Goodbye Uncle, Goodbye Love

1

It was early winter. The heating hadn't kicked in yet, and the house felt like a walk-in freezer.

I rubbed my frozen fingers and stared at the dim glow of my laptop screen. For the first time in my life, I felt a strange sense of peace.

My screen was flooded with messages from my advisor. He was practically begging me to consider the study abroad program.

"You have a natural eye for color, Phoebe. You have your own vision. If you go, you'll reach heights you can't even imagine here."

"Thi