Iris


    I realize I haven''t felt genuine joy in days once I step into my cozy apartment back in Bo''Arrocan and hear the sound of Miles'' tiny voice. Hees barreling into the foyer, his dark hair flopping into his bright green eyes, and quite literallyunches himself


    into my arms.


    "Mommy, you''re back!" he cries, burying his face in my neck. "I didn''t know you wereing back!"


    I grin and kiss his little face all over. "I wanted to surprise you, little wolf. Are you surprised?"


    "I''m so so so so so surprised!" he beams.


    Looking up, I see the babysitter standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock. There''s a wooden spoon covered in tomato sauce in her hand, evidence of dinner almost being ready. Scooping Miles up into my arms, I exin why I''ve returned on a whim


    while Miles chatters endlessly about his days without me.


    "I really missed you, Mommy," Miles says, leaning his head on my shoulder as we all sit down for dinner around the small kitchen table. "Look, I even colored you a whole bunch of pictures."


    With a flourish, he pulls a stack of papers out and hands them to me. "My little artist," I grin, ruffling his hair. I can''t wait to put them up where I can see them. Everyst one of them.


    "He really did," the babysitter says softly. "He cried allst night."


    Miles'' eyes widen. "Did not! I was a big boy!"


    I chuckle and tug him closer, kissing the top of his head. "Well, I''m here now, little wolf. Don''t you worry."


    But with the happiness ofing home alsoes the bittersweet feeling. Because it''s not long before I''m getting a call from Marsiel, and they''re telling me how they''re reopening. Apparently they also have some ''amazing news'' for me, news that the


    curator only wants to tell me in person.


    The


    next morning, I have to hold back tears as I exin that I''m returning to Ordan. Miles bawls his eyes out and clutches my leg


    like his life depends on it.


    "Please let mee with you, Mommy! I''ve missed you so much!"


    It breaks my heart to have to pry his little hands away. And although he


    understands that I''ll be home for good in just a few more days, there''s no drying the tears streaming down his cheeks.


    Am I a bad mother? All I want is to protect Miles from having to meet Arthur in Ordan, and yet it feels like leaving him behind is


    doing more harm than good.


    By sunset, the ne is touching down once more in Ordan. I''m eager for the news that the gallery has for me, but also eager to


    finish my work and return to Miles.


    For good this time.


    +20 Bonus


    "As you can see, your exhibition has reopened," the curator says with a grin as she swings open therge double-doors leading to


    the solo exhibit area.


    I furrow my brow as I step into the space. Previously, my work was hung in themunal exhibit area, but now it''s in here. When


    I nce at the curator in confusion, she beams.


    "Well? Do you like it?"


    I''m not sure what to say as I take in my paintings lining therge, pristine white walls with the sun streaming in through therge ss roof. The solo exhibition space is warmly lit and vast, and my work looks even more phenomenal in here. But I''m


    confused.


    "Why?" I blurt out.


    The curator giggles and ces her arm around my shoulders, leading me around the space. "An anonymous investor wanted your work to be shown in a solo exhibit. But that''s not all Here." She pulls out a packet of papers and hands it to me.


    Furrowing my brow, I take the papers and flip through them. It''s a contract-the investor wants to be my patron, essentially giving me arge sum of money to keep producing artwork here in Ordan.