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 ...