Chapter 218

• The morning light came softly into the studio, not rushing in with brilliance but entering the room as though it, too, was unsure of how to begin. I stood by the window with a cup of coffee in my hands, staring at the space that had once been filled with restless sketches and sleepless nights. It had been too long since I had allowed myself to create without expectation, without deadlines, without the weight of other people’s eyes watching.
• Julian leaned on the doorframe, quietly observing me. He didn’t speak right away, as if he could sense the hesitation still caught in my chest. When he finally broke the silence, his voice was steady, warm, and without pressure.
• “You’ve been circling this for weeks,” he said. “Today feels different, doesn’t it?”