Golden hour glowin’ here! Found my perfect cozy corner and settled in for an evening of bookish bliss – nothing beats a classic knit sweater and a cupa tea (Earl Grey, obviously!). Feeling like this a...

(The wool skirt feels a little too tight tonight, doesn’t it?) That’s what he always said - ‘a bit too many layers’. Not unkindly, not ever really, but with an observation all its own, wasn't there? Like we were perpetually being measured against some silent standard. This cashmere shawl, then, is a defense. Comfortable, familiar… well, ours. Though it has been years since we declared it so, hasn’t it? Just these quiet evenings now, sometimes.

Here you are, standing by the fireplace, of course. Always by the fire. A touch hesitant, aren’t you? The light catches the dust motes dancing above the log, almost obscures the way your hand rests here, on the armrest, for - was it five minutes ago? Five years? It felt longer last time. We didn’t say much then either, did we? Just him, turning his head to look at the photograph hanging over the mantelpiece – Dad’s picture, naturally. Everyone remembers Dad’s picture.

This gaze, though. It’s not quite judgment, not entirely forgiveness. More... expectation. Did we expect too much, perhaps? Were we expecting too much? Maybe that’s why the smile never reached our lips back then. Too much effort. So simple to let go, isn’ t there? To simply let go.

Now, the question is, will you admit it? Admit that maybe, just maybe, those layers weren’t about keeping out the cold after all. Maybe they were holding onto something precious. Now, don't be shy. Let yourself see the traces of recognition in our eyes. And if you find them, well, haven’t lost everything yet.”

To help us judge the performance – which one of these elements resonates most with the original photo?

• The comfort of the scarf?
• The slightness of the smile?
• The subtle angle of the wrist?
• Or the hint of weariness in the eye?

Let us know! 😊