I realized only after this chapter began posting that it may not have been very clear at what time of day it occurs. It’s meant to take place early in the morning, but it’s so dark in the first few panels, it could also be interpreted as being late in the evening. Either one would gel with Ine’s concerns about being in June’s apartment outside of visiting hours. This page is the first one that provides any larger clues as to the time of day, with the lightening sky and Ine commenting about going to Church soon (though I suppose it’s not unreasonable for readers to assume they go to Church in the evening). It’s another lesson learned about being clear about what’s going on in the scene and avoiding “creator blinders” that can cause the writer not to realize any lack of clarity. It’s a minor detail, but one that has the potential to knock a reader out of the story, even if it’s just for a small moment.

One thing I am very happy with however is Chris’ expression and body language on each panel. I’ll indulge myself at least enough to say I think I nailed the look I was going for! The sly smile, the leaning forward, and finally the arm around the shoulder and coy grin. It’s moments like this that really make me appreciate how visual storytelling is, sometimes literally, an intricate dance. When the steps line up just right, the end result flows naturally into precisely the form one hopes for.