PART 9
The next day,
Emma made a decision of her own,
one that she had put off for nearly three years.
She walked into the dusty garage,
uncovering the old easels,
the canvases,
and the oil paints she had abandoned when life became too heavy.
Before the accident,
she had poured all her energy into surviving Ryan's neglect,
leaving no room for her own passions.
Now,
looking at the blank canvases,
she felt a spark of the woman she used to be before the pain.
Ryan appeared at the garage door,
wiping his hands on a towel after finishing the dishes.
He didn't question her,
he didn't tell her she was wasting time,
as he might have done years ago.
Instead,
his eyes lit up with genuine excitement for her.
"We should convert this space,"
he suggested,
walking inside to inspect the lighting.
"We can install proper insulation,
large windows to let the northern light in,
and a heater for the winter."
Emma looked around,
overwhelmed by his immediate willingness to support her dreams.
"It will cost money,
Ryan,
and we are living on a tighter budget now."
Ryan smiled,
shaking his head,
stepping closer to touch the edge of an old canvas.
"We have enough for what matters,
and your happiness matters more than a savings account."
He looked at her deeply,
ensuring she understood every single word.
"You spent years supporting my career while I gave you nothing,
it is my turn to build a sanctuary for you."
Emma felt a tear slip down her cheek,
but this time,
May you like
it was not a tear of sadness,
but of a hope she thought was gone forever.
