week, Cassie, regardless of how you go a

bled. The red lettering shouted at me, "EVICTION NOTICE." Br

d was collapsing in the present when I heard

to calm my voice. "I'll come up with

in my voice, though. More t

the weight of the entire planet. "I apologize, but I am unab

d closed my eyes. The one thing I had worked for, battled for, and loved more than anything else w

r. However, it persisted, mocking my incapacity to correct this and teasing me with its strong lettering. I had inves

unable to. Not when artists were depending on me. Not after everything I had invested in

felt like conceding defeat to ask for help.

hough the walls were closing on me with each breath. The picture of my best friend Sophie and I laugh

and called her. Before she answered, the phone ran

! What's

. I wasn't feeling well. She was also able to

ble to visit?" Despite my best efforts, I k

end paused. "Obviously.

rved as a haven for me, a creative hub for artists without other options. I had vowed not to let them down, but

. She was standing in the doorway, her typically vivacious deme

t her eyes softened when she saw me standing in the middle of

nto the couch and buried my face in my

This is not something I can do. I must maintain the center. I've put in

before me. "Cass, look at me." She spoke softly yet firmly. "

s nothing else to discover. I have run out of time. I do

owing as her face hardened. "You've

You simply must swallow your

d, "I don't need help," but even I didn

to her feet. "I've witnessed you go above and beyond

to my stomach at the idea of seeking assistanc

struggle going on inside of me. "

k alone either. We'll

p out of my throat, I

ppens if it'

poke above

t next to me. "There is still time. You will be all

though, I w

this the end of it? I could feel the walls closing in and the weight of every choice

ether I had failed

hings will improve. All you have to do is take th

ble beside me before I could reply

sage flashed across the screen,

ing in that debt now. Think o

me like a slap in the face. I could only

know how to escap

nced up at Sophie. "I think I