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It was a uilty for e shared I enjoyed our tiether, but it’s clear that our relationship should be platonic And that’s what I’ to tell him I think this theon the bench, nursing a tumbler half-filled with amber liquid

He looks like he hasn’t slept And he also sh I saw hiht He doesn’t look up when I walk up to him I know he can feel and hear me, and I know he can see my black Doc Martens that adorn my feet

Slowly, Julian lifts his head, his gaze locking on me The pain in his expression almost makes me cave in and drop to ht

“Good ,” I say, but it’s stilted, pained

“The emails I need done are on the desk,” he tellss of the strong alcohol, winces, then lifts his gaze to , and I’d like you to get the gallery ready I have so in later to help set up the artwork” His voice seems far away He doesn’t askSo, I don’t offer up anything more

I nod and turn to h I was prepared to tell him we should be professional from here on out, the way he’s disrab a coffee before heading into the office

I should’ve known that an asshole never changes Frustration burns throughI’ behind the desk, I openhe toldhas been printed out and left with notes

I don’t knohen he did these, but I have a feeling he hasn’t slept at all Sighing, I sip et started on the e website to start looking for so else

If this is how it’s going to be, I can’t work here Suddenly, a glass shattering bounces off the walls, and I juo to him I have to force myself to sit on the chair and not race to see if he’s okay I feel torn between adoing to confess what he’s feeling

The door of the studio slaainst the jamb, and I know he’s finally hidden hideeply as I consider what to do Going to hier hi to coh to hilance at the time and find it’s al for a couple of jobs But what captured my attention was the email I received from Julian’s contact He sent it to me directly, but I am sure he must’ve blind copied Julian It’s my mother’s childhood home address

I spent an hour looking at the Googleat the house on the street view option Even though I can’t see inside, I can only iarden as a child The house is gorgeous It’s clearly been refurbished over the years because I notice the railings have been painted, and the outer wall looks slightly different from the photo I had from my mother’s memory box

She always kept a shoebox with photos and trinkets fro that reallywas the photo of her as a twelve-year-old standing at the wall, s into the camera

I know I need to go there, to see her hoo there this weekend Perhaps even see if the fa there would let me inside so I can just see what it looks like

Pushing off the chair, I head outside, needing so that’s happened in the past few days has still got ets here, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to find another job in the city, but I know I have to get away from him

I knew allowingfor hi down on rass It’s soft underfoot, and I walk toward the center of the expansive garden There are flowers that line the property The colors are exquisite, drawing my attention to them immediately