Crescent

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

My brush glides gracefully across the canvas as bright emerald green feels the blank space. It is such a startling color, I pause for a moment to admire it before continuing my movements. My mind dances around the concept as the strokes take shape into an image so familiar, yet foreign.

The piercing eyes of the creature shock me and my brush falls out of my hand only to land with a loud thump on the white carpet. Green paint splatters across the floor and stains the fancy sofa beside me.

"Riley," a whispering voice calls, sending shivers down my back. My hair hits my face as I whip around to locate the source of the voice; however, the room is empty. "Riley," it calls again. I make a full circle, finally coming face to face with the creature of my dreams submerged in the canvas.

The creature of my dreams.

"Riley . . ."

I gasp in shock, sitting up in my bed so fast my head starts to swim.

"Riley? Sorry, honey. I didn't mean to startle you." This voice belongs to my mother, and I shift my focus to see her standing in the doorway of the guest bedroom I fell asleep in. "I have a surprise for you," she proclaims with a smile.

"Thanks," I attempt, but my voice comes out scratchy and I have to try again, this time successfully.

Mom gives me a soft look and motions for me to follow her. I do so. She leads me across the living room and into another room that I decide must be the sunroom due to the large windows and paint supplies she had set up in the middle of the room. "Check it out! I hope you like it."

I give her a smile, walking further into the room. The windows provide just enough natural light and the array of mediums in the room are an artist's dream.

Dream . . .

The floors are hardwood, expensive, just how my mom likes, and the furniture is limited just to a modern metal stool in front of the canvas and some shelving around the walls. It is nothing like the room of my dreams.

Shaking my head of the thought, I walk over to the canvas and the small cart full of supplies beside it. "This is wonderful, mom. I love -" My breath catches in my throat and my hand reaches forward as if possessed to touch the paints in front of me, as if they weren't real. "These are from the shop down town," I mutter to myself as I shuffle through the colors.

"I know," Mom exclaims. "I passed the shop while I was running errands this morning and as soon as I saw them, I knew they would be perfect for you. I bought so much I thought the boy behind the counter was going to refuse to check out the items!"

The boy . . .

"Did you know everything they sell is made locally? The brushes are made with real animal hair! They trap and release the animals without harming them, and they don't test the paint on animals either. How nice is that? They really care about the environment out here."

"That's really great, Mom."

She nods, a large smile still spread across her face. "I'll leave you to it, then? Maybe you can do your assignment and we'll have more time to spend together before your break is over."

I shake the cloudiness out of my mind. "Yeah, sounds like a plan. Thank you for all the supplies," I say, leaning over to wrap my arms around her. "I love you."

"Love you, too, baby." She hugs me back. "I have some more errands to run, but I'll be home later tonight." I laugh as she nudges me over to the canvas. "Have fun!"