To Be Me

The Art Gallery

He was brought back to reality by a voice calling out to him.

"Hurry up Oliver."

Smiling softly, he made his way towards the person who was gesturing to him to come closer.

"You know, where we're going is greatly related to our project. I usually watch lots of art competitions and there was this one competition that someone made an artwork and it was so inspirational that it moved almost every judge..."

"That artist must've been really good." Emma cut in.

"Very," Oliver added tucking his hands into his pockets.

"And that's why immediately we were given this project, I thought back to it and wondered if it would be of any help to check it out." He stopped and turned to a nearby building.

"We're here."

The building that stood a short distance away was one of the well known churches around. It seemed they arrived in time for a sermon to begin.

"This church. It... Feels so familiar."
Emma thought to herself.

Oliver held out his hand to her which she took and followed after him.

"The artist said he usually attended this church and his painting was later donated to the church after the competition. Which he won by the way."

***

They both exited the church after the sermon was over. Oliver had actually taken time to show her around and also made a stop at the painting of course.

"So it's back to school now right?" Emma asked as they walked down the street.

"Actually there's an art gallery not too far from here and it'll be nice if we could attend the showing. Are you up for it?"

"Hmmm." She briefly glanced at her shoes then back at Oliver who looked a bit concerned following her gaze.

"It's ok. Really."
She replied putting one foot behind the other so he would not pay too much attention to them.

"It's not far from here right? I really don't mind walking." She assured but he didn't seem the least bit convinced.

"Which way was it again?" She turned the other way to go but was stopped when her hand was caught midair... And there it was again.

That same feeling of dèja vû washed over her like a crashing wave.

"Are you really going to be ok walking in those? He gestured to her shoes looking quite worried.

"It looks really uncomfortable to walk in."

"Yes I can manage." She sounded confident but he still wasn't buying it.

Scanning the area, his gaze locked on something.

Holding her closely, he led her by the hand to a nearby bench.

Gently taking hold of her shoulders, he sat her down.

"Can you wait here for just a bit?"
He asked gazing into her eyes to which Emma slowly nodded causing a smile to appear on his face.

"I'll be back in a jiffy." He said standing up and suddenly walking down the street until his shadow disappeared.

A little over fifteen minutes, Emma glanced in the direction Oliver faded into but there was no sign of him.

Feeling a bit bored, she began to swing her legs while staring at the floor when she felt a shadow hovering over her.

Lifting her head, her eyes met with Oliver's who looked like he just finished running a marathon and his breathing had just begun to steady. Paying a bit more attention to his face, she saw that beads of sweat had formed all over.