Was the game worth it?
Perhaps it's our fear of vulnerability, our need for control, or simply the desire to protect our egos that turns relationships into games of strategy. We begin to weigh every move, calculate every reaction, and look for ways to stay one step ahead.
Here, the final move promises checkmate, but comes at the cost of the balance that keeps the game standing. Because sometimes, winning isn't the same as coming out ahead.
Personal project. Illustration created in two color palettes:
Original sketch (done in Procreate):
