Yellow Ceramic Mug and Red Silk Scarf in a Red Buick

the empty hallway.

I set my palette down on the wooden taboret. My hands were cold. I walked over to the desk by the window, where the morning light was beginning to fade behind a bank of gray clouds.

I pulled the green cardboard box from the shelf and took out the report card. I laid it flat on the desk, right next to the forged listing agreement I continue reading …