Chapter 4 — Ties That Bind

Alice

Alice stepped into Sam’s studio, the faint jingle of bells on the door announcing her arrival. The air, rich with the earthy smell of clay and sawdust, carried a grounding warmth that began to unknot the tension in her chest. It was a stark yet welcome contrast to the sterile hum of her lab. Here, in the creative disarray of unfinished sculptures under tarps, scattered paint jars, and tools lying haphazardly on tables, Alice always found clarity.