Snapshot » l.t.

Chapter 15

Chapter 15


Renee's POV


Elise didn't come back. She had left that night after I told her I was not a liar, and I hadn't heard from her since.

She didn't call, she didn't email, she didn't even write. I was getting worried. I was afraid my best photographer friend had finally given up me.

I didn't stop studying, though. I kept at it, printing out new sheets and studying those. I wanted to move on. I had to move on.

I smiled as I shuffled all my papers together. So far I was doing brilliantly. Not a single mess up yet.

I glanced down at my pajamas. Now I could finally change my clothes without feeling like a color-blind idiot. I slid out of bed and put on a definitely red t-shirt and definitely blue jeans.

I made myself some breakfast and watched some TV. The black-and-white screen didn't bother me as much anymore. I had grown to live with it.

I finished my cereal and put it in the sink. I was in the bathroom brushing my hair when my cellphone rang in my bedroom.

I quickly put my brush down and ran to my bedroom. Hope filled me up. Could it be Elise? Or Lacy? Maybe even Leo? I found myself kind of missing his company, even though I resented myself for it.

"Hello?" I said eagerly into the phone, not bothering to check the caller ID. My mistake.

"Renee!" a stern voice said, and I winced. It wasn't any of my friends: it was Leeann. And she didn't sound happy.

"Where are you?" my boss demanded. "You keep skipping your work days, and you haven't called! If you don't show up soon, I'm afraid... I'm going to have to take some extreme measures."

My blood chilled.

The truth was, Leeann didn't quite know yet that I was color-blind. Elise didn't want to tell her, and for some reason Leo didn't tell her. And for that I'll admit I was grateful. But there was no getting out of this one. I had to tell her.

Or.... I could just tell her I was out of town, visiting family or something! I just forgot to call her to tell her!

No.... the good side of me grumbled. No more lying. You have to come clean.

I sighed. "Um, Ms. Leeann?" I said uncertainly.

"What is it, Renee?"

"There's a reason that I haven't been going to work lately. I just didn't know how to tell you...."

"There better be a reason. Spit it out."

I had wanted to take it nice and easy, like I had with all my friends, but didn't work out quite like that. "I'm color-blind," I said quickly, and braced myself for the yelling. And the bad news.

But, strangely, Leeann was quiet for a while. "What do you mean by 'color-blind'?" she asked.

I frowned. What else am I supposed to mean? I can't see color. Isn't that what color-blind means?

"I'm unable to tell any of the colors apart," I explained. "Everything is multiple shades of grey, black, and white. Nothing bright."

Leeann was quiet again, so I decided to take this as an opportunity to tell her what I had been doing to help my vision.

"But," I added quickly. "Elise has come over and helped me study the colors so--"

"Elise," Leeann interrupted me. "She knew about this?"

"Yeah," I said, nodding. "So did Leo. But... I didn't want them to tell you. I wanted to tell you."

"And you've waited this long to tell me?" Leeann sounded just the slightest bit angry.

"I-I wanted to... make sure I was able to come back," I stammered.

"Why? Renee, I don't see why I can keep you hired if you're color-blind."

My heart shattered, and I shrunk a little. No. She couldn't take away my dream job!

"But, Ms. Leeann!" I cried. "Elise has been helping me study, and I can tell most of the colors apart now!"

"That's not the same."

"Please, Ms. Leeann," I begged. "Don't fire me. This is the best thing to ever happen to me. Don't take that away from me!"

"I'm sorry, Renee.... But I don't see the point in keeping you any longer. Come over later so you can pick up your stuff."

She hung up after that.

My hand felt numb. My phone slipped out of my fingers and thudded to the ground. I barely noticed.

My legs shook. No. She took it away from me. The only thing I was good at! The only thing that was supposed to take me far in life!

I was ruined. No photography = no money. No money = no home. No home = homeless. And I wouldn't be able to live like that.

I rubbed my eyes. Don't cry, I berated myself. Don't cry. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger....

But this was killing me.

I fell to my knees and began to sob. I had no life, no money, no future. Soon enough I would be alone. I was a failure. My life was a failure.

After a good ten minutes or so of pitying myself (which felt great, thank you very much), I hauled myself back up to my feet.

I slipped on my shoes and a jacket, and I tucked my hair into a beanie. I swallowed nervously as I grabbed my car keys. This was the first time I drove since I started studying the colors. This was going to be the ultimate test.

I sat in my car and stared at the wheel blankly. I didn't want to go. I didn't want to pick up my stuff, to never return. I glanced at the passenger seat in my car. My camera was still sitting there from days earlier.

I suddenly had the urge to throw it out the window and smash it. What was the point anymore? If I couldn't take pictures, why keep the stupid camera?

It took all of my willpower not to go through with it. I would show them. I would show them that I still could take pictures. When everyone else said I couldn't, I knew I could. I just have to find my determination and belief in that first.

I forced myself to put the keys in the ignition and start the car. Amazingly, the drive there didn't go as badly as I thought it would, but I was too miserable to notice.

I parked in what used to be my usual place in the parking garage. I crossed to the studio building. I entered the lobby, and the memories came crashing down on me. My heart ached.

I tromped down the hall to the "cover" room. Elise and Leo would be there. How would I react to them? How would they react to me?

I knocked on the door. "Come in!" Elise called. I did.

Leo's face went blank. He had looked like he had been laughing before. I glanced at Elise. She wouldn't meet my eyes.

I knew it. She betrayed me. Why does that come as a shock to me? It was going to happen sooner or later.

"I'm just here to pick up my stuff," I muttered. There was a box under my desk that had held all of my stuff when I moved in here. I thanked myself for being too lazy to throw it away.

I slowly put my stuff away. The pictures, the papers, the film, the cameras. The occasional cover design idea I would have. My flash drive.

I faltered for a moment. My flash drive. I sat down in my spinny chair heavily and plugged it in my computer. I opened my labeled folders.

I skimmed through the pictures of Justin Bieber, Selena Gomes, Cher Lloyd, the Jonas Brothers. I had gotten a personal picture with all of them. They brought tears to my eyes, but I held them back.

A couple hands massaged my shoulders. My first instinct was to push them away, but it just felt so good I sunk into my chair. I closed my eyes.

"It'll be okay," Leo's voice murmured. I sat up immediately. It was Leo! My face flushed.

I hurriedly detached my flash drive and stuffed it in my pocket. I turned off my computer. I picked up my box and turned to my ex-friends. "Thanks for being there for me," I rasped. "For the most part, anyway."

Leo looked away. Elise surprised me by jumping up and giving me a huge hug. "I'll see you again," she whispered in my ear. "You're still my best friend." I smiled.

She finally let go and I left the cover room. I ignored Leo. Our friendship memories and his words to me still hurt sometimes.

I didn't bother saying goodbye to Leeann as I passed her office. I put my stuff in the trunk and got back in my car. I drove back to my flat.

When I arrived, I took my stuff out of my car, but didn't bring it inside. I sat on a bench outside the building. I set my box down on the concrete and bowed my head.

I trembled from suppressed tears. My thoughts randomly turned over to Spongebob. He would burst into tears if he ever got fired from the Krusty Krab, his favorite place in the entire world. I was Spongebob.

I didn't move from where I sat. I took deep breaths. I'm not sure how long I sat there for, but I do know that after a while someone sat down next to me.

I tensed, suddenly uncomfortable. I didn't want to be seen like this in public. Sure, I wasn't weeping, but I was pretty darn close.

The person and I still didn't move from our spots on the bench. When whoever it was randomly put an arm around me, that's when I broke. I turned and cried into the stranger's shoulder.

Yeah, yeah, I know that was really stupid of me. But give me a break: I was practically traumatized by all that was happening. I was color-blind, alone, broke, fired from my job. I had no future. I just needed friendly support, even if it was from a stranger.

My tears petered off. I sniffed and wiped my nose. I felt bad I had gotten the stranger all wet. I had probably ruined his or her shirt.

Now that's really weird. I didn't even know what gender it was. I kind of hoped it was a guy, because a girl putting her arm around me would be even weirder. My face reddened again.

Eventually the person got up and walked away. I didn't look up to see who it was that had given me silent comfort. I was too embarrassed.


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Author's Note:


Ah, that's better! This chapter is way longer!

I wasn't really sure if I should put that last part in there, the part where that random guy or girl comes and silently comforts Renee. But I decided it would be alright if I did.

Who do you think it was that sat with her on the bench? Do you think it was a random stranger, or one of her friends?

I love hearing that you guys like the story! I'm having fun writing it! Please vote, comment, and maybe even fan!


Stay Beautiful,
-Sammi <3