I’d been a walking disaster all day.

Backpack on my back, eco bag over one shoulder, and two sketchpads cradled in both arms. I looked like a human school supplies aisle. My sleeves were stained with acrylic paint, and my hair? A mess. I had zero time for vanity today.

I was sitting in the shaded area near the Fine Arts building, eating a burger. The bench was old, but it had the best ventilation thanks to the nearby tree. Typical late March heat — sticky, humid — and even though it was just 10 a.m., it already felt like mid-afternoon.

Beside me was an iced coffee — no longer...