ve months sinc

blank canvas in front of me before my gaze dro

dents had cleared out to enjoy the weekend, which suited me just fine. The

evitably spiraled back to the exact same pl

t someone had talked. The news had spread like

illain-the unfaithful wife who had betrayed him. It was a narrative that actually worked in

door suddenly

fway across the room before finally glancing up and noticing I

ne here today," he said, slid

the art supplies s

ally work o

tead of answering, I dipped my brush int

g yourself what brings you

thout another word, he gathered a few tubes o

lost in our work. The silence stretching between us was peacef

d closed the dis

e set a cold drink on

, waiting for a

aze with an

ou should hydrate," he said softl

stomach, which was safely hid

us?" I asked, my

, but not enough to draw stares. I had been co

ok his

ined. "I worked around pregnant women for a while. Y

eyebrow in

mused by my

ward last year. I was constantly surrounded by e

zipped my

one for the day," I sai

my shoulder, complete

I added coldly, "but I'd p

esponse, I turned and w

e all at once. My limbs felt like lead. After ordering takeout

h a bowl of pasta and a glass of warm milk, I mi

antly, my m

was eve

el

. The photos showed him standing alone-elegant, aloof, and perfectly co

my teeth

s image. Meanwhile, the media was still having a field

my chest. I gripped my fork so

nd, snapping me out of m

re

th to steady mysel

es

into the receiver. "How are you?

h, quickly wiping away the stray te

lked yester

day ago," she replied d

e was leading u

o you have left

months," I

one-year advanced art program.

ntly. He could be really use

ise briefly drowned her

ct info. You should defi

for a moment, we

finally said, "but I'd rat

nded su

ref

outhwark family anything,"

hed across the line be

I added, soft

ind was

ged entirely to me. Something that did