In the Shadow Of Memory

Chapter 16

A month had passed, and life had shifted into a new routine. Mia found herself buried in her project work, which demanded more time and focus than she had anticipated. As a result, she had less time to delve into the mystery of Mason's disappearance. The detective seemed to be running around town, but his updates had become scarce, almost as if he was aware of Mia's increasing workload and chose not to burden her further.

Mike, concerned by Mia's growing fatigue, often reminded her to slow down. "You're working too hard, Mia," he'd say, his tone both worried and exasperated. "You need to take a break."

Daisy, on the other hand, had been coming home increasingly frustrated. Her relationship with Lucas was becoming a major source of tension. "He's such a jerk," Daisy would vent. "Not my type at all. Sometimes, I even hate going to work."

Tanya, who was also juggling her own responsibilities between school and her barista job, tried to support Daisy and even set her up on a few dates, but nothing seemed to go well. Tanya was also struggling with her own issues, particularly moving on from her ex. Mia could see the strain it was putting on her friend and felt a pang of sympathy.

One evening, Daisy came home wearing a stunning angel outfit—white with delicate wings that shimmered under the light. Despite how beautiful she looked, she seemed anything but happy.

"Wow, you look like an angel," Mia said, admiring the outfit.

"Mhmmm," Daisy sighed, taking off her white boots and plopping onto the couch. "I had a photoshoot for this new advertisement on Instagram. It's just... a lot."

Tanya's eyes widened. "Do you have the pictures from today?"

Daisy shook her head. "No, but my boss will send them to me later." She glanced at the wings and grimaced, feeling their discomfort. "Life is so hard."

"Lucas again?" Mia asked, helping Daisy remove the wings.

"Nooo," Daisy almost whined. "It's not just Lucas. I don't even know what I want anymore. He feels more like a brother now. Anyway, my boss's birthday is coming up, and he invited us to a bar. A few of my friends will be there, so I'll probably go. I just hope Lucas doesn't show up."

With a weary sigh, Daisy trudged to her room. "Good night, girlies," she said, closing the door behind her.

Tanya sat down, her concern evident. "Wow, something is really bothering her."

Mia nodded, turning her attention to Tanya. "Yeah, she's been so off lately."

Tanya changed the subject, "Do you realize Daisy's birthday is coming up in a few weeks? She usually doesn't focus on it until a week before."

Mia's eyes rounded in realization. "I completely forgot about her birthday! I need to find a gift before it's too late."

Tanya continued, "I'm planning to paint her a portrait. She looked so beautiful in that angel outfit today, and I want to capture that. I might need your help to distract her if she starts suspecting anything."

Mia's face lit up. "Of course, I'd be happy to help!"

As Tanya and Mia talked about the surprise, Mia felt a renewed sense of urgency. She had to come up with a thoughtful gift for Daisy and also make sure she was there to support her friend through these tough times. With a determined nod, Mia excused herself and headed to her room, already brainstorming ideas for Daisy's birthday gift. Time was running out, and she needed to act fast.