My New Eyes Saw His True Lie

o my entry, a black-and-white shot capturing the reflection of the world in a single raindrop after a storm, with the sun breaking through the clouds-a raw, symbol

their excited chatter just a dull roar. My gaze was fixed on the photograph, already feeling a strange

potlights. Her entry, a vibrant but technically mediocre cityscape, looked like it was copied straight from a travel magazine. I had "heard" him describe her

beaming. "Alright, everyone! Thank you for your incredible participati

dibly close this year! In fact, we have a

r of surprise piercing through my carefully constructed calm.

e, "the Dean of Architecture, Mr. Davies, who was supposed to cast the tie-breaking v

sense of relief. A reprieve. But al

ll have to wait until tomorrow morning for his final decisi

that she hadn't won outright. Leo, ever the charming peacemaker, whispered something in her ear, making her giggl

ery shared glance, every fleeting touch, believing it meant something m

ll, imposing man, finally arrived, looking harried. Sophia immediately detached herself from Leo, rushing to his side. "Dean Davies!

u, Sophia. Yes, it was... productive." He pat

the biggest sponsor for the school's ne

old reassurance. My heart, against my will, fluttered. A foolish, dying ember of hope. He w

ration, and a very difficult decision, I've made my choice for the Annual Photography Exh

ingered for a moment. Then, he turned to my black-and-w

r is... So

om Sophia's friends. My world seemed

s around Dean Davies. "Oh my god!

e was smiling. Not a forced smile, but a

ty. It's bright, it's cheerful, it's... uplifting. A perfect representation of our community values." He beame

n was. Too much for their c

on the cheek. She then looked at me, a smirk playing on her lips. "I

d me. It startled even me.

ry. Dean Davies, patting the sponsor's daughter on the back. The indifferent faces

, a little too saccharine. "Oh, Clara, I'm so sorry! It was so close! But you know, Dean Davies just loved my cheerful colors. He said y

estly, you trying to compete with me? For Leo's attention? It's pathetic. He's wit

but no words came

my voice quiet but f

finality in my tone. Then it returned, wider. "Yes, he did, didn't he? And he'll k

ble. He cleared his throat. "Sophia, that's enough." His

now letting another girl tear me down, defending her with a pathetic, half-hearted plea. My

ene that was ripping me apart. I didn't need their pity, their fake apologies, or their weak excuses. I just needed to l