The Beast (2022)

You Got Old

Martin and I found ourselves alone in the kitchen as Norah left to make the table. 

"I forgot how fun cooking with you is. The food just doesn't taste the same without at least one death threat being thrown around." he said, putting dishes in the sink.

"I'm glad you noticed." I chuckled, "I forgot how much this place felt like home..." I looked around, a memory clinging to every square inch.

He took a step toward me. "You didn't have to forget."

I slowed, nearly to a stop. "Martin,"

"I'm sorry, I just... I missed you is all I'm trying to say."

I smiled slightly, bitter-sweetly. "I missed you, too. But you know why I had to leave. Leave this place... leave you..." My voice wavered at the last word.

"I do. It didn't make me miss you any less."

Tears threatened my eyes when Norah popped her head in the room. "Do we need anything else?"

"Ah, the salad." I picked up the bowl and practically ran out of the room.

---

We gathered around the table, Martin asking Mare a million questions about her photography as he looked through her pictures. 

"And this is all with the-the long exposure with your mom's old Nikon?" Martin asked, looking through Mare's pictures.

She nodded, "Mm-hmm."

"She's crazy good, right?" I mused, happy to see Mare's smile so bright after so long.

"Truly." he smiled.

"Some people think it's old-school, but I just prefer film." she shrugged.

"Film is old-school, but, it has soul."

"That's what I've always said. I just love shooting with film."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"That is really amazing."

"Thank you."

Martin turned to Nate who'd just sat down from refilling his drink. "Eh, Nate, you see this? Look at this work."

"Oh, yeah. No, I haven't seen that one, but, uh..." he hid the rest of his sentence behind his drink.

Martin quickly turned back to Mare and continued gushing over her work. "It's just like your mom's stuff. It's got the same feel to it. You're really talented."

Mare ignored her father, as per usual. "I applied to the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU."

"Okay, okay. Is that a big... it's a big art school?"

I nodded. "Huge."

"It's the best school." Mare said, stars in her eyes. 

"Well, you're gonna get in." Martin said still looking through her camera roll.

"Thank you. I hope I do."

I smiled at her, "Don't even, Mare, it's practically guaranteed." 

"Well, she didn't apply for the medical school daddy wanted." Nate chimed in, earning an annoyed glance from Mare.

"Nate," I just gave him a look. His lack of interest in Mare's talent and goals had always angered me, and I never tried to hide it.

"No, and she shouldn't." Martin defended,  "You shouldn't, 'cause one doctor's enough in your family."