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Depression took over, suicidal thoughts bo his ht or function norrew desperate for the sensation, seeking her out ot to the point where he was constantly high, everything falling to the wayside in his quest to feel

His doard spiral was abrupt, a twelve-story fall straight to the ground

The Novak Gala, held twice a year in an upscale gallery just north of Chelsea, always drew the athered to celebrate local artists, froraduate students at the surrounding schools Pieces were auctioned off for charity, supporting art programs in the underfunded public schools, and thetalent It was a highly anticipated event in the community, but possibly even more so for the students at SVU

For at every event, soiven the opportunity of a lifetiiven a topic and had to subed by the administration The competition was stiff--out of the three thousand sub picked were less than one percent, but it didn’t stop the students fro they had

Nove, and with it ca panel The theala was "coldness" and Haven stayed busy, creating scene after scene of dra rain--before finally settling upon a painting of a field with falling snow Sireen She spent Thanksgiving holed up in her small apartment, surrounded by war, as she ate dinner straight out of the carton from the local Chinese delivery place She hardly noticed it was a holiday, too engrossed in her work, too deters

When the school reopened the Monday after Thanksgiving, Haven turned her project in to her Painting I professor, Miss Michaels She studied it for a"I’ll be sure to submit it this afternoon"

"Thank you," Haven said, s She could see no flaws, everything precise, numerous art techniques she had learned portrayed She couldn’t iine what more they would want

"You’re welcome, dear"

Haven hurried ho, bundled up in a thick tan coat, to find Kelsey rushing out of the brownstone Haven’s brow furrowed She purposely had noclasses so she wouldn’t have to be up at that hour

"I’ Haven’s question before she could ask it "I totally forgot submissions were due I haven’t even starteda few tiave a halfhearted wave before taking off, running down the street

Teeks later, as class was dis, Miss Michaels handed out envelopes to each of the students The roo ofpaper as her classmates discarded their letters in the trashcan on their way out the door

Rejections, from what Haven could tell It made her nerves flare

Haven opened her envelope carefully, s out the crease in the paper as she read the letter the whole way through

We appreciate your effort

The competition was stiff

So ret to inform you

Better luck next time

Haven slowly absorbed the typed words, disappoint in when her eyes scanned the last sentence

Your submission ranked number 348

Nowhere near the top twenty

"You okay, dear?"

Haven glanced at her professor as she refolded the letter, sliding it carefully back into the envelope "I don’t understand rong with ," Miss Michaels said "It just wasn’t what they were looking for"

"Why?"

"You see, you took the assign with that, itthey truly wanted"

"What’s that?"