Iย should have known she would be gone when I woke up. I felt her heartbreak last night when she was just thinking about having to say good- bye, so the fact that she left before having to do it doesnโt surprise me.
What does surprise me is the confession lying on the pillow next to me. I pick it up to read it, but not before moving to her side of the bed. I can still smell her from here. I open the folded piece of paper and read her words.
Iโll think about last night forever, Owen. Even when I shouldnโt.ย My hand falls against my chest, and I clench myย st.
I already miss her enough for it to hurt, and sheโs probably only been gone an hour. I read her confession several more times. Itโs easily my favorite confession now, but also the most painful.
I walk to my workroom, drag the canvas with her unย nished portrait to the middle of theย oor, and set it up. I gather all the supplies Iโll need, and I stand in front of her painting. I stare down at the confession, imagining exactly what she must have looked like when she wrote it, and Iย nally have the inspiration I need toย nish the portrait.
I pick up my brush, and I paint her.
 |
Iโm not sure how much time has passed. One day. Two days. I think I stopped three times to eat, at least. Itโs dark outside, I know that much.
But Iโmย nallyย nished.
I rarely feel that any of my paintings ever make it to aย nishing point.
ereโs always something else I want to add to them, like a few more brushstrokes or another color. But there comes a point with every painting when I just have to stop and accept it for what it is.
Iโm at that point with this painting. Itโs probably the most realistic painting Iโve ever laid out on canvas.
Her expression is exactly how I want to remember her. Itโs not a happy expression. In fact, she looks kind of sad. I want to think itโs the same look sheโll get on her face every time she thinks about me. A look that reveals how much she misses me. Even when she shouldnโt.
I drag the painting to a spot against the wall. Iย nd the confession she left on my pillow this morning, and I attach it to the wall next to her face. I pull the box of confessions sheโs left me over the last few weeks, and I attach those all around her painting.
I take a step back and I stare at the only piece I have left of her.
โWhat ever happened between you and Auburn?โ Harrison asks.
I shrug.
โย e usual?โ
I shake my head. โNot even close.โ
He cocks an eyebrow. โWow,โ he says. โย atโs aย rst. Pretty sure I want to hear the rest of this story.โ He grabs another beer and slides it across the bar toward me. He leans over and pops the tab. โGive me the condensed version, though. I close in a few hours.โ
I laugh. โย atโs easy. Sheโs the reason for it all, Harrison.โ He looks at me with a confused expression.
โYou said condensed,โ I tell him. โย atโs the condensed version.โ
Harrison shakes his head. โWell in that case, I change my mind. I want the detailed version.โ
I smile and look down at my phone. Itโs already after ten. โMaybe next time. Iโve already been here for two hours.โ I lay money on the bar and take one last sip of the beer. He waves me o๏ฌย as I turn to head back to my studio.ย e painting Iย nished of her earlier should be close to dry now. I think this might be theย rst painting I ever hang in the bedroom area of my apartment.
I pull my key out of my pocket and slide it into the door, but the door isnโt locked.
I know I locked it. I never leave here without locking it.
I push the door open, and the second I do, my whole world stops. I look to my left. To my right. I walk further into my studio and I spin around, staring at the damage thatโs been done to everything I own. Everything Iโve worked for.
Red paint lines the walls, theย oors, covers every painting in the entire downstairs area.ย eย rst thing I do is rush to one of the paintings closest to me. I touch the paint smeared across the canvas and can tell itโs already drying. Itโs probably been drying for about an hour now. Whoever did this was waiting for me to walk out of the studio tonight.
As soon as Trey comes to mind, thatโs when the real panic sets in. I immediately scale the stairs and head straight to my workroom. As soon as I swing open the door, I bend over and press my hands to my thighs. I exhale a huge sigh of relief.
ey didnโt touch it.
Whoever was here didnโt touch the painting I made of her. After I allow myself a few minutes to recover, I stand and walk to her painting. Even though the painting hasnโt been touched, something is di๏ฌerent.
Something is o๏ฌ.
And thatโs when I notice the confession she left on my pillow. Itโs missing.
