Quick Bites

Artist

She, carefully, examined the empty canvas before picking up a tube of bright paint and splashing it all across the stark whiteness. The red paint streaked on the canvas made an incredibly powerful visual. Wiping a tear from her eyes, she grabbed her brush and went crazy with passion, making bold strokes with lots of red, olive and black criss crossing each other in an exploding potpourri of colours.

She kept working on her masterpiece until her arms were weak and sweat broke out on her forehead. She slumped down into a chair and squeezed her tired eyes shut, then, she looked at the painting again. A flash of pain pierced her heart as a myriad of emotions and memories passed her brain. With a sigh, she picked up the canvas from the easel and flung it into the roaring fireplace. The orange flames started devouring her painting.

She removed her glasses and kept them on the kitchen counter, all the while, looking at the destruction of her painting. Tears were pouring out of her eyes in a constant stream as she realised that her world had come to an end. Her gaze fell on a particular picture, which was kept on the mantle. A picture of a young soldier in his stiff uniform, he smiled broadly towards the camera. One could see the vitality of youth and hope in his eyes. He seemed to be bright, honest and strong. In short, an ideal son.

The television buzzed in the background but she was not paying attention anymore. A reporter was droning on about an young soldier who had died in a recent plane crash. On the screen flashed the picture of the victim. It was her son.

The feeling of indescribable pain is dead. Finally, she is liberated.

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I attempted to capture a mother's love and an artist's passion in this short story.

Song - Ocean Breathes Salty by Modest Mouse.

Thanks for reading.