Emma didn't paint for three months.
She didn't work at the foundation. She didn't meet with Sophia. She didn't do anything except exist.
She woke up. She made breakfast for her children. She drove them to school. She came home. She sat in her studio and looked at blank canvases.
She didn't feel depressed exactly. She just felt empty.
Damien noticed but didn't push.
He brought her tea in the mornings. He asked how she was feeling. He didn't try to fix her.
One afternoon, Sophia came to the house unannounced.
"We need to talk," Sophia said.
They sat in Emma's studio surrounded by blank canvases.
"I'm angry at you," Sophia said without preamble.
"I know," Emma replied.
"You're not angry at yourself," Sophia continued. "You're not taking responsibility. You're just shutting down. An
