or Mom' s breath

nce I got from my p

r, every spare mi

ns, fewer hours for my actual cou

lmost impossible, looking at the bills piled on our

ller, and this

aks, my mind miles away in a world of silk and ru

bright, told me I ha

ter the "New Vision

n, but your work needs

lone was a week

s old watch, the only

of my heart, but Mom needed

ice. Her health ove

a blur of nerves

materials I' d repurposed, but the desi

he saw

ia Dev

me that was practically a r

st display, her presence sucki

s, with an aura of power that was

a sketch, he

e," she said, her voi

y, her assi

ereaux wante

like a museum of modern art,

A paid one, with a sala

she said, a warm smile on her fac

o overwhelme

g me to dinners, to

ketchbooks, fabrics I' d

my ideas, prai

e was beautiful, powerfu

to fall fo

e feel see

Mom's worried face – it all star

ought. My life wa

too grateful to

us Thorne

toria frequented, a place

essed impeccably, a

e seat opposite

ume?" he said, his sm

s about you. H

an edge to

tending a hand I reluctantly shook. "

n, his voic

w. Young, talented, a li

ach tig

alking about," I said, tryi

kid, I like you. You've got spiri

d out a

ke us. I can help you. A grant, let's call it. Enough to set

igure that m

r your own good," he finished, sl

then at him. "Sh

oes she? Or does she care

test came. I didn' t

more, "reconnecting"

n he was there. More on edg

hone buzzed. A te

ross town. Silly man. Going

s one from a number I didn' t recognize,

re' s water pouring from under your apartment doo

om. Her medicat

a immediately, m

tment, there's a f

can it wait? I'm just on my way to help Marcus wi

it's an emergen

Marcus' s voice in the

ad. Call your superintendent. I' ll ch

hung

like

apartment, my

Rodriguez looked confused

dear. Everyt

against his perfectly fine sports car

er. "She chose

sn't

ith false sympathy. "The pop-up show she funded for you?

nd re

orthern Lights? Our special place.

blow. I was a gh

er past with you, kid.

ul illusion

sick.

words bitter in my mouth. "I'll

s gleamed. "W

check again. This

s were

k away, defeated,

Eth

, not loo

ain off your portfolio. Presentation

preading across the corner of my best sk

"accidentally" bumped my table as I left the ca

t. It was a final, pe

st walked away, the city lig

elt dirty i

a new resolve h

ri

dhood friend, was th

d in me, before Victo

d study design at a real co

Devereaux couldn' t touch, and

t an escape. It