Knight Syndrome

Ren

"Claude Monet. The beautiful nature pictures you see on Twitter. It uses this effect."

"Impressionism." Ren's voice came instinctively. It came out louder than he expected.

The lady smiled at him.

"Just like the gentleman here pointed it out, Impressionism is one of the famous examples of Alla prima."

There were a few whispers of fascination at the artwork on display amongst the university students gathered at the Palindrome Art Company.

The lot continued on their way to the next piece, he didn't. For a few moments, he was paralyzed, perhaps his heart had grown too heavy.

"You can use your pass to invite one more guest", he turned to the girl with black hair, who was wearing a red scarf, and a long-sleeve shirt that covered her arms with the word "organizer" printed on it. Her face was hidden behind the group of sophomores in front of him.

Just like that, he felt her presence. It's not like he sees her often enough to recognize her presence. He couldn't explain it. He just knew, when Ameena was around him. She had a way of making her presence known.

Ren waited for her to finish talking to the visitors.

"Not surprised to see you here. I saw you at the registration desk. Thought I'd check on you before you left". She said it without inhibition or formal awkwardness.

Ren couldn't help but feel surprised by her words. She sought him out. Not the other way around. That shift, however small, made something tighten in his chest.

He knew something was up, and he didn't like it.

What if he was wrong? What if she was exactly who she appeared to be-interested, genuine? The thought terrified him more than the suspicion did. Because if he believed it, if he let himself draw this picture, and it turned out to be wrong...

Another blank page. Another notebook he'd never fill.

It was easier to suspect. Safer to keep the pencil hovering above the paper, never making contact. But she was looking at him now as if he was the only person here, and he felt the paralysis that came with wanting something he couldn't name.

She shrugged nonchalantly as if it was nothing at all, but then she looked up at him with those big eyes of hers and smiled again.

"Have you visited the archives section yet?" she asked finally after several seconds had passed. "Let me show you something!"

Ren followed her through the crowd.

"This is a very important book." She began as they stood inside one of the main rooms filled with the smell of coffee and the musty aroma of old books.

Ren nodded, taking a few steps closer to Ameena so he could look over her shoulder at the book she was pointing to. "See here, this part explains the principles of character creation and how to use the Khmer script. The king is the heart of his kingdom, the king's word is law. It's..." she trailed off as she noticed him smiling at her.

"Nothing" he replied with an I give up gesture to her raised eyebrows. She quickly tilted her head to the right side where her in-ear was on.

For a moment, he forgot he was dead inside. Just a moment. Then she was leaving again.

"I have to go. See you in class."

And just like that, she was gone. Ren stood there in the archive room, surrounded by old books and the faint smell of coffee. The paralysis returned, settling over him like an old familiar coat.

He'd followed her. Wanted to believe. Almost did.

Almost.

He turned back to the empty space where she'd been standing, the smile fading from his face like ink dissolving in water.