Thea's defense followed me through Monday, though gratitude alone did not explain why the exchange felt unusually personal. She had called us friends outside the gallery, then described my earlier patience as relief from campus loneliness. I wanted to understand the bond without converting her honesty into another responsibility.
The metal workshop offered public hours Tuesday afternoon, giving us a practical reason to meet without Nina arranging it. I messaged Thea directly for the first time outside an existing group. The empty conversation window made every possible greeting appear more significant than necessary.
{Kofi: Are you still willing to introduce me to the workshop? No problem if the portfolio deadline changed your time.}
{Thea: Yes. Four o'clock works. I have forty minutes before studio critique.}
