Chapter 67 Memorial Exhibition & Emails

Chapter 67 Memorial Exhibition & Emails
The Fashion Department has transformed the west wing of one of its studios into a memorial exhibition honouring Lily. A studio mainly used to showcase the department’s finest student creations will now have a wing that is dedicated to telling her story.

Walking in we roam around the studio, looking at different designs from past students. The studio is filled with the dean and lecturers mostly from the fashion department, some of Lily's former classmates and then there's us.

A design catches my eye, calling at me and as I walk closer to it I see why it caught my attention. This is one of the best works by Lily, for days I had watched her as she was sewing this gown. It's a long black gown, with pearls around the chest area, handstitched by her.

“This is still by far her best creation.” Mo compliments the dress standing by my side.

“Right?”

“Wow! I never saw the end product. She was drawing this the last time she visited me in Italy.” Liam's rough voice says from behind us.

Silence settles between us with background noise from the people talking around the studio.

“Ladies and gentleman,” says a voice at the far end of the room and the room quietens down.

“Thank you for honouring this invite, my name is Luca Markbug, head of the fashion department.” 

“Today's about honouring a young woman who should have graduated along with everyone yesterday, almost a year ago Lillian Jacobs was brutally taken from us.”

Luca, the head of department gestures we follow him and walks to the secluded part of the studio that I hadn't seen.

Liam suddenly halts in front of us, making me bump into him. I walk around him with Mo behind me to see what has him so still. I mimic him, halting halfway as my eyes take in this side of the room.

There in front of us Luca and the faculty dean unveiling a plaque written, “Friend. Designer. Dreamer. In loving memory of Lilian Sarah Jacobs. Your creativity continues to inspire every student who walks through these halls”.

Some of Lily's designs on marquees and sketches over the years at the university along with her portfolio cover every inch of the west wing of the studio. There's a big sign on the wall that says, “Lily Couture Memorial”. The designs range from her first assignment to the latest dress she designed in her final year.

“These are some of the designs Lily crafted over the years, she wasn't just a fashion designer, but also had an eye for styling. She created trends and left her mark in the industry despite the fact that she was still so young.” Luca says as before gesturing for the dean to take over.

"Although Liliana was unable to complete the internship required for the award of her Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design, the university wishes to confer upon her a posthumous degree in recognition of her outstanding academic achievements, exceptional talent, and the promise she showed." The dean says, looking our way, at Liam.

Liam joins the dean and shakes her outstretched hand as she hands him the degree folder and frame as she announces, “The Faculty of Arts also wishes to give you this framed certificate announcing The Liliana Sarah Jacobs Creative Excellence Award.” The room is filled with applause at the dean's words while Liam wipes quietly at his eyes.

“This award will be awarded from this academic year to graduating fashion students who demonstrate exceptional creativity, innovation and passion for the craft– qualities Lily embodied every day.” Applause is heard throughout the studio as I wipe away stray tears.

“Trust Lily to become an annual event.” Mo says and I try not to laugh, but lose it. Laughing at her words and crying simultaneously.

Liam shakes the dean and HOD’ s hands and thanks the university for the honouring of his sister and finishes off with, “I'm not one for attention, but I'm sure Lily would have been thrilled right now.” Which causes people to laugh.

“Remember when she forced us to model her plastic and sheets as her designs in freshman year?” I ask Mo as Liam approaches.

“She never took no for an answer when it came to her fashion parades.” Mo adds laughing.

As we leave the university that afternoon, I realise that moving forward doesn't mean leaving others behind. I'm ready for the next chapter of my life, but that doesn't mean I stop walking beside the people I love. Mo and Liam still need someone to remind them to breathe, to grieve Lily, and to believe that one day the pain won't feel quite so heavy. 

Letting go was never about forgetting her—it was about learning to carry her memory without letting it stop us from living.

............

I'm sprawled across the couch at Hayden's apartment, watching Masked Singer when my phone vibrates with a message which I ignore, too absorbed in the show to get up from my comfortable position.

As I'm singing along to the song my phone vibrates again. I groan, get up from the couch, and walk over to where my phone is charging in the wall socket to see who's been messaging.

My eyes bulge out when I see the notifications on my screen, it's not text messages, but emails. One from New York University and the other from Wake Forest University. I exhale slowly, my chest tightening as I take in both emails.

They've accepted my application, and now I will have to choose where to study. New York University is home, familiar and Wake Forest University is known for online counselling programs and offers a new chapter, it feels like freedom.

I slump on the couch with a heavy sigh, not a fan of choices. I'm a Libra. Indecisive is basically my default setting.

“Baby, is something wrong?”

I look up from my phone and see Hayden standing nearby, watching me with concern.

“How long have you been standing there?” I ask instead.

“I just got here, I called out, but you didn't hear me.”

I hand Hayden my phone, too overwhelmed to answer his previous questions.

“Two acceptance letters? That's great!”

“But why do you look like you aren't happy? Are you worried about tuition fees? I can help you with those.”

Oh, this man. Always willing to be there for me. How did I get so lucky to have him as mine?

“Thanks love, but my grandparents set aside money for Noah and I to help us with tuition. I'm just shocked that they both accepted me and now I have to choose between the two.” I elaborate.

Hayden comes closer and sits next to me, “I'm proud of you and know that you'll choose the best university for you.”

“Thank you.”

Hayden hums as reply and caresses my arm as we both watch the now ending Masked Singers, a comfortable silence setting around us.

“Are you sure you want me to move in? You missed your sports show because I was watching Masked Singer.

“Yes baby—150%. This isn't just mine anymore. It's ours now.”

"Ours. I like the sound of that."