The Exhibition

Zoey was simultaneously excited and terrified of the exhibition she was preparing. We tried to disturb her as little as possible so she could focus on her work. It was a special honor for her and we wanted to support her there. Unfortunately, my shift was that day, but I asked Sebastian to cover for me, which he readily agreed to while wishing he could come.

My friend went to the gallery early in the morning to make sure that all the paintings and two sculptures that were part of her installation were set up properly. The university had its own building intended only for this purpose, often also lent to other academic units. We even got a special invitation, which made me a bit nervous. I wasn't sure what to wear, but Zoey confirmed that modest elegance would suffice, no floor-length dresses, stilettos, or pearls. I also bought her a huge, colorful bouquet that she definitely didn't expect, and booked a table at the restaurant where I was going to take her to celebrate her success.

I also invited Judy, Ronald, and Cee Cee who, along with Tristan, persuaded many other ghosts to come look around and give their opinion. They knew they didn't have much to offer, and they wanted at least a few people to see her work, even if only she and I among the living knew it.

On the spot, I was surprised at how many people were present, even before the official opening and greeting of guests by the rector. Zoey didn't get the best place, it seemed to me that from her story, she was supposed to be provided with a wall in a clearly visible place, not some corner. I was a bit nervous and was ready to make a scene on her behalf. She found time to come over to us for a moment, so I asked what was the matter.

"A friend was very keen on proper lighting, which is missing here, so she asked me to switch with her," she replied but smiled. “It even suits better, now I like it even more. Be sure to watch the whole thing," she reminded. “Everyone here is really talented."

She glanced at her watch and announced that she had to go so that, as the rector had instructed, they would gather at the podium a moment earlier. We were also slowly heading in that direction, more and more people gathered, from whom the excitement was emanating. I was sure that they were not only family and friends of the awarded students, but also important people from the local artistic circle. The rector gave the opening speech, greeted all the guests, and introduced his students, lavishly praising them. When my friend's name was mentioned, of course, I clapped as hard as I could.

We went to see the other works, but nothing particularly captivated me. I wasn't an art expert, but I had a relatively good appreciation for craftsmanship and technique. With many installations, however, I had the impression that a coherent story was missing, as if the artists wanted to show a cross-section of their abilities and skills. I returned to Zoey's work and found a man there, a few years older than us and quite handsome. He looked at me curiously and smiled. Tristan glared at me as I gestured back, but I asked him not to let jealousy get him.

"It's a little chilly in here, isn't it?" said the mysterious guest, I didn't want to tell him that it was because there are quite a lot of ghosts around us.

"That's right," I confirmed. "What do you think about this installation?"

"I don't know much about it, I'm a doctor, and my younger brother forced me to come here, but I don't regret it. Somehow this love story, and the different emotions that shaped it, affect me. I'd like to meet the person who made it," he said sadly as if he didn't hope it would happen.

Zoey didn't put in the description what kind of story her works told, and he guessed it easily. The euphoria of falling in love, the hope for a happy future together, the brutal reality, fear, aggression, and finally freedom and the search for lost peace and trust. It was the story of her relationship with Michael, she told me it helped her get through it, analyze everything calmly and learn a lesson from life.

"It's him," I suddenly heard Cee Cee's excited voice behind me, she looked at her questioningly. "Yesterday was a good day for love prophecy, you didn't bring a friend to see me, so I decided to get the information myself. I saw that this man was meant for her."

"Actually, the author is my closest friend. I won't give you her number, but I'd love to introduce her to you," I said with a smile, knowing Cee Cee was never wrong.