We arrived in New York and we did a lot of preparation for my show. I've missed New York and everything about it. I've invited my brother, grandmother, my mother and my sister. We've invited all our friends and family. I can't wait until they all see my work.
They've never gotten a glimpse of my work except Geoffrey and my father. We've been posting flyers and posters everywhere. Now thousands and thousands of people are waiting to be let in.
My husband puts his arm around me and we look around at all the artwork I've done. I mean I've come a long way. I included the pieces I did when I was 16 to now. Each one siginificant and deep. I really hope my family is here.
"You ready?" I look at Geoffrey and smile. I nod my head and he smiles at me. The MoMA begins to flood with people and i'm almost overwhelmed. I mean have I really come this far. Geoffrey holds my hand and I smile. He really is a great friend not a great husband though. I laugh to myself and I feel his eyes on me.
"What's so funny?" He smiles and I shrug. I kiss his cheek and he hugs me.
"Nothing." I feel someone tap my shoulder and I turn around to face my brother Andres. I instantly hug him and he kisses both of my cheeks. It feels so good to see him again. I see my grandmother and hug her tight.
"I'm so proud of you Magdalena." I nod my head and felt a tear escape and she rubs my back.
"He would be so proud of you too." I felt someone tap my shoulder and I turned to face Geoffrey with a camera in his hand. Of course he would be recording this moment.
"Oh my God not the camera again." We all laugh and I look back at my grandmother.
"Have you seen my mother and sister?" She shakes her head and I shrug she rubs my back.
"Don't worry yourself. They're probably here. You see how many people there is?" I smile and nod my head. Honestly I'm overwhelmed with happiness.
"I'm proud of Nicole you've done a great job." I turn around to my mother's voice and I hug her. I see my sister and her husband and I hug them both. I look down to see a beautiful little girl holding hands with Natasha. I squat down and I smile.
"Hi Isabel, do you remember me? I'm Auntie Nicole or Luna whichever one." she smiles and I smile back she walks to me and hugs me. I hug her tiny frame. She is so cute with her big hazel eyes and a finger in her mouth.
"Nicole Vargas?" I look up to see a man. He was a reporter I could tell. I stand up and smile and shake his hand.
"I'm from New York Daily I wanted to interview you." I nod my head and smile I excuse my self from my family, but Geoffrey stands behind the reporter without the reporter knowing and I almost want to laugh, but I keep my cool. Try to stay professional Nicole.
"Your artwork is absolutely stunning and I just wondered, what was your inspiration for all your pieces?" Awwwn he sounded nervous and he was so cute. He looked like he might've just started.
"Thank you and my inspiration was myself and my struggles. Also they tell a story of life and death." He nods his head and write down every word. He was a fast writer. I don't know why he didn't just record my voice. I guess it's because of the noise level.
"Why didn't you have your art show in Atlanta?" I laugh and cross my hands.
"Well, I was born here in New York, Queens to be exact, but I wanted to be in the state I was born in, but next one will definitely take place in Atlanta." He smiled at me and nodded his head. He wrote everything down quickly.
"And earlier you said in some of your paintings they tell a story of life and death and I saw that. I wondered What is your thought on life and death?" I tilted my head side to side and smiled.
"Life is a journey that we take and death is just another journey and I hope that when that journey comes for me it's peaceful and there is no struggle." He smiles and nods and he excuses himself. I look up at Geoffrey and push the camera away.
"Get it away crazy person." I walk back towards my family and they were all laughing and talking. Another person taps my shoulder and I turn around to face Lili and Juan and the whole artistic family. I hug everyone and thank them for coming.
"I haven't looked at everything, but from what I've seen it is absolutely beautiful and I love it." I smiled and hug Lili again and everyone. She begins to walk around look. I smile as the men found their way to a secluded area and I shook my head. I followed behind them and stood towards the back.
"What's the topic of choice today gentlemen?" They smiled and shrugged. I saw Juan tilt his head.
"I'm just waiting to see what stupidity comes out of Alexander's mouth." Alexander rolls his eyes and I shake my head. I walk away and begin to walk around. I see Lili stop in front of my miscarriage painting and she looked upset. I walked up to her and rubbed her back.
"Why are you crying Lili?" She looks at me and wipes her face.
"It's just so deep and meaningful. I don't know It got to me." I laugh and hug her. Awwwn she doesn't need to cry. It's sad, but it's something I have overcomed.
"Can I get a hug from the beautiful Mrs. Vargas?" I turn around and see Michael. I smile and hug him. I can't believe he came.
"I can't believe you came. You have a club to run you know?" He nods his head and rolls his eyes.
"I know, but I couldn't miss it." I smile and hug him again. I hand him a drink and he smiles at me.
"Your art work is magnificient Nicole." I sip my drink and smile.
"Thank you Michael." Geoffrey joins us and I smile up at him and kiss his lips.
"Get ready to pick up the mic." I nod my head and smile in excitement. I haven't been this happy in a awhile.
"Michael this is my husband Geoffrey. Geoffrey this is Michael the man who was able to get me the hookup to this place." They shake hands and I could see a death glare in Michaels eyes. I see him smile anyway. I make my way to the mic and the stage that was built in the middle.
"Hello everyone my name is Nicole Jiménez-Vargas. I thank you all for coming and looking inside of my inner most thoughts. I know some are wondering what is my inspiration? What do I say in my paintings? How come they are so different from my husbands? I must tell you that I am not my husband," They all laugh and I laugh with them I quiet them down and smile.
"so you will not get the same stories. What you are seeing in my paintings is myself and my struggles. That's truly all I know best. I didn't want to show my artwork because of that. I didn't want people thinking I was egotistic or a narcissist. Then I said fuck it and that's how I came here. I really do thank you all for coming and I pray that my father is proud of me. I thank my husband who urged me to get my work out there. I love you and I hope you all feel what I have felt and have some sort of revelation." they all clap and I join the crowd at my husbands side.
