Zinnia stood near the stage, her glass of cider forgotten in her hand as she reflected on the success of the night. The energy in the room had settled into a comfortable hum, with small groups of people chatting, laughing, and exchanging compliments about the movie. She was startled out of her thoughts by the familiar sound of Samuel's voice behind her.
"You did it," Samuel said, his tone calm but carrying an undercurrent of admiration.
Zinnia turned, meeting his warm gaze. "Sam, I didn't see you there."
He smiled faintly and took a step closer. "I've been watching you from across the room. You've been handling everyone like a pro, but I figured you could use a moment to just… take it all in."
She chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's overwhelming, in a good way. But it's not just me. It's the whole team. We made this happen together."
