Reminder (Hiatus)

1

   "How could you forget about your deadline?" Lea looks at me disapprovingly.
 
   As of late, everything in my life is in complete chaos. I forgot about the deadline for an important painting I'm working on. I'm so upset with myself. This is the first time this has happened.

   "Honestly, I don't know. I feel so overwhelmed lately. My memory has gone to shit. Yesterday I let my car run for three hours because I forgot to turn it off. I'm struggling." I sigh dolefully.

   Lea stays silent. I've never truthfully told her about my struggles. My emotions are often kept locked away deep inside me. She's my best friend. I don't want to drag her down with me.

   When my art became famous I was ecstatic. Over the past three years, the high demand for my art started to take a toll on me. Since my father died three weeks ago I haven't been able to paint. I haven't been able to do anything besides wallow in my grief.

   Lea clears her throat to make sure I'm looking at her before she speaks. "Lace, you can confide in me whenever you need it. I'll always be here for you. I want to help you."

   I give her an appreciative smile. "Thank you. I'll try to be more open from now on."

   "Have you sorted things out with your client?" Lea asks.

   I nod in response. "The client was rather understanding of the situation. We agreed on the new deadline and I discounted her $10,000."

   In response to the loss of revenue Lea's eyebrows rise in surprise. It's quickly replaced by a puzzled expression. "Just how much were you supposed to be getting originally for that painting?"

   "$60,000 was what we had originally agreed on. However, the client said she would pay more if she loved the painting."  As I spoke, Lea's jaw dropped to the floor; causing me to chuckle.

   "Wow, that's a lot. You are lucky she was understanding. Lacey you really can't let anything like this happen again. You aren't some unknown artist doing small commissions anymore." Her voice is firm.

   She only calls me by my real name in serious situations. It's the first time she hasn't called me Lace in a long time. My chest tightens a little as I become more disappointed in myself. I shouldn't have done anything to make her call me Lacey in the first place.

   "I know. I just don't know how to keep my thoughts in check. I keep reminders in my notes but I add so many things to my memo app that I lose the reminders completely." I hate how defeated I sound.

   Lea pauses to think before speaking. "You could text all your important reminders to a celebrity. That way they are in a place you can't lose and it will only be important things. You don't have to worry about the celebrity actually seeing it."

   I can't help but stare at her like she's gone crazy. She gives me an annoyed glare in return.

   Lea, ever so stubborn, tries to convince me. "Lace it's a perfect idea. Celebrities don't read DMs from accounts they don't follow. Just pick a celebrity who you follow on Instagram who doesn't follow you back."

   I sign but cave in. "Fine. However, if this comes back to bite me in the ass, you will have to be my assistant for a month."

   She squeals excitedly, loving the fact I'm following her advice. "Sooo, who are you gonna use?"

                .·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·. 

   I plop down onto my sofa. Leaving the house nowadays is exhausting. My notification sound cuts through the cozy silence. I glance at the screen and see that there is a new Instagram notification.