Lila’s P.O.V.
I took a deep breath as I stood in front of the mirror, taking in the reflection of myself in a sleek black dress, the one I had chosen for tonight’s exhibition. It was supposed to be my big night, a moment I had worked toward for weeks, yet I could barely muster the excitement I had felt even a few days ago. My mind was still tangled in the weight of all those bills, in the feeling of helplessness that had clung to me ever since the bank had refused my loan. Because yes, I had gone to the bank, yes I had tried to get a loan in order to pay off my debts, and yes, they had refused.
I dabbed a touch of gloss on my lips and adjusted an earring, but my thoughts were distant, circling the same problem over and over. I had wanted so badly to handle this on my own, to prove I coul
