The Why
"Thank you all for coming," a tall greying woman said loudly, speaking over the chatter in the gallery. Her name was Beth, a gifted glass artist and a senior member of the gallery's coop, and she was about to announce the show winners. It was October of 2016, and I had just separated from my then-husband less than a month before. I stood next to my best friend Jess, listening to Beth speak about the juried show and the gallery we had both managed to get into; my floral watercolor was high up on the white wall, and Jess' pottery pieces were on a pedestal directly below. Art by thirty other talented artists crowded beautifully around our work, making our pieces look so small. "And now for the people's choice award," Beth said. " Sophie's Adamanth by Heather McCray!" "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" I heard myself say loudly. The room rippled with laughter as I stepped forward, stunned, and a large purple ribbon was taped n...
