End of event

As the event came to an end, you found yourself standing off to the side, listening to Penny and Sarah as they began the debrief. Penny, as always, started by expressing her gratitude to everyone for their hard work and contribution. Her words were encouraging, and you could see the tired but proud faces around the room as she spoke.

Sarah took over from Penny, diving into the details of what went well and what could be improved next time. She gave special compliments to you, Clara, and Yanni, calling out your dedication and how seamlessly you handled the pressure of the show. Normally, her praise would have filled you with pride, but today, it felt hollow. Your mind was elsewhere, stuck on the earlier interaction with your mom.

Penny and Sarah suggested a celebratory dinner at 6 p.m. to mark the end of a successful event.

The group murmured in agreement, the idea of a well-deserved celebration sounded very appealing.