d begun. Twenty-

uiet, a vast, echoing space that felt more like a museum than a home.

new something was shifting. I hadn't told her every

ough for her to pay her rent. She' d stayed out of loyalty, and because she genuinely believed in my work. She had never liked Sop

d one afternoon, setting a cup of coffee on my desk. She di

ome estate planning

I saw the look in her eyes. S

social media. She was surprisingly public about it, framing her constant presen

mentioning Sophia Hayes's "unwavering support" for David Chen's company, 'Elysian Labs.' A photo of them on a yacht in Monaco, supposed

el life with the man she truly loved. It didn't even hurt anymore. It

two day

s assistant, a perpetually st

to bother you, but Ms. Hayes wanted me to make sure yo

t she was talking

e main sponsors. She had one of your early pieces, 'Urban Solitude,' insta

rgetting to tell me thing

unity for you," Chloe continued, her voice

would have been a huge moment for me. I would have been thrilled, grateful. I would have carefully picked out a suit, felt a nervous flutter in my

ht of it just

he very piece she had bought that first night in the gallery.

? Are you s

y voice flat. "Thank you f

said she would save yo

layed next to her. The artist husband.

Why bother? What was the point? My lif

ifferent thou

ded t

o stand in the back of the room and watch her in her natural habitat, watch her performance. I wanted to see my painting, the symbol

quiet confirmation. A

l be there,"

t her table. I would go, watch,