I believe there's a reason why we love.
It's not to gain love in return. But, it's for the euphoric pleasure we receive and the nights we spend in longing for the one we love well past midnight.
I never understood that until now.
Her name was Amelia and she was the cause of everything.
"Watcha working on there, Alexander?" She crouched next to him.
"Nothing in particular." He said, disregarding her.
"Right," She stood up and maintained her cheerful smile. "A group of us are going out to dinner and Kathleen wanted to know if you could, maybe, join us."
"I'll be busy working on this. And, not to mention that it's raining. This weather is hardly one to be in."
She slipped him a card, "I find it quite the contrary. If you change your mind, here's the reservation information."
As the night became closer and the painting was near finished, his stomach growled. He sighed. Alexander had the least bit of intention to go to their dinner party. But, it was either attend or be stuck mashing two slices of bread together and calling it a sandwich.
he took off my apron and made his way to the restaurant.
"He actually came." A few people in the group whispered when Alexander walked through the door and looked around for their table.
"Over here!" Amelia yelled and waved him over with a giant smile. He made his way over with a grim look on his face which provoked more whispers to spread among the group.
They all ate, having conversations and sharing laughter. Alexander sat in silence at the end of the table next to Amelia. Multiple times she tried to spark a conversation between them but was met with quick replies and short answers. She, however, never gave up. Unlike Kathleen who forfeited talking to Alexander after her first failed attempt.
After dinner, the group began to divide. Some carpooled together and other's brought their own cars. Alexander and Amelia were among the few left walking.
At the exit, Alexander nodded in her direction before heading out into the rain. After he gained some distance from her, he let his thoughts carry him away. His mind flooded with thoughts of his family, or the lack of thereof. He was left with no family and no friends due to his disagreeable personality. These were the thoughts the surfaced in his mind while he was becoming soaked in rain.
Before he became too consumed with his thoughts, he heard the sound of feet running towards him on the pavement. The rain had stopped falling on him even though he was walking under the open sky. Alexander looked up to see an umbrella sheltering him and a gentle hand holding it. The source of the hand was Amelia, smiling up at him.
"I guess we're going the same way." She said awkwardly while continuing to hold the umbrella over the two of them. He had continued to walk and she kept up with his pace.
"I really loved the piece you were working on earlier. The colors really expressed an atmosphere of-" She began to think of the right word to say. "Sadness."
"It was a tribute to someone close to me."
"Did they die?"
"Yes, my grandmother. She was the only thing left of a family to me and she passed just last week." His eyes trailed the ground while Amelia was left speechless.
"Oh! It looks like we're down my street now. It was nice talking to you, and I am dreadfully sorry about your grandmother. Goodnight, Alex." She said with the same smile she always bore.
"Wait. Before you leave, I must ask. Why did Kathleen invite me to dinner? No one there ever bothers talking to me, let alone inviting me someplace." Alexander asked.
"She thought you looked lonely and wanted to prove to everyone at the studio that you aren't a bad person." She said as she opened the gate to her place and said her farewells to him before entering her home.
He walked home alone in the drenching rain.
At the art studio, Amelia had started to talk to Alexander more often. They grew closer every hour they spent in each other's company. She took the thought of his grandmother out of his mind and occupied him with funny stories from her past or compliments on his work. He began to look forward to seeing her everyday.
They would work side by side. Amelia painting vibrant portraits and Alexander making depressing scenery.
She would walk on foot to the studio daily, but as the rain persisted Amelia arrived later and later by the day. Her absence was obvious and obnoxious to Alexander. The room had always felt bare without her.
One day, it had become late and Amelia had still not arrived. Alexander tried calling her but got no reply.
Kathleen burst in the room in tears, "Guys... I'm so sorry to say this." She was having trouble speaking. "Amelia was struck by a car in a fatal accident. The driver couldn't see her because of the thick layer of rain. Oh, God."
Alexander's brush fell from his hand.
I still often think of her. Of her hair. Her eyes. Her skin. Her smile. Her laugh.
She the vibrancy in the middle of a storm.
It puzzles me so. How can someone so beautiful shatter like glass?
Without her, I began a new painting. This one was not full of sadness. It was full of life. Full of the life she was forced to leave behind. 970Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgopwjMKqt
970Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MALc16ipf
