Chapter 97: Overcoming Together

The morning after the magazine's release felt surreal. I woke up to Jason gently shaking my shoulder, a wide grin on his face. “Lily, wake up! You need to see this,” he said, excitement lacing his voice. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. “What is it, Jason?” He handed me his phone, open to an article about Julia Anderson's review. “Read it,” he urged. I took a deep breath and began to read aloud, “Lily Thompson's work is a breath of fresh air in the contemporary art world. Her pieces are not just visually stunning but emotionally resonant, drawing the viewer into a world of vivid colors and profound narratives. Thompson's ability to capture the essence of human experience is unparalleled…” I stopped reading, overwhelmed by the praise. Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at Jason. “I can’t believe this. It’s more than I ever dreamed of.” Jason pulled me into a tight hug. “You deserve every bit of this recognition, Lily. Your talent is unden