own the glossy cover of the pre-launch

David. Absolu

her smile wide but n

, little thing. A diss

, the city lights of San Francisco glittering behind him like a con

ell me. I'll h

to a conspiratorial whispe

ely, as if shooin

of. They completely clash with the clean, minimalist, and positive-aspirations vibe of Aura. An investor, a big one, even mentio

g in the air

dened. Ethan, our ten-year-old son, our beautiful, gift

a, you're right. This brand launch is tied to the next

urpentine and clay. Ethan was asleep, but I was looking at his latest work. It was a swirling vortex of deep blues an

vid said, not even gl

rway, blocking the

ng to his art ca

tle faster. "What? David, he lives for th

ing a software update. "It's called the 'Pathways Institute.' Victoria recommend

ver hear

tion. They help children channel their talents into more

a chill through

t does that even mean? You

urrent style is a problem. It's seen as a distraction, a liability to m

enched into fists. I could feel t

st send him somewhere to have it stripped away. It will crush him. It

his eyes sweeping over me as if I

ntal ideas about 'art.' You sacrificed nothing. I'm the one building an empire. I'm the

leaving me standing in the

chitect, top of my class. But David' s star rose so fast, and Ethan needed me, and

g in a remote valley, with no windows facing the

t here, Mommy.

eart breaking with every word. The staff were all dre

busy with a "pre-launch

David. It was from a doctor at a hospital near

an incident with yo

pa

s director said he was in the middle of a 'breakthrough s

slipped fr

o

n. My

ed to gray. My boy, my brilliant, hopeful boy, wa