Part 26: The Exhibition
Maya’s second major exhibition was titled “What Remains.”
It featured photographs she had taken during Edward’s recovery — quiet images of hospitals, of hands holding each other, of light filtering through curtains onto tired faces. It also included older photographs of her mother, and new ones of the brownstone slowly becoming a home.
The opening night was packed.
Edward attended, walking slowly with a cane but refusing to miss it. Vivienne stayed close to his side. Thomas and William both came. Even Eleanor Harrington made an appearance.
Halfway through the evening, Edward pulled Maya aside.
Edward
“I want to buy one of the photographs.”
Maya raised an eyebrow.
Maya
“Which one?”
Edward pointed to a black-and-white image of Lin Chen’s old camera sitting on the desk in the brownstone, with a single ray of sunlight falling across it.
Edward
“That one. I want it in my study.”
Maya looked at the photograph for a long time.
Maya
“Okay. But I’m not selling it to you.”
Edward frowned.
Maya
“I’m giving it to you.”
Edward’s eyes softened.
Edward
“Maya…”
Maya
“You’ve given me enough. Let me give you something too.”
Edward didn’t argue. He simply pulled her into a careful hug.
May you like
Edward
“Thank you.”
For the first time, Maya hugged him back without hesitation.
