Eden huffed, a little exasperated. “It’s not that easy, Ivy! You don’t know how it feels when the whole future you’ve imagined hangs on a single moment.”

“Eden,” Ivy said gently, “you’re already brilliant. You don’t need a rehearsed speech. Just be yourself.”

Eden shook her head, still smiling. “I’ll never forget that,” she said, a new spark of confidence lighting her eyes. “Now, let’s get ready for the day. I’ve got a museum to impress, and you’ve got… more plants to water.”

Eden took a sip, grimacing at the bitter taste. “You know I hate coffee,” she said, though the smile on her face suggested she didn’t mind the little jab. “You’re just trying to keep me from sleeping in. Not that I need any more reason to be late for my interview.”

Later that evening, Eden returned home, exhausted but exhilarated. Ivy was waiting with a steaming cup of herbal tea, the kitchen now perfumed with lavender.

Ivy, who had been quietly arranging a bouquet of lavender and rosemary, watched her sister’s agitation with a furrowed brow. She could see that Eden’s confidence was wavering, not from lack of preparation, but from the pressure she put on herself.