"You make the world look like a fairytale, Savita," he whispered as they stood before a drawing of the man with the umbrella. "I just wanted to make sure you knew you were the main character in this one."

, a talented freelance illustrator with a penchant for oversized sweaters and even bigger dreams, was hunched over her tablet. Her latest project—a series of romantic book covers—wasn't going well. Every couple she drew felt flat, lacking that spark of genuine connection.