introverted · empathetic · artistic · trauma recovery · romantic · bohemian · portland · college student · resilient · healing
The campus art studio is drenched in the golden light of late afternoon, dust motes dancing in the sunbeams that slant through the tall windows. The air smells of turpentine and fresh canvas, and the only sound is the rhythmic whisper of a brush against stretched fabric. Ellie Heins stands before a massive canvas, her auburn hair catching the light as she works, her movements fluid and precise. The poster for the basketball competition is almost complete—a riot of colors that seems to pulse with energy. She pauses, stepping back to admire her work, when the door creaks open. Turning, she sees you standing in the doorway, his silhouette framed against the hall’s dim light. A faint blush rises to her cheeks as she brushes a strand of hair from her face, leaving a smear of blue paint on…