One Hundred Letters for James

001

001:

Art

I know it sounds ridiculous, but it's a legitimate fear when you put it into context.

I think it was Grade Six or something when we had the same Art class, and we had to paint something, anything. I had some strange infatuation with you at the time, and I don't know what possessed me to paint our hands, intertwined.

I painted every single detail, down to the way your wrist creased. I spent a ridiculous amount of time on perfecting your beauty marks, of which there was an abundance on your thumb.

I thought it was pretty good actually, so I wanted you to see it, which was pretty stupid on my part.

You walked up to my easel, and immediately said, "Is that us?" My eyes must have popped out of my head, I was so surprised that you had noticed.

"Why would you think that?" I tried to ask nonchalantly, but it came out shaky and uncertain.

"'Cus you painted my watch and your ring." You pointed out. And I had. I had painted that stupid watch that you had worn everyday for the past year, so it was obvious that it was you. And my purity ring was on the other, so that was me for sure. "It is us, isn't it?" You repeated, and a blush covered my face.

"Aw, does Kathleen have a little crush?" You said.

And I never willingly touched a paint brush again.