KIRA
The Burrow Bitches
Britney: girls night girls night
Kira: We’ve got snacks, wine, and activities at the ready.
Ariadne: I’m running a little late.
Macey: That’s okay!
Britney: i’m outside your door
Everything about tonight screamedvibes. The soft glow of string lights in the apartment Macey and I shared. The smell of fresh popcorn. The overpriced candle burning on the coffee table.
In the background, a carefully curated playlist of upbeat pop songs played softly, interrupted by the loud laughter of the four of us sprawled across the living roomfurniture. I dipped my paintbrush into a blob of yellow paint, then drew gentle swirls onto the wine glass in front of me.
“I needed this girls’ night.” Ariadne sighed. Her brown hair was coming undone out of her bun, and she adjusted a few curls. “I love my family, but my cousin and her three kids are in town. We can’t have five minutes of silence, I swear.”
Personally, I didn’t see a problem with living with your family in your twenties—the economy stunk and Chicago was expensive—but it must be difficult when your extended family constantly visited. Ariadne never invited us over to her place, but at least she brought us homemade baklava every once in a while.
“You just need to find a get-rich-quick scheme, then move out,” suggested Macey, who had temporarily abandoned painting her wine glass, scrolling through her Instagram DMs instead.
Ariadne pursed her lips and dropped her paintbrush on the table. “So simple. Why didn’t I think of that?”
“You can marry me for money,” Britney offered. She hadn’t bothered to paint a wine glass, claiming if it couldn’t go in the dishwasher, then “she didn’t want it.” She did, however, show up at our door with freshly baked cookies from The Velvet Whisk, our favorite bakery downtown, so she was forgiven.
I laughed, swirling my paintbrush into a cup of water. “Are you not in a crazy amount of debt?”
Law school was expensive. I would know. It was one of the many options my parents had researched for me while I was still in high school. Even though I did well academically, I didn’t want to stay in school any longer than I needed to. One bachelor’s degree was enough for me, thank you very much.
“Yeah, but one day I’ll be a super successful lawyer who can pay off our marriage debt,” Britney countered. She sat on the floor, stretching her legs in front of her, toes wiggling.
Ariadne eyed her. “What will Bobby say about that?”
Britney shrugged. “We’re casual. I could get married tomorrow and he wouldn’t be bothered.”
“As tempting as marrying you tomorrow is”—Ariadne admired her wine glass, its surface dotted with tiny painted snowflakes—“maybe I’ll make my fortune hanging wine glass art in galleries.”
“Speaking of galleries…” Macey dropped her phone and turned her attention to me with a sneaky grin. “Any updates you’d like to share with the class, Kira?”
Silence settled over us like the hush in Britney’s future courtroom, heavy and impossible to ignore.
While still focused on my wine glass, I answered, “I’ve finished two of my three samples for the artist residency I told you guys about. If I’m selected, I get free classes, a mentor, private studio space, and a lot of chances to sell my work. Maybe a job at the end, if I’m lucky.”
“That’s amazing!” Ariadne said.
Britney scooted closer to me and set her chin on my knee. “I’m really proud of you. I know how scary the leap must be.”
I glanced down at her—the genuine beams in her green eyes, freckles dotting her face—and flicked her nose with a smile.
Britney wrinkled her nose and asked, “What’s the whole process?”
“I have to submit three works of art centered on the theme of identity,” I explained. “One painting, one drawing, and one mixed-media piece. I also have to submit a statement of purpose and two letters of recommendation.”
The statement of purpose was still a work in progress, but fortunately, when I emailed my old art teacher, Mr. Pollard, he was more than happy to provide a letter of recommendation. Mary had gleefully agreed to write me the second letter.
“Have you finished the samples?” Ariadne asked.
