As autumn approached, news spread like wildfire—the government had announced new laws restricting artists and their works. Benjamin's paintings were deemed inappropriate for public display due to their raw emotion and depictions of life's struggles. He faced mounting pressure from patrons who demanded conformity.
One evening, as they met in their usual spot beneath a willow tree ,Benjamin's expression was somber. "I received a letter today," he said quietly.
Luciano felt his heart drop. "What did it say?"
"They want me to change my style—make my work more palatable for society," Benjamin replied, frustration evident in his voice. "They want me to erase who I am."
Luciano reached for Benjamin's hand, squeezing it tightly. "You can't let them do this to you. Your art is beautiful because it's real."
"I know," Benjamin sighed, looking away as if trying to escape the weight of his reality. "But if I don't comply, I risk losing everything—my livelihood… my chance at being recognized."
Tears welled in Luciano's eyes as he watched the man he loved struggle with such an impossible choice. "You deserve to be free—to create without constraints," he whispered.
Benjamin turned to him then, vulnerability etched across his features. "And what about us? If I lose everything… will you still want me?
"Always," Luciano vowed, desperation lacing his words. "No matter what happens."
But as winter approached and snow blanketed the city in silence, their world began to unravel. The pressures of society weighed heavily on Benjamin; he felt suffocated by expectations that demanded conformity at every turn.