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Excerpt from Five Minutes (Chapter 14)

Third Scene: Traffic Hour (640 words)

Sofia had returned to her studio. Canvases leaned against the walls. Brushes rested in their precise order, waiting. The scent of paint hung in the air, grounding her. This space was hers. It was the one place where she was in control. Time to finish this painting.

Then—two soft knocks at the door. Sofia glanced up… Evie.

“How are you holding up?” Hmm.

“Still here. Just trying to finish this painting.” Only three more brushstrokes.

Evie watched as Sofia adjusted a tube of paint. Her fingers tightened, then slowly relaxed. She picked up her brush. She’s busy. “Talk to you later.” Evie left the studio.

Then—knock, knock, knock. She knew it was Ethan by his distinct knock. Crap. What does he want? I just want to finish this. She didn’t look up.

He didn’t wait for an invitation. He walked inside the studio, his eyes looking at the canvas, then looked at her. She’s ignoring me. What is her problem? “How are you?”

Sofia’s shoulders tensed, but she didn’t turn to look at him. “Fine.” Can’t he leave me alone?

She’s still upset. Will I ever understand her? She’s so…

Then—another knock. Sofia glanced up… Kiera. “Come in.” Will I ever finish this painting?

“Hi. I’ve updated your security system and wanted to do a visual check. Sorry to interrupt.” She’s not in a good mood.

“No problem.” This is becoming ridiculous. Who’s next? I just need five minutes alone.

Then—another knock, knock. Now who? Sofia exhaled slowly. She glanced up… Kada. “Come in. It’s traffic hour.” We could almost have the meeting here.

“What?” What did I say wrong? She looked around. Oh, I think I should…

Sofia shook her head. “Never mind.” Sorry Kada. It’s not you. Just bad timing.

"Are you coming to the meeting?" asked Ethan. Why is she still upset?

Sofia hesitated. Breathe. “Yes… I will come… once I finish this last part.” If only everyone would leave!

Ethan took a step closer toward Sofia. She’s so stubborn…

Then—she muttered under her breath: “Maybe I can actually paint if everyone else is at the meeting.” Oh crap. I said it out loud. Damn. Too late. Why do I keep doing that? Just paint and maybe they’ll leave. Sofia raised her brush and painted one black stroke.

“See you at the meeting,” said Kada as she left the studio in a hurry. Past time to go.

“I’m done,” said Kiera as she quickly left behind Kada. That was awkward.

Ethan didn’t move. “We start in 10.” Why is she like this? I swear I’ll never understand.

Sofia held the paintbrush in her hand tighter. She didn’t look at him. But she felt him watching. Don’t say anything… and he might leave. Just paint. Ignore him. She dipped her brush into the red paint.

She can be so… so hardheaded! He turned and walked out of the studio.

Alone again at last. They’re all gone. Now I can finish this. She studied her painting. “Now where was I? Hmm.” Sofia’s shoulders relaxed. She let out a slow breath and made the last two red strokes onto the canvas.

"There. It's done." She stepped back to observe the effect and took another slow breath. "Perfect." She glanced at the time on her phone, then looked at her finished painting one more time. Hmm… I’m done… finally. Time to go to the meeting. No telling what's next in this crazy estate. Just go and get it over with.

She walked over to her fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. On her way out, she turned and looked one last time at her painting and smiled. That turned out raw and real. "I'll name it…TRAFFIC HOUR." Going to be late. Crap. They can wait for me. It's their fault I'm late, anyway.  

Excerpt from Five Minutes (Chapter 14)

Third Scene: Traffic Hour (481 words)

Sofia had returned to her studio; canvases leaned against the walls, silent witnesses to Sofia’s internal structure and chaos. Brushes rested in their precise order. The scent of paint hung in the air, grounding her. This space was hers. The one place where the outside world held no claim.

She moved through it with purpose. Every step was a decision that created the moment of inspiration, sometimes calm and chaotic at the same time, organic and free.

The rush before she began painting, her inner essence coming through her and onto the canvas, sometimes quiet and sometimes chaotic. Pure and free from the world outside.

She was in control. She was in her world when she was  interrupted.

Evie appeared in the doorway and knocked. “How are you holding up?”

Sofia didn’t look up. She adjusted a tube of paint, fingers tightening just slightly before relaxing again. “Still here.”

“We’ll talk later.” Evie decided to leave and prepare for the meeting.

Three minutes passed in silence. Sofia tried to return to her special moment, but once again she was pulled from that place by a distinct knock. She knew it was Ethan.

He didn’t wait for an invitation. He walked inside reading something in her silence. Something she didn’t want him to see.

“How are you?” His voice was neutral, too neutral.

Sofia’s spine stiffened, but she didn’t turn. “Fine,” she replied without warmth.

Before the moment could settle, another knock. It was Kiera.

"Come in." Sofia exhaled, frustration creeping in. Her space invaded again.

“Hi. I’ve updated your security system and wanted to do a visual check. Sorry to interrupt.”

Then—another knock, knock, knock. She glanced toward the door and it was Kada. “Come in.  It’s traffic hour.”

“What?” asked Kada.

Sofia shook her head. “Never mind.”

“Are you coming to the meeting?” asked Ethan.

Sofia hesitated. The tension in her shoulders didn’t ease, but shifted. “Yes, I will come once I finish this last part.” Then softly, she muttered under her breath, “Maybe I can actually paint if everyone else is at the meeting.”

Sofia could feel their reactions in the silence, in the weight of unspoken understanding. She hadn’t meant to say it out loud. No one responded. No one had to. The moment stretched, heavy, unresolved. Then, just like that, it passed.

Kiera gave a slight nod and left.

"See you at the meeting," said Kada and quickly left the studio.

Ethan, however, didn’t move. “We start in 10.”

Sofia’s grip tightened around the paintbrush in her hand. She didn’t look at him, but she felt him watching her. She refused to acknowledge.

Finally, he turned and walked out.

Sofia let out a slow breath. She was free to finish this small part.

“There. It’s done,” she muttered to herself as she left for the meeting.

She knew she must attend because it was important, but…