WHAT I FEEL: I feel a sense of reflection.
Air buzzed faintly with music hushed by layers of laughter and chatter. The party was in full swing. Streamers in shades of gold and copper hung in languid spirals.
She stands near the edge of the party, her fingers wrapped around a cool glass of whiskey amber hue, catching the glint of the room's golden glow. Rings adorned her fingers, each one different: some subtle, some bold, a gallery of moments and milestones. The weight of them was comforting, familiar, as if they whispered secrets only she could hear.
A group of friends waved at her from across the room, beckoning her over. She smiled, lifting her glass in acknowledgment but stayed rooted where she was. Tonight was as much for celebration as it was for reflection.
She looked down at hands admiring intricate craftsmanship of jewelry. Diamond ring on middle finger had been gift from grandmother—an heirloom passed down through generations. Yellow gemstone glowing like captured sunlight was something she had bought for herself day she got promotion. Black onyx ring? That had been memento from first solo trip abroad—a talisman of independence.
Whiskey swirled in her glass, a tilt sending it into a circular motion, catching the light. She took a small sip; the warmth spread through her chest like a quiet fire. It was her drink of choice for nights like this-night's where the world moved fast and slow all at once.
The music slowed down, and the room exhaled. Couples meandered onto the makeshift dance floor, their bodies swaying in a common cadence. She felt the magnetic pull of a moment, the kind that makes you wonder if you are standing still while the world is turning around you.
"Deep in thought?" a voice interrupted.
She turned her head to find Marcus standing beside her, holding a glass of his own. He was an old friend-someone who had been part of her life long enough to know when she was truly present and when she was retreating inward.
"Something like that," she replied, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "Just. taking it all in."
He followed her gaze to hands and glass she held. "You always did have knack for savoring moment," he said note of admiration in voice.
She laughed lightly. "And you always have knack for sneaking up on people."
They stood in companionable silence for while watching room around them shift and swirl like living painting. Eventually Marcus spoke again.
"Do you ever stop to think about how far you've come?" he asked, indicating subtly the rings on her fingers.
Her smile deepened. "All time," she said. "Tonight especially."
It had been a year of triumphs and trials, of learning and unlearning, holding on and letting go. A party marked one chapter done and another undertaken-a declaration that she was here, alive, ready for whatever next came along.
As she took that last sip of whisky, she put the glass on the nearest table and turned to Marcus.
"Enough standing around. Let's dance," she said impishly.
He grinned, offering her his hand. Together they moved toward the center of the room, sequins on her dress catching light with every step. And as the music swelled and the crowd embraced the rhythm, she felt the weight of the past year lift, replaced by the boundless promise of the night ahead.
Lots of love from jhymie 🥰