Seinabo Sey - - Pretend

: They danced on the subway platforms, their laughter echoing off the tiled walls where they once stood in tired, morning-rush silence.

: Under the orange glow of stadium lights, they sprinted and spun, soaking in the freedom of having "no tomorrow" to plan for. "All Turned Out as Great as it Could" Seinabo Sey - Pretend

Elara smiled, her throat tight with a "soulful, glimmering" joy. For the first time in her life, she wasn't pretending to be okay. She was simply free. As the sky began to change for the final time, she realized that even if the rumor wasn't true, she would never go back to the way things were. "So far," she said, watching the world glow, "so good". : They danced on the subway platforms, their

As the day progressed, Elara felt a strange peace. She realized that her sorrow was part of the plan—that the "bad" was exactly what she needed to finally "take a chance". Every mistake she had made, every "bittersweet" memory, was just fuel for this one day of pure, unadulterated presence. For the first time in her life, she

Watch the official music video for 'Pretend' to see the visual inspiration behind this story of friendship and liberation: Seinabo Sey - Pretend SeinaboSeyVEVO YouTube• Jul 20, 2015

But with the weight of the future suddenly lifted, the "troubles" that had kept Elara awake for years—the unpaid bills, the career anxieties, the picture others painted of her—suddenly felt out of her hands. The Stomp Through the City

Instead of mourning, they chose to "clap and dance". They stepped out into the dawn, meeting the city as it woke up to its final day. The story of their friendship became a "warmly lit stomp" through their favorite haunts: