Pandora Unleashed

New Beginnings

*//⚠️ trigger warnings: mentions of child loss

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The latest letter from Namjoon unfortunately occupied your thoughts as you exited your car. There was no reason for it to be, yet a part of you couldn't help but cuss at yourself for allowing it to get to you. Detective Jisoo was on it as she assured you yesterday.

You shouldn't worry about it. You could trust her.

It was out of your hands. You did what you could to best protect yourself and somewhere deep down, you knew Namjoon wouldn't dare do anything.
He was wanted after all. Almost everyone in town knew his face, thanks to the many flyers your parents made sure were plastered on every window of every store and down to every tree.

Namjoon wouldn't be that dumb, the lingering words of your stepbrother echoed in your mind and you had to believe it.
If there was anything your ex-fiancé wanted more than you, it was his freedom and he wouldn't be so reckless to tamper with it despite how much he believed you were meant to be.

You sighed upon opening your truck and retrieved some of the items you needed for your final showcase when suddenly the nightmare roamed your mind. Its detail became foggier and you couldn't remember its entirety, only the feeling it left you with. As though you were empty with no clear guidance, you fought the urge to light a cigarette and the need to wonder what the dream meant.
Something wanted you to choose between your ex-fiancé and your ex-boyfriend. Although the answer was obvious, you wondered why you sought Namjoon over Jungkook.

Debate.

It wasn't important. Breathe, in and out. There was no reason for you to overanalyze.
It was a dream, it happened, get over it, and that was that. You had far more pressing matters than a fucked up dream that actually made zero sense.

With a hard slam on the car's trunk, you walked inside the gallery. You gazed around at the space Hwasa rented for the event and a sudden sense of sadness washed over you. Come this Saturday evening and you'd no longer be part of the art world.

Some of your photographs were displayed on the walls and you walked over to the images and let out a sigh as the memories rushed back.
You'd fought tooth and nail to be where you were now despite the lack of faith your parents had and the discouraging words of your ex-fiancé.
But you proved them wrong, through hard work and determination, you managed to make a decent living from it, contrary to what your parents initially thought.

Although you had begun to make a name for yourself, you weren't crazy popular. A part of you were grateful for it, but it quickly elevated once your story was made public.
Some people believed the horror you went through with Namjoon while others casted their doubts and proclaimed your claims were nothing but a sheer publicity stunt.
The break was good for you, the time away from work was needed as you recovered, and luckily, the ones that stayed after your story had been made public were the ones whose hearts your art had genuinely touched.

You halted upon an image of a young child, the clear shot of a displeasing look on her face, you grinned at the image. You recalled walking up to the sad child and asking why she wasn't joining the festivities.

That day, the loud noises of a party drew you in. A couple had gotten hitched at the park and you remembered staring at the beautiful couple as they danced, the love between them streaming out of them when the sight of an upset but beautiful girl in a little white attire caught your eye.
You asked why she was sad on a day where love was supposed to be celebrated and her response lingered in your heart.
She wasn't too pleased being forced to be a flower girl, explaining to you how her sister desired the title more but she was too old for the role, and she couldn't understand why she was being forced and not her sister as well. The little girl hated her aunt, the woman who had gotten married, and she didn't want to celebrate the marriage.