d by the large window of her studio, staring out but seeing nothing. Her mind replayed the events of the ga

not like this not with the shadow of so

, startled, turned to see her closest friend, Mia, standing

a knowing smile, setting the cups on a near

k onto a nearby stool

expression one of patient concern. "I

ed focusing on him instead of my work. Someone even

d. "That's not fair, Cla

ice. "But that doesn't change how people see it

on't think the problem is Ethan. It's how you feel about standi

washed clear the muddiness inside her head.

You decide what you want and what you don't. If E

spark of determination catch fire i

ere she stayed. The park had always been her sanctuary, its winding paths

his coat. Clara motioned for him to sit beside her on a weathered bench bene

g," she said, bre

voice gentle. "I was starting to

think. Ethan, I care about you more than I can put into words. But your

odded. "I've been trying to help, but

but I need space to be myself to prove that I can stand on my o

ding. "I don't want that for you, Clara. I never have. Tel

ht my own battles. And I need you to understand that

. "I do trust you. And I don't care if you fit into my world, Cl

ced a feeling of relief. This was not going to be ea

Clara found her voice in defending her independence. They began spending more time in places where both felt comfortable: quiet evenings in

felt natural. Ethan even started sketching in one of Clara's old notebooks, wi

paintings surrounding them. Ethan held up a page from his sketchboo

le," Clara s

nning. "And that's what I want us t

her heart full. "I

he would have wanted that night at the gallery, but it had seemed more like a crossroads instead. She was praised for her work, sure, but it wa

's influence. Clara clenched her fists, frustration boiling beneath her calm exterior. For years, she had fought for her in

Mia walked in with her usual perkiness, hold

a grin, setting the treats on the workbench. She p

ara asked, tryi

o an overthinking black hole," Mia replied, p

es with Ethan. The gallery opening was supposed to be about my art, but the second he wal

yebrow. "And wh

preciated, but it only made things worse.

"Let me guess you're wondering if th

, Mia. I really do. But being with him make

to hold your own in a different set of circumstances. Look, you've always been stubborn and independ

inst the couch. "You m

, smiling. "But noth

ent when life felt too big-a quiet oasis where she could think clearly. She arrived early, sitting on a familiar

et. His usual confidence seemed muted, and something sof

ftly, his voice w

d, motioning for hi

of the city in the background. Finally, Clara sp

bracing himsel

her words carefully. "But when you step in to defend m

quickly. "I stepped in because I hate seeing p

than. But I need to handle those moments myself. If I do

"You're not in my shadow, Clara. In fact, if anything,

tion she had gathered. "I don't want to lose what we have,"

"Okay. Then let's figure this out together. Tell

stated firmly, "and I need us to find a balance where we

"I can do that. I don't want to hold you b

is, a small smile breaking thr

battles herself while Clara put effort into pulling him into the celebration of hers. They slowly started creating t

ather book of sketching's. "When you feel you need to draw

lank pages, touching a

of surprise

d grinned again. "T

. Not good lines, uneven proportions but each page showed glimpses of their life together: t

r heart full. "Th

couragement," Eth

utting the sketchbook and looking int

io, surrounded by her paintings and his sketch

building something that belonged to them, a lif