A month later, Jade found herself face-to-face with Lucas, a musician she met through Camille at a live music event. Lucas was magnetic, with his guitar in hand and a charming smile that made him seem larger than life. He was a regular at the cafe where Camille sometimes performed, and he had an intensity that drew Jade in right away.
They started seeing each other regularly, meeting at jazz clubs and rooftop bars, where they'd talk late into the night. For the first time since moving, Jade felt like she was living a dream—city lights, music, and romance all wrapped into one.
But as they grew closer, Jade noticed that Lucas had his own struggles. He wasn't very supportive of her ambitions, often brushing them off or teasing her when she talked about her work. "Why work so hard for something you don't even love?" he'd say. At first, she brushed it off, convincing herself he didn't mean it. But soon, his comments began to wear on her.
One night, after Lucas dismissed her excitement about a small success at work, Jade confronted him. "You know, I'm trying to build something here. Maybe it's not as exciting as performing, but it matters to me," she said, her voice wavering.
Lucas just shrugged. "I just don't get why you'd waste your time on something you're not passionate about."
Jade felt a surge of frustration and a bit of clarity. Lucas saw the world through his lens only, and for all his passion, he couldn't support hers. That night, she left early, feeling torn but empowered, realizing that a partner should lift her up, not dismiss her dreams.