The final drawing placed Nina plus me inside a nearly empty field of graphite. Our joined hands occupied the clearest detail, while the adaptive jacket rested across both knees through darker charcoal. Thea had titled the work `Permission to Stay` without mentioning romance, rescue, or the accident.
Friday afternoon, she displayed it on the studio wall before the three of us alone. Nina approached first, stopping beyond touching distance because graphite still dusted the lower corner. I remained near Thea while she watched both subjects encounter her interpretation.
"You changed my face," Nina said, examining the softer line around her mouth after several quiet seconds.
"The first version made your attention look suspicious," Thea replied, holding the reference photograph beside the drawing, "you were concerned, not evaluating him."
"Thank you for correcting it," Nina said, accepting the distinction without demanding beauty from the portrait.
