buyer reached out, wants to return a piece they bought four years ago. not damaged, they just... don't live with it anymore. i don't know why that stings more than a rejection.

anyway i took the frame apart today to salvage the glass and the backing board, and the paper still had my pencil notes on the back from when i was working out the composition. little arrows and "no, wrong" scribbled in the corner. i'd forgotten i even did that.

it's a strange feeling, holding work you thought was gone. like running into someone you used to love at the grocery store and realizing you still know exactly how they take their coffee.

i'm going to sit with it for a few days before i decide if i take it back or not. maybe i'll just keep the frame and let the piece live somewhere else. still deciding.