The Artist’s Gaze

# Chapter 7: The Artist’s Gaze

The afternoon sun slanted through the tall windows of the courtyard, casting long shadows across the cobblestones. Elena had slipped away from the sewing circle, claiming a headache that wasn't entirely untrue. The constant hum of needles and the soft chatter of the other girls had pressed against her temples until she could barely breathe.

She found refuge in the small garden behind the kitchen, where the school's few rose bushes struggled against the autumn chill. Elena settled onto the wooden bench beneath the bare branches of a lilac tree, her notebook pressed against her chest like a shield.