Indulgencex-24-08-2022--02915015:53 Min Info

He remembered that afternoon in August. The heat in the studio had been stifling, the kind of air that sticks to your lungs. He had exactly fifteen minutes and fifty-three seconds before the collectors arrived, and the canvas was still a sterile, frightening white.

"It looks like a controlled explosion," she whispered. "How long did it take you to find this much emotion?" Julian looked at his watch. It was exactly 3:53 PM. indulgencex-24-08-2022--02915015:53 Min

The hum of the espresso machine was the only heartbeat in the gallery at 3:53 PM. Julian stared at the canvas titled , a chaotic swirl of deep amethysts and metallic gold that felt less like paint and more like a confession. He remembered that afternoon in August