sm

ng across paper was the only

d under the overhead lights, trying very hard not to think about the fact that I was stan

eling locked in place. Every muscle in my body

lights. There were no inappropriate comments, no smug

charcoal against paper and the occasional crea

ave made th

d the version of him I'd built inside my head. It would have be

s office should have been impossible to separa

y felt like two

he seemed completely absorbed in his work, his attention f

kept noticing t

tration on

pati

et conf

ated that part o

dio before returning to him ag

nce stre

began to form i

deepened, spreading slowly through the muscle until hol

t slightly, hoping

on

fr

adn't even looked up from the sketch. He wa

done, and storm out... but I knew I cou

ead, I

," I m

of his mout

't sound

g to give him the sati

t to complain, especially not to him. So I stayed exactly where I was, ignori

the studio was the steady scr

he cra

so suddenly that a sharp breat

ng sound cea

tened imm

e," I gr

your left side for s

h snapp

more aware of him. Maybe it was the silence. Maybe it was the fact that we were

in front of me,

ne," I

you'r

nywhere inappropriate, simply observing

uncomf

ot," I

ing your shoul

pressed

your

ely lifted

ed me a s

act

, but unfortunate

n. Every movement was precise, as though he were making sm

your sh

led. Then I

tte

settled somewher

ction, nothing more. Yet somehow, it lingered. Which was irri

turned to his easel, the sound of char

different. It wasn't comfortable exac

canvases lined the walls, some stacked neatly, others lean

I looked, there were signs of years of work. It felt less like a work

ne of the larger covered

can

and look

ha

etch, he said, "You've been staring

wn pulled a

cou

ile touche

bser

te way of sayi

nal hazard

nd glanced back at

e they

m the sketch. He studied me for a mom

they're u

would still

t most

r p

rlier. The steady scrape of charcoal continued for several more min

re d

caught me

t's

brows lifte

nd disap

m n

suggested he di

nore

I see

agree. Instead, he reached for a dark clot

unfini

pulled

at leas

sigh l

steppe

in

ly a second before

, everything inside

ete, but that somehow made it more impressive. A few strokes

morning in the mirror. She looked softer. Stronger-comfortab

oat ti

me look

othing. Then his gaze shif

what you l

ngered on t

it's still

s were simple, yet somehow they captured every curve

as g

ly g

uld get

tever spell had set

ly and reached

ess back on, he was already cleaning the studio, putti

turned the way I sa

eached the door,

the easel again,

dnig

ever left

ght, Ja

on the handle as I glanced back at him. Part of me ex

er loo

at bothered me more

pen and stepped into the hallway bef