Right Beside Her

       I could hear loud music coming from the garage as I walked up the path to Charlie’s house; she was painting again. I smiled to myself before I let myself in. On the opposite side of the garage I saw her; backside facing me. Her long brown hair fell in soft curls down her back as she painted away on a large canvas. I couldn’t tell what it was yet, the painting anyways, it was being drawn in different shades of gray and black. I stood in awe, just watching her paint for a while. She glided the brush over the canvas with such ease, like the paint was just spilling out from her fingertips. A few dabs here, a long line here.

            I shut the music off with one simple touch of a button as she whipped around surprised. Her face was scared, but then a sigh of relief came over her as she said, “Danny, you scared me!” The paintbrush was still held firmly in her hand.

            As she set it down I approached her saying, “I was just admiring your artwork.” I nodded towards the painting.

            She shyly looked at the ground, “It was supposed to be a surprise,”

            I covered my eyes quickly with my hands and said, “I didn’t see anything!” She laughed, removing my hands from my eyes as she planted a kiss on my lips. I smiled as she broke away.

            “What are you doing here anyways?” she asked leading me out of the garage, locking the door behind us.

            “Well, I had nothing better to do,”

            “You walked here?” she asked surprised as we walked onto the porch of her house.

            I nodded pulling the screen door open and waited for her to walk inside before me.

            “You’re crazy,” she smiled as she walked past me and into her house.

            Charlie had lived with her brother ever since her parents passed away last year. They had been killed in car accident when they were coming home from one of Charlie’s art shows. She didn’t talk about it much, and I didn’t blame her. I think she had diagnosed herself with some kind of depression after that. Painting was her escape. And not only her escape from her past, but also from her being sick. She was diagnosed with what they thought was cancer last year, but what the doctors didn't know was that her organs were failing slowly. She didn't have much time. And I wanted this summer to be different. If she didn't make it past this year, I wanted to make sure she was happy with her life. 

            Her brother, Jacob, was in college, but he lived at home with Charlie so she wouldn’t have to be sent away. And I was thankful for that. If I had lost her because she was sent away I don’t know what I would’ve done.

            It was summer, so we could finally spend more time together. I thought maybe this would be the summer wear we turn everything around. Where we finally could forget about the past, forget about school, forget about her being sick, and just focus on us. I thought maybe two months ago would be the last time I would ever have to walk through the sliding doors of the emergency room with Charlie in my arms. But, boy, was I wrong