Bridge over troubled waters

21| Opening Night

Bailey

As soon as the new year starts so did my art career. A few days after the new year was opening night for my art exhibit. They were to show off my paintings then they will stay in the art institute until the end of the month. My parents came down to see opening night and Corey moved around a lot of stuff to be here too. Sadly Mark couldn't make it but I promised to send him lots of pictures later on tonight once this all blows over.

Until then I was pretty nervous. My paintings were already in the Art Institute ready to be unveiled tonight. The press was there and other art collectors curious as to what I bring to their great city. This was the biggest night of my professional career and it wasn't even close. I wanted to throw up every time I thought about it. Art can be hurtful and not everyone will understand my paintings or like them. I know that. But the paintings are personal so in a way I want people to like them so they'll like me too.

I changed into a long red dress that had a little train to it. It was a simple red dress with long sleeves, no sparkles or patterns. It fit perfectly and I could move around in it. But it was still pretty and I couldn't wait to take some pictures and be able to look back at this night and say I was worried for nothing. That it all worked out in the end.

Once I finish my hair and makeup I head to the institute to meet everyone. Once I'm there they give me a badge and take me to where my stuff was set up. I figured it was off to the side in a wing people wouldn't go to very often, but it was right there when you walked in the front doors. You had to go past it in order to get anywhere in the whole museum which was kind of amazing. So I sit there and wait for this all to begin.

"There you are" a deep voice says and I look up. I see Corey walking over to me and let out a long sigh. I stand up from the bench I occupied and pull him into a hug because I needed it in the worst ways.

"I'm here" I assure him.

"How are you doing" he wonders.

"I'm a wreck" I admit. "I feel like I'm sweating so much this dress is going to fall off and I'm not even sure how to walk anymore."

"You're going to be great" he claims as he grabs my shoulders. I let out a long sigh as I nod my head. I can do this, I just gotta calm down.

Finally it comes time and Corey joins my parents out in the crowd. There was a lot of high named art people here and I wanted this to go over well so badly. But all I can do is let the world take care of this and hope for the best.

After saying a few kind words about where I'm from and how I got here they take the sheets off my paintings and show off each one. I finished the musical series with two more paintings on top of the first one. Nothing will top the first one but I was happy with how the series turned out and the story it told. I always use some bright colors but the main ones used were light blue red and white because that's the colors of Chicago's flag. Then on top of that there was a nature painting and a Canadian one because I had to give credit where credit is due.

Then of course the last one was the skyline one with Corey and I sitting on top. That one was my favorite and it wasn't even close. Maybe it's because I did it all in one sitting or how it was all in my head from that night high above the city. I don't know. It could have been a lot of things, but I'm sure the most important thing was Corey and I was on top of the skyline.

Once everyone gets to see the paintings and ask questions I walk around and meet people. Some of these people I looked up to, and they were saying they were fans of me? It's insane. This whole night feels like some fever dream I have yet to wake up from.

As the night wears on they start the silent action for two of the paintings. I walk around and take pictures and talk to people telling them what inspired me and what I hope to do next. Hopefully I can ride this to wherever I'm heading to in the future.

Eventually the operator of this whole event finds me and walks up to me with the happiest face. She grabs my hands and looks down at me with the biggest smile. She was very personal and I loved that because people in the art world can be distant. But not her, she said what's on her mind and it was always something positive.

"Guess what" she starts.

"What" I wonder.

"Someone just bought one of your painting for $100,000 dollars" she says slowly for the dramatics and my eyes nearly pop out of my head. I swear my heart stops when I heard that.

"Are you serious" I gasp.

"Yup! They just gave us the check and they will have it by tomorrow" she explains.

"That's amazing. Do we know who bought it" I ask.

"No but I'm sure they will be reaching out to you soon to thank you" she promises.

"That's awesome" I cheer. I should be thanking them for putting that much belief and faith in my talent. "Which piece was it" I wonder.

"It was the skyline one" she claims.

My face falls once I connect the dots to which piece she was referring to. My heart stops because that was the last one I wanted getting sold. "You guys sold the skyline piece" I ask.

"Yeah" she replies not as excited as she was before.

"I didn't want to sell that one. I wanted to keep it" I say softly.

"Oh hun, I'm so sorry. I guess things got messed up when we put down which paintings to auction and which ones to withold" she explains.

"There's no way I can get it back" I ask.

"I'm sorry, but we don't know who bought it yet so we don't know how to get it back" she says.

"That's okay" I say with a sad smile. "I hope it makes whoever got it as happy as it made me."

As the night comes to a end I walk out for some fresh air. I sit on the steps at the front of the building and let out a sigh. What a night?

"Aren't you cold" someone asks and I turn to see Corey standing beside me. He had a worried look on his face as he looked me over, sitting out here by myself in the freezing cold.

"A little" I admit. He sheds his jacket and wraps it around my shoulders. He sits down next to me and joins me in my gazing.

"What's wrong? This is the biggest night of your life and you're out here moping" he notices.

"I just... I don't know. Tonight's been great, it's something beyond my wildest dreams. When I was a little girl I always hoped this day would happen, and it finally did. But they accidentally sold my favorite painting and I hate that I don't know where it's going" I explain.

"Which one is that" he asks.

"The skyline one" I admit.

"The one with us sitting on top of the city" he asks.

I turn to him as he smiles down at me. "You knew" I ask.

"Of course I knew. You told me that this city would be ours and in that picture that's how I felt. On top of the world with you and the city below us. I kinda put two and two together to figure it out" he admits.

"I'm just sad I won't have that anymore" I sigh.

"We will always have that" he promises me.