Chapter 30

Ryle leaves early at five-thirty. He doesn't eat breakfast because there's something urgent thing he has to attend, as he says. He just kisses me goodbye and greets me "Stay safe, Stella." I can never get tired of his voice saying my name. Ever. His voice is just already automatically needed by my audience.

After having breakfast and taking a warm bath, I slide into a kind of baggy jeans, a simple peach sweatshirt, and black sneakers. I also bring an umbrella in case it rains during the recession. After rechecking my stuff, I get out of the building and then pedal to school.

It's a cold Monday morning. The streets and people are busy. The skies are blue, but numerous thunderheads are across it. They're quickly flying away though. I hope it doesn't pour later. I have to deliver the canvases to the redesigned studio and rearrange our stuff, especially our storage room. Whatever changed in and on the studio, I hope it's beautiful. Better is acceptable as well. I just