An Unfinished Painting

21- Girlfriends

  I walked into the painting room and there was the white canvas, staring right at me. She really has not done anything to it, she has not even added a single detail.

"We should finish it soon, so you can hang it up." May walked into the room.

"You think I'm going to hang a nude painting of me in my house? People will see."

"But I want to see the painting hung up in the living room." May kissed my cheek, "I have work after school, so I'll be get home late today."

"That's fine, I'll see you later." Both of our eyes widened as we stared at each other in astonishment of what I had just said, "Ah, you meant your house." I awkwardly laughed.

That day, I called my publisher who started yelling in excitement over the phone when hearing that I have been working on a novel, then got way too quiet when I told her I had been in a coma for the past three months. Later in the day she called me back with a deadline of when the novel had to be completed in order to meet the requirements to be nominated for an international award that she thought I would have a good chance winning. Without thinking much, I agreed to the deadline, being due in six months.

I was sitting in my office desk, wearing my white sweatpants and an oversized shirt. The feeling was weird and thinking about it made it worse. I still could not wrap my head around the thought that I actually lost my leg. And even seeing the silver robotic leg, it still did not feel real.

Six hours later, I was still sitting in my black leather office chair typing away. I do not know why I forgot that May had her own apartment. For a moment I even forgot May had her own separate life from me. The fact that I actually thought she meant that she was coming home to me, was crazy of me to think. I'm coming to dislike living alone.

"Augie?" I stood up from my chair, falling immediately down on the ground. "Augie! Are you okay?" I looked up to see May bending down to help me up.

"I forgot about" I stood back up, "I thought you were going to your apartment tonight?"

"But you wanted me to come back to your place." May said in a cute voice, "And I brought home sushi."

Daisy looked cute as always, she was wearing a blue button up with wide legged light blue jeans, her hair back in a bun. "I just came from work." She said while setting up the table.

"Let me help." I said as I tried reaching for the plates.

"No, I got it."

"You're treating me like a child" I started complaining, "I get I have a robotic leg and still can't even walk without limping or falling, but you don't have to do everything for me May, I can't become dependent on someone who doesn't even live here."

May and I stared at each other, I knew what we both wanted to say and for a second, I think I was about to say it. Until we both heard the elevator door open up.

"Augie?" My eyes widened as I looked over to see Daisy walk in. She was holding flowers and wine in both of her hands. I could see the small baby bump that was covered by her white dress she was wearing.

"Daisy." I was leaning on the kitchen counter as she walked over, she looked down at my leg then back up at me, and smiled.

"I'm sorry I didn't get to visit you at the hospital the three weeks you were there, I was on a business trip." She walked up and hugged me, "Hi May, I'm sorry am I interrupting something?" She spoke so kindly and naive.

"We were just about to have dinner." May said as she opened up the boxes of sushi she had ordered.

"I just came to drop these off and wanted to see you, it's been too long." Daisy was holding my hands as she stared at my expressionless face, "I'm so glad you're okay."