Wingless;

he L

rap of my bag, listening to the air conditioning cycle on

on my desk. It hadn't

er of my workspace; my name was written acr

Lyris

that. And no one had come into my office whil

ke a prop placed slightly off-mark. Finally, I set my bag down and crossed the room. T

s, or identifying mark at all.

at first, then agai

ou earned it through your hard work,

d the envelope; there was no logo, watermark, or trace of perfume or ink smud

asn't encouragement but This was writte

bility that someone had mistaken my desk fo

throwing it away. I told myself I'd ask about

slip away if I looked at it too directly. I rested my palms o

in North Carolina to this. Alister is

cabs passed my side of the street, and after the thir

the evening

ved. That was when I noticed the distance behind m

footsteps sl

this was New York and patterns happened whether you invited

ned s

me or if it actually happened. Someone bumped my shoulder and muttered an apolog

htness in my chest. Get a grip, I

lung uncomfortably to my back. Ali stood near the entrance, deep in co

knew him. I slowed down and caug

our age are raving about it." Hi

anced up and spotted me. His

sight of him. Behind Ali, the neighbor turned

again. He didn't even turn around; he nodded t

cou

alone speak so easily with him. "Hey,"

over me, raising goo

much insight. "You have news," he

ightness in my chest. "I got pro

ng and turned to

"I'm proud of you," he said, patting my head

_____

starting from finding the envelope and then someone following me in t

out on the balcony. I flipped to a blank page, penci

ed acoustic guitar. The kind of tune that sounded like it ha

against the wall as he played. He wasn't performing; he had no idea he had an audienc

hout meaning to. The

o view, blonde, pale, and sculpted so perfectly she looked unreal in the light from

fingers beneath his shirt. His body went ri

h tightened. I snapped my sketchbook shut. "Unbelievable," I muttered, lou

_______

got to the office

just waiting to be occupied. I unlocked my cabin, already plan

ed on my desk. It was the same si

rather than tied. I closed the door behind me and stood there lon

letter an

tained more words of admiration for me, and I was convinced that someone

carefully and pla

hat I would dea

ittered tables, and conversations circled back to color and texture.

d to arrive every mornin

to find one neatly positioned where my keyboard should have been. Some made me uncomfortable

ly confused. He mentioned that a few had been dropped at the front desk. No name was given. The

them either. I stacked them neatly in my drawer, the pile grow

ong the way, their presence

d at my door, I had almost forgotten ab

Lara would li

up and smoothing

oon, Mr. and

an replied, already lea

it," Lara

d in her crib, her bright blue eyes blinking open before sett

d softly. She lifted Zara wit

ind her, leaving me

bmitted revised designs this morning; I'm stil

them," he

eady and thoughtful. As if he was waiting to

her seat and nudging Stephan with a t

expression softening. "Ximara, your work is outstand

I said, man

ard. "We have a bi

se qui

"You have two options: stay wher

they hoped to capture. As he spoke, my mind raced ahead of him, s

. I didn't think twice about it. I've

o decide," Lara sai

long," I said bef

tion. "If you accept, you will hav

. "It's n

tly. "Change of venue

e?" I

word permeated th

ething tighten

lowly. "I

ice, my mind felt

wer without thinking. Perhaps this opp

___