, a woman who saw talent in me I' d almost forgotten I possessed. She' d always be

voice was warm, familiar, a balm to the r

That fellowship... the one at the National Arts

u? Always. I told you, your work is exceptional. W

ed whisper. "No, it' s not. B

you need a change. The position is yours if you want it. It

o pack up my life, to leave Cody... The thought was a fresh stab of pain,

ke the words. "I need to. I' ve... I' ve put my art aside for t

you feel small for nurturing it. You sacrificed a lot. I remember how you turned down that residen

alking about his dreams of simple living, of working with his hands. I' d bought into it c

aid, the bitterness coating my tongu

u, Sarah. A fresh start. You' ll be surrou

Really. You have no

, and I' ll forward all the official paperwork. An

strong. I felt shattered, hollowed out. But beneath the p

s suddenly looking brighter, more vibrant. They weren't just cra

ed' s offer was a lifeline. A path back to Sarah Miller,

ad curated was a cage. An