ed with

states. A passing executive with too much time on his hands. But today marks

o licens

no mo

he feeling I couldn't quite name. The garden below shimmered like always - washed in

is exactly. Just thi

hing holdin

nery, and I keep changing the entrance. It's silly. But something about the original design just feels too exposed

on lavender stems. My sketchpad was pressed against my chest, my tablet tucked under my arm, but I barely touched e

ried to steady my thoughts. The koi drifted lazil

ing look

idn't fee

ing beside me.The screen lit

own N

into my stomach.I should've let it ring.

ell

g. Just air. Like

he

dn't walk a

e body w

oice cracked.

li

ine we

e screen like it might explain itself. B

d qu

hile I wasn't paying attention. Like something - or s

sunlight and silence t

open on the gravel. I didn't pick it up. I just walked - fast

the door shut behin

ntryway, one hand against the wood, the other

it a

e from

I was? Or when I walk the garde

thought about calling my fath

atched. Someone called me

f. Tell me I was

ws. I didn't draw the curtains - that would've felt l

was sti

ll d

l wai