The muse is still hanging in the room. It doesn’t leave just because the writing pauses. I get up, and Otis pads after me.

Throwing the refrigerator door open, I speed-assemble a sandwich like it’s an Indy 500 pit stop. Bread. Protein. Whatever’s within reach.

Otis watches from the counter, unimpressed.

“Do you think creation only happens when you’re typing?”

“This is called eating,” as I gulp down the sandwich.

“What you’re doing is maintaining your fuel so the engine doesn’t stall. Does it have to be that fast? Do you think that curiosity stops just because you take a break?”

I chew faster. Clock’s ticking. Ideas are pacing in the other room.

“You romanticize the wrong moments,” Otis continues, “Do you think creation is always this big dramatic act?”

I swallow. “Stuffing a sandwich in my face isn’t a dramatic act. I got to get back to it.”

“You don’t have to always look like you are in the throes of creation. What lies within you doesn’t shut off just because you paused to eat. Hunger feeds hunger. Curiosity feeds your curiosity, and it doesn’t punch out for lunch. You feed it so much it isn’t going to quit.”

He jumps down and pads past me toward the desk.

“That shows up because you always come back.”

By the time I return to the room, crumbs brushed off, Otis is already sitting on my chair.

The work is waiting. Behind me: an empty plate.

Ahead of me: whatever the work decides to become.

Within me: still humming. Still lit.

Otis grooms his paw. “Next time,” he says, “try mustard. You think better with mustard.”

I sit down and get back to it.

Can We Help You?

Does creative energy actually stop when you pause—or does it persist quietly, waiting for you to return?

Otis thanks you for letting him ignore you.

If this landed, say so in the comments.

Perhaps it reminded you to stop performing urgency, pass it along.

If you want more work like this, subscribe and stay in the room.

No pressure.

The work continues either way.

That’s it. Clean. Feline. No cat toys.

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