difficult decision, I've made my choice for the Annual Photography Exhibition grand prize winner." He paused, scanning the faces. My breath caught in my throat.

He looked at Sophia, then at her photograph. His gaze lingered for a moment. Then, he turned to my black-and-white print, a flash of something unreadable in his eyes.

"The winner is... Sophia James!"

The hall erupted in cheers, mostly from Sophia's friends. My world seemed to tilt again. A slow, sickening lurch.

Sophia squealed, throwing her arms around Dean Davies. "Oh my god! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Leo clapped, a slow, deliberate sound. He was smiling. Not a forced smile, but a genuine, proud grin directed at Sophia.

"Sophia's photograph," Dean Davies continued, over the fading applause, "truly captures the vibrancy of our city. It's bright, it's cheerful, it's... uplifting. A perfect representation of our community values." He beamed at her. "Clara's work, while technically proficient, was perhaps a little... obscure for our campus setting."

Obscure. That's what my pain was. Too much for their cheerful, superficial world.

Sophia, glowing, turned to Leo, who gave her a quick, triumphant kiss on the cheek. She then looked at me, a smirk playing on her lips. "I told you, Leo," she mouthed, her eyes sparkling with malicious glee.

A bitter, dry laugh escaped me. It startled even me. But it was real. So real.

My gaze swept over the scene. Leo, arm around Sophia, basking in her reflected glory. Dean Davies, patting the sponsor's daughter on the back. The indifferent faces of the crowd. I was an outsider, an inconvenient truth in their perfect narrative.

Sophia, seeing my reaction, detached herself from Leo and approached me. Her voice, usually perfectly modulated, was now a little louder, a little too saccharine. "Oh, Clara, I'm so sorry! It was so close! But you know, Dean Davies just loved my cheerful colors. He said yours was a little... dark. Maybe next time, try something a bit less... you know." She gestured vaguely at my photograph. "Less... you."

She paused, then lowered her voice, though I could still hear every word. "And honestly, you trying to compete with me? For Leo's attention? It's pathetic. He's with me, Clara. Get it through your thick skull. He's tired of being your guide dog."

My mouth opened, but no words came. My chest heaved.

"He chose," I said, my voice quiet but firm. "He chose you."

Sophia's smile faltered for a second, surprised not that I spoke, but at the cold finality in my tone. Then it returned, wider. "Yes, he did, didn't he? And he'll keep choosing me. Because I can actually be a girlfriend. You're just... a project."

Leo, who had been watching us, suddenly looked uncomfortable. He cleared his throat. "Sophia, that's enough." His words were weak, a mere whisper against her sharp cruelty.

I looked at him, really looked at him. The boy who promised to be my eyes. The boy who was now letting another girl tear me down, defending her with a pathetic, half-hearted plea. My last shred of hope shriveled and died. It wasn't just Sophia. It was him. He was complicit.

A strange calm settled over me. The quiet, empty calm of absolute loss. I turned away from Sophia, from Leo, from the scene that was ripping me apart. I didn't need their pity, their fake apologies, or their weak excuses. I just needed to leave. I pushed through the crowd, my black-and-white photograph blurring behind me. It was obscure, yes. And it was mine.