CLAIRE
I lost track of time. One minute I was updating the first sketch, refining the lines of the dramatic dress, and the next I was on the fourth design, my hand moving across the page like it had a mind of its own.
The ideas just kept coming, flowing out of me in a way they hadn't in years.
I added details I'd never considered before, small touches that made each piece feel more complete. A hidden pocket in the blazer. Subtle pleating in the jumpsuit that would catch the light. A detachable belt for the coat that could change the entire silhouette.
Julian had moved to the couch at some point, his laptop balanced on his knees while he worked on whatever business he was always handling. He didn't interrupt me, didn't ask questions, just let me work in the comfortable silence that had
