Runaway // Matthew Espinosa

Chapter 16

I woke up in my bed, alone. Last night kicked in and I remembered that I dropped Matt home. With my arms and legs reaching out, I completed my massive stretch. I sluggishly, rolled out of bed and dragged my feet to the bathroom to neaten my hair.

I contemplated on whether to get ready first and then it, later following through with it after mentally arguing about it. I stepped into my warm shower, being in there for longer than needed. Afterwards, I changed into my undergarments, black jeans and a stripped, loose top.

Whilst my hair was drying, I decided to join my mom for breakfast. She was already cooking up some eggs and bacon. I was starving and ready to eat. I watched 'The Fosters' to catch up.

Once commercial break came on, I asked my
mom our plans.

"I've actually got to get a formal dress for a dinner party with my colleagues." She had already figured out her day out.

"I'll be at home, most likely painting, since I haven't done that in quite awhile." I answered back.

My mom would always keep my paintings and the ones I didn't like or want, she sold and we made a decent amount of money from it. People actually liked my artwork, so I was content with this hobby of mine.

I put on an old t-shirt and some running shorts. After tying my hair back, I grabbed a canvas and went to the backyard to go paint, already I'd make a mess inside.

After setting up my paints, I grabbed my pen and thought of what to sketch. That was until I received a text from Matt.

M: Can I come over?

Z: Yeah, anytime.

M:I'm penny boarding, so I'm like minute away.

Z: I'm in the backyard, come in through the gate.

I set my phone down and then tried to concentrate on what I wanted to create on this blank canvas. I heard the gate open and then shut. Matt was here. He took a seat in one of the chairs and looked at the paint scattered around him.

"So what are you going to paint?" Matt asked out of curiosity.

"I don't know. I'm clueless at the moment."
I sighed.

I studied Matt, trying to get some sort of inspiration that what lead to what I wanted to paint. I focused onto his hands and wrist. I loved how you could see his veins faintly under the skin. Great, now I was getting distracted.

I took a seat next to Matt, and decided to just let it come to me with what to paint. Matt turned his head towards me and said,"You don't know what to paint?"

I nodded, assuming that it was that obvious.

"Don't think about what you want to paint too much. Just start painting and let it go from there." Matt explained his thoughts on this.

I was so used to pre-planning what I wanted to do. I would follow the picture planted in my mimd. It wouldn't hurt trying something a new way.

"I got an idea. Since you will be tempted to draw out your plan for this art, you are going to paint my back." Matt stated and truly believed that he was crazy.

"How can I keep the painting in the end?" I brought up this question, not even trying to ask him to explain why I would paint on his back.

"You take the canvas and press it on my back, so then you get a less perfect version of the art. That perfect little painting you'll do on my back won't be so perfect on the canvas. " Matt had come up with a brilliant idea.

Simplicity lacks something in your eyes, giving you the urge to scour for it when it isn't the one missing anything, you are. You are attempting to 'fix' it and look for something you want to see, but all you need is understanding to realize whatever it already has is a true beauty.