I did it. And I did it on my own.
“You did good, Cherry.” Vanessa smiles down at me. Today, she isn’t donning the sunglasses, and I love the excitement shining on her face.
When it’s her turn to do the final walk, she clasps my hand and leads me onstage.
In almost a daze, I mince in side by side with Vanessa as thousands of camera flashes hit my face in sync with thundering applause.
By the time I’m backstage, my pulse has skyrocketed, and I feel like I will drop unconscious.
I don’t even remember if I bowed or clapped. Did I even smile?
Vanessa’s grip is the only thing keeping me from falling on the floor as my knees are all ready to give in.
“I walked the runway,” I blurt as soon as Ann joins us and then turns to Vanessa. “I walked with you!”
A ghost of a smile touches her lips. “And you did very good, Cherry.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I could have been better prepared.” My brain goes into overdrive trying to remember how I did up there.
“You were perfect. Don’t you worry,” Ann chirps. But his words don’t help me a bit.
“Why? No designer has ever walked by your side.” I try to remember all the videos I watched in the past month but come up empty-handed.
“You deserved it. This show was as much yours as it was mine,” Vanessa replies, before cruising toward the organizers.
Tonight, when everyone invited me to the bar, I couldn’t say no. We are celebrating after all.
Ann holds his glass of fine Italian wine up to me. “Tomorrow all the newspapers will be raving about you, Clem. We killed it.”
I look around at all the smiling faces. This is how I always imagined my life whenever I sat in my small studio in Cherrywood, working alone, dreaming of a future.
But why does it feel like there is a part of me somewhere, far away?
Hours later, I open the door to my hotel room while Vanessa prances to her own.
I am about to step in when she calls me. “Clementine. Thank you so much for sticking with me.”
I turn around. “Tonight was like a dream, Vanessa. Thank you for trusting me with such a big responsibility.” A lump forms in my throat.
She takes a step closer and we’re standing in the hotel foyer like the previous night.
“Vanessa, about that night?”
“I am too exhausted to go into details, Cherry, and I’m sure you are too. But someday, I might take you up on your offer of listening to my life’s shit.”
She doesn’t explain more. And I wonder for a second if there’s anyone who’s happy in this world.
“Have a good night, Cherry. You deserve some rest.”
I nod. As soon as I close the door, my phone rings and it’s Keith. My body instantly heats up seeing his name.
“Thank God you’re back.”
“Keith!” I’m surprised by his call and the relief in his voice.
“Since the minute Tony told me you were out for drinks, I’ve been worried sick about you.”
“I’m alright. Don’t worry.” My heart skips with hope.