Loyal Always

Chapter 18, Beauty Is All Around Us!

Authors Note: Hey guys, sorry it's been a while since my last update, I have been really busy with work and under a lot of stress.

I'm free until the second of January though.

So I'm going to take that time to write all that I can.

Chapter 18, 

Beauty Is All Around Us!

Take a look at everything around you Kaiya, at what you see and what you don't see." I tell her.

She frowns while looking at me, "but how can I look at what I can't see?" She asks confused before looking out at the mountains in front of us.

Smiling, I explain, "remember what we were just talking about?"

She nods, and I continue, "Well, there's always more beneath the surface. We know that plants grow, but we don't always see them grow, do we?"

She shakes her head, "no."

"And we know that the earth is always moving, but we don't see it move, do we?"

"No," she scratches her head.

"But take a look at everything around us, isn't what we can see beautiful?"

She nods with a small smile, "yeah."

"Now think about it, what we can't see is part of what makes what we can see so beautiful."

Her eyes brighten in understanding, "I get it!" She exclaims happily, "we may not always see it, but by knowing it's there, by knowing what it does, we can imagine it. The water and the sun, we see the pretty flowers it grows, but we don't physically see them grow. Or the roots under the soil!" She beams, "we don't see them, but we know they exist, that with a little water they can grow too!"

"That's right," I smile proudly at her, she may only be six, but her understanding of things is amazing.

Explain the basics to her in a way she can perceive, then suddenly, what seems so vast and out reach, becomes simple for her to understand.

"I know exactly what I'm going to paint!" She exclaims happily, and once everything is set up she grabs a brush and begins to paint.

Rather than watching her, I turn away and begin working on my own painting.

I touch my brush lightly to the canvas and let my passion guide me, my hands moving on their own to create something beautiful.

I don't stop when Mom comes out with water and sandwiches for Kaiya and I, and I don't stop when I hear Kaiya shout that she was done and was going to do another one.

No, I only stop once I have completely finished, and I look at my work with a proud smile.

At first it didn't seem like much, but upon closer inspection, what looked small was actually big and vast.

It started with a pond of water, and a tree grew gradually out of the water, it's branches spread out wide for all to see while beautiful fall colored leaves hung off the tree in wondrous waves. Sharp vines grew over the trunk, like it was wrapping itself protectively around the tree, keeping it safe and out of harms way. It's image reflected in the still water while the moon gleamed in the night sky.

"Wow, that's really pretty Jacky." Kaiya interrupts my thoughts as I turn to look at her.

"Thanks, now let's take a look at your master piece, shall we." I respond, looking over her work and gleaming in absolute pride. "Kaiya, this is amazing, you did a great job!" I exclaim and she smiles happily at me.