Stuffing his hands into worn jean pockets, Brax mumbled to himself as he walked down the sidewalk. Though his father had never hinted at any disappointment in his career choices, there was an uncomfortable aura that seeped out his pores whenever the subject was brought up. Brax blinked out of his thoughts when he felt a pair of eyes watching him. A smile formed on his face. Careful not show too much interest, he wandered over to a large bush. It was hard to hold back laughter as the bush shifted. Pulling his hands out of his jeans, he scratched at his golden scruff. Brax debated not saying anything at all and letting her go, but that wouldn’t be fun.
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“Why are you in a bush, Lo?” he calmly asked, his mouth twitching when the bush froze. He heard a soft groan. Slowly bending down and placing his elbows on his knees, Brax sensed the piercing glare of two deep green eyes, “Well?”735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2uPTqEonB
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The woman in question did not respond right away. She continued to glare at him before standing up with a hint of pink tingeing her cheeks.
“I…well...y-you…” she stuttered. When Brax laughed in his deep baritone voice, she adjusted her shoulder bag of books and snapped her mouth shut. London rolled her eyes when he flashed her a smile. “I was trying to save myself from another one of your awful moments of embarrassment.” 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1NX8cIHOw
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Brax brushed a few leaves of hair out of her chestnut colored braid and chuckled, “You stole my moment of glory then.” He paused to let her reaction sink in. She opened her mouth to reply but couldn’t say anything as her cheeks sported a deeper shade of pink. “Why hide? Just cave in Lo,” he said with confidence. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡammok0nlNQ
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“No,” she replied simply. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFl6eI5cLHW
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Brax shrugged carelessly and walked down the sidewalk. London glared after him as he rounded the corner. She straightened her clothes and brushed away the dirt. Biting her lip, she glanced with unease in the direction he disappeared before continuing to her next lecture. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8mAu6T1Uo
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Normally, Brax would have asked her on a date or tried some crazy antic to get her to confess her undying love for him. None of that happened this time. Something was off. London rubbed the sides her temples. The man gave her a headache. London groaned as she saw the amount of dirt on her knees. She would have to go back to her apartment to decently scrub it off. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJU7Ot53oN6
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“Why did I dive into a bush?” she muttered.
Walking into the large lecture hall, London threw the heavy bag onto a seat. The image of his smile flashed hot in her mind. The heat on her cheeks didn’t recede and she internally willed the images away. Opening her book bag, she pulled out her notebook and ran her fingers gingerly over the cover. A sad smile spread across her face. Brax had taped a picture of a single sunflower he hand sketched in charcoal onto the top. The sketch was beautifully done. Although she would never admit it to his face, she often reused the cover when a new notebook was needed. It was one of the favorite gifts she had received from him. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmwDoVgwvV
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When Brax had first started to relentlessly pursue her, she had told him he would eventually give up on her. Naive and convinced of young men’s feeble attempts to grab at anything, London thought he would ultimately give up on her. London never once showed interest or led him to believe otherwise. Logically he should have left her alone. Brax had a very nifty gift of defying logic. In response to her behavior, Brax told her he would give her a randomly handmade gift each week and every week. Roughly three years and over 160 gifts later, he had never missed a week. Some were silly little cartoon drawings or a perfectly folded origami. Others were beautiful miniature sculptures or paintings. The presents were almost always tiny but nonetheless breathtaking pieces of art. London could never refute his talent. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmlbJKnuxb
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“Why the long face, doll?” London blinked a few times, her best friend Ivory coming into focus, “And why are you covered in dirt?” she asked with a small laugh as she sat next to her. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1MUEbkoBl
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“I dove into a bush.” London mumbled. Ivory choked back a laugh and eyed her friend suspiciously.
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“To get away from an imp,” London stated while she covered her notebook cover with her textbook. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOAfIBN6ws
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“Ah, your handsome fiend strikes again?” Ivory smiled wide. “He never backs down does he?”735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1UvFjvvHz
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London groaned softly, “No, he doesn't.” Sadness creeped across London’s face. Ivory was silent as she watch the emotions conflict in her eyes. “He isn't mine,” she whispered.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16FptXOL6a
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“You should at least go out on a date with him. Give him a chance.” Ivory said softly opening her book.
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London didn’t say anything and simply wrote down the notes from the board. London had accepted the fact that Brax was not meant for her. No one was for her. Her future did not hold passionate true love. It was already a fact she had accepted.
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Brax sprawled out on his unkempt bed, staring at the ceiling. He searched his imagination. Colors exploded and took odd shapes only to burst into nothing. The small block of clay mocked him as it stood on his disheveled studio table. The piece for the gallery viewing was not coming to life like he had hoped. He let out a very slow breath and ran his fingers through his long hair. London was going to be the death of him.
Frustrated, he hopped up and paced his studio apartment. This week he was working on individual peony flowers made of felt. The lush roses and greenery were already finished, placed in a box waiting for the peonies to be finished. He walked over to the drying rack and inspected them carefully. Each was delicately hand dyed and molded in different hues of pink till they looked perfect. But something was missing. Pulling up a stool he opened his sketchbook and etched out the bouquet. He took extreme detail with each petal. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8hUFg1Wop
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Lazily leaning over the back of his stool, he stared at his apartment. His eyes fell upon a circle glass orb that hung from the ceiling near his kitchen. His sister had hung it there last she visited. Inside were a few air planets and succulents. Quickly Brax straightened up and bent over his book working out the extra details in the bouquet. Satisfied with his work, he rushed over to the other side of his room and took out the wool fibers and dye from the cabinets. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenESYUYxtW
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Hours later Brax fell onto the couch, his body covered in fabric dye, wool, and paint. Hands sore from molding the wet wool, Brax rubbed them methodically as he stared at the ceiling. Somehow, he knew it wasn’t the right time to give her this particular item. Luckily, he had a spot in his art storage specifically for items that he made for her. In case class projects and gallery pieces took up too much time, he had backups he made in his spare time throughout the years.
There was something about her that called out to him. During their freshman year, Brax had ran into her more then a few times. Quietly observing her. The way she would give encouraging smiles to her friend despite being nervous herself. When she was lost in thought while reading she tended to hold her pen in her mouth slightly. When she didn’t get a good score on a test the determination set on her face would make him snicker. Brax often found London almost walking into walls and doors because she was lost in a book she was reading. She was honest, caring, and odd. It took months to get up the courage to finally talk to her. The way London would turn him down while getting flustered enticed him more to continue.
He causally walked over his storage room and leaned against the wall staring at the items he had yet to give to London. He clenched his jaw viewing the raw passion put into some of the pieces. London would one day accept his feelings. That woman was it for him. There would be no other in his life. Eventually, he would be able to convince her. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcUzv8AOM9
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Very carefully, Brax examined all of the artwork on the long shelves. Each week he carefully chose pieces that were relevant to their interactions. He paused, picking up a watercolor painting of the arts building full of autumn colors. He chuckled noticing the large bushes on the side of the building. Her petite form only half hid behind the bushes caught him by surprise. Brax wished he hadn’t been daydreaming. He was only ten seconds too late to see her dive behind them. Gently he closed the storage door and placed the picture next to the finished felt bouquet.
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“Don’t you have some large gallery exhibition to be attending?” London said annoyed as she continued to flip through her book.
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“I am waiting for my date to join me,” Brax said nonchalantly. His back was to her as he pretended to look through the large library bookshelf. London froze. In the last six years, Brax had never once pursued or mentioned another woman. She frowned, biting her lip. Sadness swept over her in a rush. Attempting to push away the sentiment, she flipped to another page and tried to focus.
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Brax glanced at her with a half smirk on his face. “I’ve only gotten her to go out with me once,” he continued. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgMgaVl1g2
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“Once huh? You are making progress. Guess you aren’t so hopeless,” she pushed through the words, jealously boiling up and confounding her.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnI5asAbGI
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“Still hopeless…” he said walking over to her. Brax slowly leaned forward over her shoulder and softly said, “It took her six years to agree to go on a date.” His breath felt hot against her ear and London gasped softly. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMLYDNJqsv
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“W-what are you talking about?” she stuttered. Her mind moved sluggishly. It was focused on his strong arm gripping the table. “I have not agreed to a date,” she stated. Heat bloomed on her cheeks. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj32nsypoU
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Brax pretended to look confused as he straightened, “I was positive you had agreed. Remember the other day? I had asked if you and Ivory were going to come to the viewing. You said yes.”735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCTN5ftS50
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London turned around, looking up into his eyes, “That was not an invitation for a date,” she said slowly.
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She was walking into a trap. She knew it. London would never admit it to him out loud, but she wouldn’t mind getting caught. Just this once. London wasn’t sure when she fell for him. It could have been the moment he first handed her a painting declaring he would eventually get her to go on a date. Might have been each time she received a wrapped parcel when he was away from campus or on summer breaks. Brax had kept his promise.
Perhaps it was two years ago when he unexpectedly showed up at her grandmother’s funeral after not seeing him for seven months. After that she opened up to him. Yet, she couldn’t convince herself she really deserved to be with him. Since then, she spent more time with him, grateful they both had chosen to stay at the same college for their graduate studies. Slowly she found herself seeking him out in a crowd and felt loneliness when he wasn’t around.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ074JFnPcqm
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“Lo?” Brax asked waving a hand in front of her. “Lost you there for a moment…” he laughed. “So are you ready?” he asked, reaching out a large hand towards her.
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Without thinking, she held out her fingers. Surprise ran over his features and he quickly reached farther and grasped her hand before she could pull away. A bright smile grew on his face.
“Good,” he whispered.
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London’s breath caught in her throat. His lips felt hot and inviting. She gripped his shirt tightly. Slowly Brax pulled away. London shivered, his breath searing across her skin. Opening her eyes, she met his gaze. There was safety there. His thumb gently rubbed the edge of her chin, fingers tangled in her hair. London’s fuzzy mind couldn’t process thoughts as her stomach wrenched in knots. She needed more. Leaning up, she placed their lips together again with a desire that consumed her. Their soft breaths and rustling of clothes were drowned out by the throbbing of her heart in her ears. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJvYkTrdpX
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“I love you…” he whispered against her skin. Joy exploded from the grogginess. London drew back and dropped her arms. She stared at him for a few moments as the words sunk in. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmWbbWPIHy
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Brax bit his lip nervously as she watched him intently. Her skin was flushed and lips plump. Short brown strands of hair pointed in odd directions. Brax couldn’t take his eyes off her. His thoughts were frantic. Those words were not meant to come out at this moment. They were being saved. Shifting his weight between his feet, he fidgeted. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgGxYxoUB5
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“Say it again,” she whispered. Unable to read her, Brax took a moment to get his thoughts straight. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrMNVgbPvm
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He wet his lips, “I love you Lo.”
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She inclined her head to the side. Love. London never thought she would ever hear those words spoken to her. Brax slowly had chipped away at her. London had watched firsthand how love could tear and destroy people. Her parents’ relationship wheeled wildly out of control and she was eventually abandoned at her grandmother’s because neither of them wanted her. Love was twisted and cruel. It changed people and never in a good way. That is how she always viewed it until Brax. Every beautiful piece of work she received gave her hope. Every smile and kiss he gifted her with gave her a new perspective.
Hot tears built up behind her eyes. Emotions welled up at the surface and she stumbled over her words. “Brax,” she sighed. In that moment, Brax felt his heart sink. Fear hit his gut.
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Her body slammed into his and he firmly wrapped his arms around her. London buried her face in his chest and mumbled something he couldn’t comprehend. “Lo…” he said. She kept mumbling. Brax gently rubbed her back and said forcefully, “Lo. Please speak English.”
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Brax felt her body shake in his arms. He stared at her in confusion until her bell like laugh filled his thoughts.
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“I love you too idiot,” she said between laughs and sniffles.
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Laughing, London hunched over forgetting about her drink in her hand as its contents split on the ground. Brax looked peeved. A tall man stood next to him and wrapped his arm around his shoulders.
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“You look so… weird!” London laughed again not able to hold it in. Brax shrugged his brother’s arm off and stepped away. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNFypmnKpo
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“You knew when you brought her there would be the unenviable moment of shaven Brax,” his brother said, trying to stifle laughter. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoM5RBZTXX3
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“I didn’t realize you would have something like that hidden in your phone. That is an all-time low Ravi,” Brax mumbled. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKcrvJVxzd
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“Why would you do such a thing?” London asked reaching out for Ravi’s phone again.
The younger man in the picture sported a clean-shaven head and an annoyed scowl plastered on his face. Compared to her current Brax with long blonde locks that held a natural wave, it was difficult to believe he would shave his head. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhHjXBbP8P
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“There was an unfortunate explosion of plaster paste.” Brax said running his hand down his face. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEm2SUek4xt
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London let out another fit of giggles. Brax smiled warmly at her as he watched her and his brother interact. He gently tugged her to his side, resting his hand on her lower back. Without breaking conversation with Ravi, London leaned in against him. Brax fought off the desire to kiss her. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Er2SbdShy
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“What’s wrong?” London asked, setting down her drink and wrapping her arms around his waist. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kQrJ2RoN7
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“Nothing,” he said as he kissed the top of her head. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwvmyJyvpk
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His brother walked over to them and handed Brax a bottle of beer. An uncontrollable quiver took over Brax’s hand and the glass shattered on the stone patio. London gasped and Brax stared with concern at his fingers. He quickly hid the confusion and forced a laugh.
“Sorry, wasn’t pay attention,” he lied. London glanced up at him with worry but brushed it off as Brax continued as usual.
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Hearing an abrupt crash from the back half of the house, London ran towards the loud cursing. Walking into the room, London paused and watched the scene play out. Brax threw the canvas across the room. Paints were splattered all over the cloth on the floor. Paintbrushes lay snapped and broken. London remained silent. These outbursts escalated as the tremors in his hands worsened. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCRNKsnbnt
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“Love…” she softly said walking over to him. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq65NZz1RX7
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“What am I without-” he shouted, expanding his arms towards the whole studio, “Without any of this?!” 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsnWMsWHpz
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The words stung. London stood speechless before him. Unable to comfort him, she let him storm out of the studio. Bringing her hands to her face, London hid her tears.
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A pair of young women stood before a glass case talking in hushed voices.
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“What about this piece?” The shorter woman asked.
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They leaned in and flipped through the booklet, searching for the picture of the piece of art before them. Stopping on a page, they let out a soft sigh finding its duplicate picture.
“Number 327. Felt peony bouquet gifted in 2011. Delicate petals of the peony are hand painted. Each flower was specifically arranged and pinned together. The pink hues of the peonies and roses are off set by the faint tinted green and blue succulents. The arrangement was used as the bouquet Mrs. Rufer carried down the aisle at their wedding in 2013.” One of them read out loud. They paused and stared at the beautiful bouquet that stood in a simple white porcelain vase. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH7iFIZRv5
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“This is like a walking timeline of their love story.” 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQS9RUHtp40
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“Each piece bears raw emotions. It’s empowering to see firsthand. The collection in the books don’t show enough details,” her friend whispered. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSujmtnnyBV
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“It’s perfect,” the other replied. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZR95frcQx
She stepped back and circled the large hall. It would take hours to look at every single piece of work that was on display. They quickly hurried towards their guide as she began talking. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqRokOVcmX
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“As you can see all 681 pieces are arranged in chronological order from when they were given. Dates range from years 2008 to the end of 2021. The weekly gifts continued many years into their marriage until Mr. Rufer’s disease took its toll and he lost the ability to use his hands. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2019, Brax Rufer continued to create breathtaking sculptures, sketches, and paintings for his wife. The pieces down the hall to the left are the very last he was able to produce.”
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