1976

6

Morgan and Julia wandered down the street, hands intertwined as they moved through the darkness. It was late, nearly twelve in the morning, and no one was awake to see them in the sleeping town of Smithston. Endless laughter emptied their lungs, and the feeling of absolute freedom filled them back up again with cool, frigid air. It was the middle of November, Morgan's birthday to be precise, and she and Julia were celebrating by creating minute havoc all over town. As Smithston slept, Morgan painted the streets, Julia watching in absolute mesmerization. They couldn't walk more than half a mile without Morgan demanding that she tag something, nearly throwing her bag of spray paint down as she dashed towards her next canvas. She would create for a few minutes, then pause, examine her art and perform the final touches before packing up her duffle. Julia would throw in some kind of outrageous compliment, Morgan would kiss her, and they would be on their way, off to find a new piece of public property for Morgan to destroy. Or rather, rebuild.

After hours of pausing and painting, the couple had ended up walking down main street, which was lined with small shops and businesses. With each shop they passed, an idea filled up Morgan's head, but she refrained from acting on her urge to create. She wanted to do something huge, something grandiose, she just wasn't sure what yet. If Morgan could create something so spectacular that all of Smithston stopped and stared, she would be satisfied for the rest of her life. She held Julia's hand a bit tighter as she thought, eyes scanning each and every potential canvas. Her eyes finally laid on the alley wall of a small soda shop, and Morgan stopped in her tracks.

That was it. Julia was the perfect thing to paint, the perfect idea. The thought of a giant mural of the girl she loved filled her head to the brim, and a smile spreadon Morgan's lips from ear to ear. She imagined the greens, blues and browns, the lines, Julia's face, the way it would look on that beautiful blank wall. The sound of Julia's voice brought her back down to earth, though only momentarily.

"What are you planning?" Julia mused, though a bit of concern flickered in her green eyes.

Morgan smirked. "Something big." She pointed towards the empty soda shop wall. "We're going there."

Without warning, Morgan pulled Julia towards the store, nearly running. Her heart raced with excitement as they approached the wall, and, like always, she threw her duffle bag down, letting go of Julia's hand.

Morgan began with a brilliant tan, close enough to Julia's skin that it was nearly identical. Her hands and body danced as she framed the bottom half of Julia's face, only looking back at Julia for reference on occasion. She could see Julia's face on the wall just as clearly as if she were staring at her, and nearly an hour passed before Morgan finally paused. Cans of spray paint littered the ground, along with towels and the sweat wiped from Morgan's brow. She was nearly halfway done, the only issue being that she had made the bottom half of Julia's face just as tall as she was. Morgan scanned the alley for some kind of solution, and her eyes rested on a small but just tall enough dumpster sitting in the corner of the hall. She turned to Julia, mischief in her eyes.

"Help me with this, princess?" Morgan was already attempting to push the dumpster towards her mural.

Julia moved with reluctance to help Morgan, though once the two were working together to push, the dumpster moved with ease. Morgan was smiling the whole way, filled with joy, euphoria, even. She felt as though nothing could stop her, she could paint the whole world and no one would be able to catch her at all. Suddenly Morgan wanted to cover the whole town in her murals, as if she hadn't already, and as she climbed on top of the dumpster and began her work on the rest of Julia's gorgeous face, she was filled with glee.

Again, Morgan began to move with a silent grace, entirely focused on the task at hand. She felt unreal, as if her soul had left her body and was controlling her from a distance. She forgot Julia was even there, quietly watching Morgan as she moved without even thinking. Normally when she painted, drew or tagged she was full of thoughts, almost unable to keep them at bay, but here she was, completely invested in her work and how dedicated she was to finishing it. Hours passed like minutes, and before she knew it she was standing before the largest mural of the most incredible girl Smithston would ever see. She stared for what felt like days, body entirely still, so still that she dropped the can of paint from her hand. It bounced off the dumpster and onto the ground, yet she still did not move, taking it all in. Morgan barely noticed it when Julia, too, climbed up the dumpster and took her hands, her eyes glistening with the kind of tears that did not fall. "It's beautiful," she whispered.