ANMELDENThe traveling exhibition was confirmed.London. New York. Chicago. Berlin. Jay's work would cross the ocean. His paintings would hang in four different cities. People who had never seen his art would walk through galleries and stop in front of his pieces. They would feel something. They would remember his name.Jay sat on the couch. He stared at the wall. His mind was blank. Not empty. Blank. Like someone had wiped everything clean.Cole sat next to him."What are you thinking?" Cole asked."Nothing.""That's not possible.""I'm not thinking about anything."Cole studied him. "That's a first."Jay laughed. It was weak. "I know.""Do you want to talk about it?""About what?""About the exhibition. The tour. The pressure."Jay shook his head. "I don't feel pressure. I feel... nothing."Cole put his arm around him. "That's okay.""Is it?""Yeah. Sometimes nothing is what you need."Jay went to the studio that afternoon.The room was empty. The walls were bare. The paintings were already
The flight to Paris was long.Jay sat by the window. Cole sat next to him. The plane lifted off. The city shrank below them. Jay pressed his face to the glass. He watched until the buildings disappeared. Then he watched the clouds. Then he watched nothing at all."You're quiet," Cole said."I'm thinking.""About the retrospective?""About everything."Cole reached over. He took Jay's hand. "We're going to be okay.""We?""Us. Together. Always."Jay squeezed his hand. "I love you."Cole squeezed back. "I know."The hotel was in the heart of the city.Small room. Big window. A view of the Eiffel Tower. Jay stood by the window and stared at it. The tower was lit up. It sparkled. He didn't know what he was feeling. Excitement. Fear. Something in between.Cole came up behind him. He put his arms around Jay's waist."What are you thinking?""That I'm here. Paris. The retrospective. It's real.""It's real.""I don't know if I'm ready."Cole turned him around. "You're ready.""What if I'm not
The phone rang at 7am.Jay was still asleep. The sound cut through his dreams. He reached for it blindly. His hand knocked over a glass of water. It spilled across the nightstand. He cursed under his breath.Cole stirred next to him."Who is it?" Cole mumbled."I don't know."Jay squinted at the screen. Unknown number. He almost ignored it. Something made him answer."Hello?""Jay." It was Elena. Her voice was tight. "I have news."Jay sat up. "What kind of news?""The kind you've been waiting for. The Paris museum called. They want to feature your work in their main gallery. A retrospective. Your entire body of work."Jay blinked. "The main gallery?""The main gallery. They want to do a full retrospective. All your pieces. From the beginning to now."Jay swung his legs over the side of the bed. "I don't have that many pieces.""Then paint more.""I only have a few months.""Then make them count."Jay was quiet. His mind was racing. The main gallery. The main room. The museum. It was
The morning after the Paris opening, Jay woke up to sunlight streaming through the hotel window and the Eiffel Tower glittering in the distance.He lay still for a long time. His chest was light. His mind was quiet. The weight that had been sitting on him for months had finally lifted. He didn't know why. He didn't question it. He just let himself feel it.Cole stirred behind him."You're awake," Cole mumbled."I'm awake.""What time is it?""Late."Cole pulled him closer. "Good. Stay here."Jay smiled. "I'm not going anywhere."They had breakfast at a small cafe near the hotel.Croissants. Coffee. Fresh fruit. Jay ate slowly. He didn't rush. He didn't think about the show. He didn't think about the paintings. He just ate.Cole watched him."What?" Jay asked."Nothing.""You're staring.""I'm looking.""It's the same thing.""It's not.""It is."Jay laughed. "You're impossible."Cole grinned. "You love it."Jay looked at him. "I do."The phone rang at 10am. Elena."Jay," she said. "Ho
Jay woke up the morning before Paris and couldn't move.His body was heavy. His mind was blank. He lay in bed staring at the ceiling. The sun was coming through the curtains. Cole was still asleep next to him. His breathing was steady. His arm was draped across Jay's chest.Jay didn't move. He didn't want to wake him. He just lay there. Thinking about nothing. Thinking about everything.He must have fallen asleep again. When he opened his eyes, Cole was sitting up. He was looking at Jay with worried eyes."Jay," Cole said. "You okay?""I'm fine.""You're not fine.""I'm tired."Cole leaned closer. "You've been tired for months.""I know.""Maybe you need to rest.""I've been resting.""No. You've been working. That's not the same thing."Jay was quiet. He didn't have an argument.Jay went to the studio that afternoon.The room was empty. The walls were bare. The paintings were already on their way to Paris. He stood in the middle of it and turned in a circle. He had nothing left to do
Paris.The word sat in Jay's head like a stone. Heavy. Permanent. Unmovable. He couldn't stop thinking about it. Paris. Another city. Another show. Another forty paintings. His hands were already tired just from the thought of it.He sat on the couch. The apartment was quiet. Cole was in the kitchen. The smell of coffee drifted through the air. Jay stared at the wall. He didn't move. He didn't speak.Cole walked over. He sat next to Jay. "You're quiet.""I'm thinking.""About Paris?""About everything."Cole put his arm around him. "You don't have to decide today.""I know.""But you're going to think about it anyway."Jay nodded. "I'm going to think about it anyway."Jay went to the studio that morning.The room was empty. The walls were bare. He stood in the middle of it and turned in a circle. He had no paintings. No plans. No ideas. Just a deadline and a city that was waiting for him.Rivera walked in. She didn't knock."You're back," she said."I'm back.""You're not painting.""
Chapter Fourteen :Jay pov I woke up at 5am to the sound of rain hitting my window.The sky was gray. The streets were wet. My apartment was cold. I pulled the blanket tighter around my shoulders and stared at the ceiling.I'd been doing that a lot lately. Staring at ceilings. Thinking about things
Chapter Thirteen :Cole pov I didn't sleep after Maya let me in.Not that night. Not the next night. I just lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying every word she said.You're still my brother. I still love you. Even when I'm angry.Those words kept me alive.The guest house was dark. Quiet.
Chapter Twelve : Maya povI stared at my phone for twenty minutes before I typed the message.My thumb hovered over the keyboard. My heart was pounding. My hands were shaking. I hadn't spoken to Jay in weeks. Not really. A few texts. Short ones. Careful ones. Nothing that meant anything.But I coul
Chapter Eleven : Cole pov I woke up at 4am and couldn't fall back asleep.The guest house was dark. Quiet. Too quiet. I could hear the wind outside. A car driving past somewhere in the distance. My own heartbeat. Thump. Thump. Thump. Like it was reminding me I was still alive. Still here. Still br







