Chapter 17

After two months abroad, I had already grown familiar with everything here. I even gave myself a new name—Serena Callahan. This was my fresh start. Everything that once belonged to Alice Campbell was in the past now. I rented a small apartment and filled it with plants. Though the burns on my right hand had healed enough for daily tasks, holding a paintbrush was still impossible. There was regret, of course. Art had always been the most important thing to me. But I refused to be discouraged. This was a new life, after all. Who knew what opportunities might come my way? With that mindset, I focused on adapting. I picked up new hobbies and enrolled in a few classes. I didn't want to drift aimlessly; even if I couldn't paint, I believed I would find another path. And I did. After a month of exploring, I realized I had a knack for photography. My instructor at the class encouraged me to pursue it further, so I did. I signed up for advanced courses. It turned out that my instructor wa