When I woke up in the morning, I thought that Christopher had already left. Walking into the living room in a daze, I realized that Christopher was standing in front of the easel and staring at my painting. There was an ashtray beside him that contained a few cigarettes. It was obvious that he had been standing there for a long while already.
Walking over, I glanced at the almost completed painting and asked, “Why are you looking at this for so long? Didn’t you see it yesterday already?”
“Of course I have to admire your painting properly. Didn’t you love to take pictures of your paintings and email them to me in the past? You’d even ask for my opinion. Now that I’m by your side, why have you stopped doing that?” asked Christopher calmly as he crossed his arms over his chest.
I raised my hand and touched the dried oil painting. Back then, Key was my confidante. Now that Key had become Christopher, my past habits were starting to disappear. It was probably because our minds were connected.
I spent more than a month on the painting. Unfortunately, no one but Christopher could admire it now.
I asked, “Do you have anything to say about it?”
Christopher cleared his throat. Stroking his chin, he contemplated for a while before pointing at the painting. “It’s not bad. While the blending and layering of your previous two paintings seemed quite lacking, this painting was much better. It has the beautiful strokes of your Autumnal Panorama. Congratulations! You’ve found your skills from six years ago.”
Unfortunately, even though I had regained my skills, I was once again confronted by a difficult situation. The previous time, I had no choice but to give up. This time, despite being unwilling to give up, I had no choice but to accept my fate.
Sometimes, I felt that I was quite pathetic. No matter how much I tried, I would still lose what I wanted. What I wished for was always very different from what I got in reality. Good things only went to others, while I could only watch on helplessly.
“This is great news! Why don’t I draw a portrait for you?” I smiled and asked.
“Okay, I want you to draw us both together.” Christopher immediately agreed and said solemnly, “Make me look better. In your previous painting, I looked so ugly. I’m not happy.”
“Sure, I definitely portray all of your handsomeness,” I said exasperatedly. No matter how skilled one was, no one could capture Christopher’s charisma. He was just so perfect and charming.
“Can you give me this painting? I like it a lot,” asked Christopher as he pointed at it.
“Give it to you?” I blinked and said, “Sure, since you’re my only audience. Remember to frame it and hang it at a spot you deem most appropriate. Bring me there to see it too!”
“I won’t disappoint you!”
Time passed without a trace. Soon, it was the end of the month. On the day of Lyle and Crystal’s wedding, Lyle called me early in the morning and bragged, “Eve, I’m going to marry Crystal today. Remember to attend our wedding on time!”
My resentment for him intensified. How did I fall in love with such a petty man like Lyle back then? No wonder he likes Crystal. Indeed, birds of a feather flock together.
“If I don’t come, are you going to throw shade on me during your wedding? In that case, you can make her even more famous. That’ll be the cherry on top, huh?” I said coldly.
“You’re smart, so you’ll definitely know what I’m trying to say. After today, you don’t even have the right to regret it. Are you sure that you won’t change your mind? This is your last chance,” said Lyle arrogantly.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t need such a chance. If you’re free, you should show more care to your future wife. Don’t worry, I’ll show up at your wedding punctually.”
