Birthmarks and Broken Hearts

Chapter III

Daisy and Naomi walked to a small apartment building on the corner of two streets. As they walked up the narrow stairs, they heard Daisy's neighbor arguing with someone. As Daisy unlocked and opened the door, Naomi saw that it was well furnished, a small table with four chairs around it in the area next to the kitchen that would be a dining room, a small, pale yellow loveseat in the main room, two bedrooms, one door open all the way and one slightly ajar. In the main room, there was an easel set up with the canvas to the window. On the canvas was one of Daisy's friends in a baby pink blouse, sitting in the yellow loveseat with a brownish orange tabby cat with orange grey spots on it and a book in her lap. The apartment had drawings scattered across the walls and floors.

"Daisy, who's that in the painting on the easel? Is she a coworker of yours?" Naomi asked, finding herself attracted to the woman.

"Oh! Yes her name is Hanna. She works at the library and I wanted to practice some painting. I'm still working on detail and all that, but it's mostly done," she easily replied, smiling brightly despite the current condition of her brother.

"Hmm.. she's kinda cute..." Naomi muttered to herself, smiling a little.

"Sorry, did you say something?" Daisy asked, clearing the table of some drawings and watercolor palettes.

"Oh, no. Do you want any help?"

"No no. I'm okay. Do you want anything to drink or eat?"

"Yes, thank you. Some tea would be nice," Naomi responded, sitting in one of the chairs, her back to the rest of the apartment.

"Alright, is there a specific tea you want?" she asked, getting eight or nine boxes of tea down from the cabinet above the stove. She listed off the teas, including, but not limited to black tea, lemon ginger, peppermint, and chamomile.

In the end, Naomi chose a sweet, cinnamon hibiscus tea with cream and sugar, while Daisy chose coffee, also with cream and sugar. For a while, they caught up not only as friends but also as if they were sisters.