Forgotten Souls

Chapter 19: Art Galleries, Memories And Familiar Faces

“Brady!!” I hear Zeya call. This girl is a total nervous wreck today. After the year and a half of painting again and studying the arts of painting, she finally got herself an opportunity to show her talent to the world at some artist’s gallery. Apparently my sister had been looking up to this artist since she arose last year, and she somehow got the lady’s email address. She sent photographs of  some of her work to the artist and she immediately wanted Zeya to display it at her gallery.

“Calm down Zee. You look beautiful. You’re going to be great and everyone is going to love your work. If the artist herself loves your work then I know for sure everyone else will too. Take a deep breath and calm down.”

“Thanks Brady.. I just.. I want to impress her you know? Maybe if it’s good enough for her then she will allow me to sell more of my paintings there and then I can start my hobby off as a job.”

“Let’s see what happens tonight. You worked hard and that’s all that matter, alright? Who is this artist anyway?”

“Well I’m not sure what her real name is but she refers to herself as Zay Zay so yeah. I like it. Our names are so much alike don’t you think Brady?”

“Yeah that’s great Zee. Let’s put your paintings in the car and then we can head off to her studio. We have to be there by 6P.M. and it’s already  10A.M. we still have a long way to drive.”

We got my sister’s things loaded into the car and then we took off for the 7 hour drive. I wanted to leave a bit earlier in order that we could get some snacks on the way and get settled without having to rush too badly. Zeya had decided to take a nap after about 3 hours of driving. I could feel my backside becoming numb from sitting for 5 hours straight, but I didn’t want to wake Zeya up. She had a busy evening ahead.

We had just entered the town with an hour and a half to spare when I decided to pull up by a petrol station. I needed to fill the car back up again and I also desperately needed to fill my body up with some water and food again.

“Wake up Zee, we are in the town.”

“What?! Why did you let me sleep that long B? You must have been so bored. I’m so sorry!”

“It’s fine Zee, I had a lot on my mind anyway, I’m running in to get something to snack on quickly, can I get you anything?”

“Some water please, and maybe a chicken sandwich if they have B. Thanks so much.”

This is definitely by far the cosiest looking convenience store I have ever seen. I grab Zee what she requested and grab myself a lemon flavoured iced tea along with a hamburger and some fries. I was just about to pay when I noticed two people walking into the store. The guy looked an awful amount like Jeremy, but the girl I didn’t recognize at all. Shrugging it off I pay and head towards the car. I didn’t have to think about Zaylee now that my sister has a big night ahead.

We got to the gallery at 5:42 P.M. and started unloading her paintings. She went off to find the artist to find out where her things should be put while I was simply gazing at all of the paintings hanging on the walls. It was something I have never seen before. My sister’s art was beautiful, but this was just absolutely breath taking.

After about 15 minutes, my sister approached me along with an older lady. This must be the artist. She showed my sister where to hang the paintings and then moved on to help other people.

“Was that the artist Zee?” I ask her as she finishes up with the displaying of her paintings. She looks at me confused, clearly thinking about who I could be talking about but then I see her shake her head.

“Oh no B, that’s Caryn, she is the artist’s assistant. The artist is a bit busy getting everything ready with the catering so she couldn’t help me, but she sent her assistant with me. She’s beautiful B. She looks a lot like..”

“Zaylee..” I breath out as a girl in an elegant black floor length dress step into the room. Her hair is hanging around her face in loose blonde curls and she’s got smoky make up  with a nude coloured lipstick. She looks just as breathtaking as I remember her.

I can hear Zeya speaking, but it feels as if my whole world has frozen in the second that I saw her. She slowly lifts her head as she is talking to her assistant. I see her eyes pull in confusion and then she looks up. Immediately our eyes connect and I can see her gasping at me. She probably didn’t expect me to be here, well that makes two of us.

She smiles at me and then nods her head as she continues talking with her assistant. The smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, but I could tell that she was trying to be polite. After about an hour of Zee mingling with other artists there, Zaylee walks over to us. Jeremy is with her. I feel jealousy rush through my veins as I see him protectively sling his arm around Zaylee’s shoulders.

“Good evening Mr. Anderson, I hope you are enjoying the event.” She says politely. I can see her eyes searching for any indication that I might react hostile towards her, but as I see her looking at me, I feel the walls around my heart slowly cracking.

“Good evening Zaylee. It’s been quite a breath taking night. Your art work is impeccable. Thank you for allowing Zee to display her paintings at your gallery. She’s been talking my ear off since you asked her and considering that we share an apartment, that says enough.”

“Something flashes through her eyes, pain I think? but then she masks it with another polite smile.

“Zee? Oh you mean Zeya? Well I’m glad. She’s got an incredible talent and I wouldn’t mind displaying more of her work. The clients seem to really love it. I should probably get back to my other clients. It was nice seeing you again Braydon. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

The way she says my name, makes me yearn to tell her not to go. That she should stay and talk to me some more. I want to know how her cancer had been doing and I want to tell her that I still love her, even after two years of not seeing her. I nod at her and as she turns to leave, my eyes catch something on her wrist. It was our promise ring. She had linked the ring with a bracelet and she was still wearing it.

Could it be that she might still be in love with me too? Surely not if she is together with Jeremy and I mean, it looks like things are serious between them She haven’t hold his hand or kissed him or anything, but just the way they moved together everywhere they went was probably enough inclination that they are together.