Frost and Lead
When a craftsman recovering from injury is subjected to timed studio lockouts under the guise of medical care, an unexpected visitor exposes the truth behind the restrictions.
Fictional story. Contains themes of psychological control, coercive behavior in marriage, and medical recovery strain.Chapter 1: Frost on the Lead Came
Nora Vance blew a warm circle of breath onto her knuckles before picking up the grozing pliers. The coastal Maine air inside the unheated barn studio was cold enough to turn the moisture on the glass windowpanes into delicate, feather-like frost. On her heavy oak workbench lay a centuries-old stained-glass panel from St. Jude’s Chapel—a mosaic of amber, cobalt, and ruby pieces bound together by crumbling lead cames. Her wrist hurt, but not from the strain of the glass work. It hurt from the nervous tension of watching the small digital screen mounted beside her soldering station.
The glowing red display read 14:12, counting down steadily toward zero.