The Aftermath

Emilia stood there for a moment, frozen in shock. She couldn't believe what had just happened. The stranger's visit had left her feeling unsettled and uneasy. She tried to shake off the feeling, telling herself it was just her imagination running wild.

As she turned back to her studio, Emilia's eyes fell on the painting the stranger had been studying. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she remembered the way he had looked at it, the way he had seemed to see right through to the heart of the artwork.

She walked over to the painting, feeling a sense of trepidation. As she looked at it, she noticed something she hadn't seen before - a small note on the back of the canvas. It was a single sentence, scrawled in hasty handwriting: "Look closer."

Emilia's heart skipped a beat as she wondered who could have written the note. Was it the stranger? And what did he mean by "Look closer"?

She turned the painting over, searching for any other clues. But there was nothing—just the note, cryptic and mysterious.

Emilia felt a sense of curiosity wash over her. She had to know more. She had to know what the stranger was looking for. And she was determined to find out.

As she stood there, staring at the note, Emilia's mind began to wander. Who was this stranger? What did he want from her? And what did he mean by "Look closer"? The questions swirled in her head, refusing to let her go.

Suddenly, Emilia felt a chill run down her spine. She realized that she had been so caught up in her own thoughts that she hadn't even noticed the time. The studio was growing darker, the shadows lengthening and becoming more ominous.

She shivered, feeling a sense of unease. She knew she had to get out of there, get some fresh air, and clear her head. But as she turned to leave, Emilia caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of her eye. A piece of paper on the floor, near the door.

She walked over to it, her heart pounding in her chest. As she picked it up, she saw that it was a small piece of paper with a single word scrawled on it: "Wait."