Simple Life

“Lia, could you come help me with this?” Mei called out from the kitchen, her voice warm but slightly strained as she stirred a large pot of stew.

Lia placed her paintbrush down, the bristles still coated in shades of earth-toned pigments. She stepped back from her easel, wiped her hands on her apron, and headed toward the kitchen.

The house was small but cozy, the walls lined with family photos and sketches that Mei and Samuel had collected over the years. It wasn’t much in terms of luxury, but it was home.

“What is it, Mom?” Lia asked, leaning against the doorframe, her eyes still half-focused on the unfinished landscape she had been working on.

Mei glanced over her shoulder with a smile. “Can you fetch the fresh bread from the counter? I’m trying to get the stew just right, but this recipe needs a little extra attention today.”

Lia nodded, walking over to the countertop where a warm loaf of bread sat, freshly baked that morning. As she reached for the bread, she thought about how small gestures like this—helping her parents with their little tasks—had always been a part of her routine. She was content with the simplicity of it all.

“Anything exciting happening today?” Mei asked, lifting the spoon to taste the stew.

Lia bit her lip, a hint of playfulness in her voice as she turned to look at her mother. “Well, I was thinking of working on a new piece. Something that might actually sell this time.”

“Sell?” Mei raised an eyebrow, teasing. “You’re going to become a famous artist now, are you?”

“I don’t know about famous,” Lia replied with a soft laugh, “but I do think I’ve got a good shot at it. Someone has to appreciate my work eventually.” Her voice softened as she glanced down at the bread in her hands. “I’ve been thinking a lot about how things could be different. I know we don’t have much, but I can make it.”

Mei’s expression softened as she turned to face Lia fully. “Sweetheart, you already have so much. Your art, your heart… You don’t need to worry about anything else. We’re doing fine here.”

Lia smiled, though there was a part of her that felt a flicker of longing for something more. Not that she would ever express it out loud. She loved her family dearly, and they were everything to her, but sometimes, she couldn’t help but dream of a different life, one where she could take her art to bigger places, far beyond the confines of Willowbrook.

The kitchen door swung open just then, and Samuel walked in, his work boots still covered in the dirt from the long day. His face lit up when he saw Lia, though the fatigue in his eyes was clear.

“Smells good in here,” he commented, pulling off his coat and hanging it by the door. “I’ve got some news. The town council is still looking for someone to help with the new mural at the community center. I told them you might be interested.”

Lia’s heart skipped a beat. The mural was a huge opportunity, and the idea of working on it thrilled her. The problem was, she had no idea if her skills were ready for something like that. But there was no way she could turn it down.

“Oh, I’d love to do it!” Lia said, her voice bubbling with excitement. “I think it could be perfect for me. When do I have to decide by?”

Samuel chuckled, pulling out a chair at the table. “Well, I think they’d like to start planning in the next week or two. You’ve got time to think it over. But if you’re serious, you’ll want to start working on some ideas soon.”

Lia’s mind began to race, her heart filled with anticipation. This was it, the break she had been waiting for. She could feel it—the spark of something bigger, something that could lead her beyond the small town where she’d spent her whole life.

She was still lost in her thoughts when Mei’s voice cut through. “Dinner’s almost ready. Why don’t you go and call in the boys?”

Lia stood up from the table, wiping her hands on her apron. She opened the back door and stepped into the yard, the cool evening air brushing against her cheeks. The scent of pine and wildflowers lingered in the air, mixing with the earthy aroma of the garden her mother tended so lovingly.

From the corner of the yard, she spotted her adoptive brother, Dan, who was tossing a ball with his best friend, Cain. They had been close since childhood, sharing more than just a friendship—there was a bond of loyalty that had always been unspoken but deeply understood.

“Dinner’s ready!” Lia called, leaning against the doorframe.

Dan looked over and waved, signaling Cain to head inside with him. They jogged toward the house, the easy camaraderie between them evident in their shared laughter.

“You two never stop, do you?” Lia teased, watching as they entered through the back door.

“Well, we’re not getting any younger,” Dan said with a grin, before nudging Cain. “You’ll have to excuse us. We were working on our championship skills.”

Cain shot him a mock glare. “I was just trying to keep up with him.”

Lia chuckled, stepping aside to let them pass. Cain had been her childhood friend before life pulled them in different directions. While they hadn’t been close for years, the bond they shared as children never really disappeared. Cain had been there for her through everything, even when she didn’t remember much about their time together.

“Sit down, everyone,” Mei called, pulling out the chairs at the dinner table.

The family settled around the table, the chatter light and comfortable as they dug into the stew. Lia couldn’t help but smile as she listened to her parents and Dan joke and laugh. There was something so simple about these moments that made her feel at peace—like nothing could ever go wrong.

But deep down, as she glanced out the window toward the setting sun, Lia knew she couldn’t ignore the ache inside her. She had always felt like she was meant for something bigger, something that stretched far beyond this small town.

As the meal came to an end, Mei stood up to clear the dishes. “Lia, how about you and I go over the mural ideas tonight? I know you’ve got a few things you’ve been sketching.”

Lia’s heart raced at the mention of the mural. It was a big step, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready for the pressure. But the thought of being involved in something important—something that could change everything—was too tempting to resist.

“Yeah, let’s do that,” Lia agreed, pushing her chair back and standing up.

As she headed toward the kitchen, a sudden thought crossed her mind. She had lived a simple life, but was it really enough? Was there something waiting for her beyond the horizon, something that could pull her out of this quiet town and into a new world?

Before she could dwell on it further, her phone buzzed in her pocket.

She glanced at the screen.

An unknown number.

With a slight frown, she answered it. “Hello?”

The voice on the other end was smooth, deep, and unmistakable in its confidence. “Is this Lia Tan?” the man asked, his tone almost too polite.

“Yes, this is she,” Lia said, her heart beginning to race. “Who is this?”

“I’m Vincent Casella,” the voice responded, smooth as velvet. “And I think it’s time we have a conversation about your future.”

Lia froze, her grip tightening around the phone. The way he said it sent a chill down her spine. She didn’t know it then, but this was the moment everything would change.