CLAIRE

By the time I left the studio that evening, my feet ached and my head throbbed but I felt ready. The showcase was in two days and everything was as prepared as it could be.

Nina walked me to the door, her expression a mix of excitement and exhaustion. "Get some rest tomorrow," she said. "Wednesday is going to be intense."

"I will," I promised, though I doubted I'd actually sleep much.

"And Claire?" Nina added. "No matter what happens, you should be proud, you've built something real."

I hugged her tightly. "Thank you," I said. "For everything, I couldn't have done this without you."

"Yes you could have,"...