"The Art of Staying"

Prompt: Pamela Marlowe: A resilient, compassionate case manager/social worker in a small coastal town. She’s someone who’s seen both the best and worst of people, and she’s learned to stay steady no matter the chaos. Johnny Depp A once-famous but reclusive artist/musician/photographer who vanished from the public eye years ago. He returns to town under mysterious circumstances. At first, Pam finds him frustrating—he’s guarded, sarcastic, and refuses to engage with the community. • Over time, she sees flashes of kindness and vulnerability, especially when he connects with someone unexpected (a child in the neighborhood, a stray animal, or an elderly neighbor). • She becomes the one person who can challenge him without driving him away. • He, in turn, forces her to confront her own unspoken regrets and desires.