Spray Paint Angels

x - Chapter 1 - x

"So, I'm sure you get asked this quite often Mr.Way, but if you don't mind telling me, where exactly did you get this inspiration from?"

I set down my steaming travel cup onto the small table between us. My lips burn slightly from the last sip I just took and I lick them briefly to sooth the sting. Meeting the eyes of the journalist who sits across from me, Hayley, is her name, I study her anxious eyes as she waits for me to answer.

"Well, to be completely honest with you, I never got this inspiration from anywhere." The words slip out of my mouth without a further thought and I immediately want to punch myself in the face for such a prestigious and cocky remark.

However, Hayley seemed unfazed and spoke, "What do you mean by that, obviously you must have seen something that gave you such a spark of creativity in your pieces?"

I chuckle briefly before turning my attention towards the large window looking out onto the damp streets of Newark, New Jersey. "You could say I've seen a lot of things. I've seen birds and cracks in the sidewalk, pillows and park benches. In the 21 years I've been alive I've seen quite a lot. But to answer your question, no. I never saw my inspiration for those drawings. I lived my inspiration." I say before turning my attention back to her.

I can tell her interest is soaring high just like the ominous grey clouds that hang over the city outside.

She pulls out a recording device from the bag she had brought in with her at the beginning of this interview and sets it down beside her own Styrofoam cup of tea. "Care to maybe share what you have lived?" Her eyebrow cocks upwards in a questioning yet playful manner. I know she's not flirting, seeing as she looks to be in her 30's and if that shiny diamond on her ring finger says anything, she's married.

"It's a pretty long story to tell. You sure you want to sit and listen to all of that?" I take this chance to take another sip of my coffee and use the resonating heat from the cup to warm my hands.

"I'm willing to listen if you're willing to tell." is all she answers with before hitting the record button on the side of her device discretely.

"I am willing to tell, but in order to make any sense out of anything I have to tell you the whole thing, from the very beginning." I say this with a warning, a warning that not only will this take a while to tell, but once I start, I might not be willing to stop until it's done.

Hayley's head nods subtly in response, her eyes trained on me in interest.

"I was in my last year of high school. September 20th. That's the day I met him."

"Met who?" Hayley asks after a long pause, shifting in her chair to be more comfortable.

I give a brief smile and glance outside once more before turning my attention back towards her, "I'm getting to that."