The Next Best Thing: Part II

Two

Each dawn brought a new memory, one accompanied by an odd combination of nostalgia, pain and sobs. I could smell him, feel him, love him and that tore me apart.

I made Eoin close all the curtains and I kept them shut even when he insisted on bringing me food, meals I could hardly stomach. It symbolised shutting myself out and away from the real world, where I was now single and alone. I was heartbroken. I carried on like this for almost a week, Eoin checking on me every night just in case.

"Morning you," Eoin greeted cheerfully one morning. He drew the curtains, ushering in a blinding bright light into the lifeless bedroom. "Welcome to my home."

I was lying on a large bed with plush pillows and über soft sheets, so very gentle against my skin. The curtains drawn opened up the floor-to-ceiling windows to reveal a beautiful city panorama alight in the early morning sun.

Beside me sat a tray with a steaming cappuccino topped with a lot of foam, which I absolutely loved.

"I thought you might need this."

I thanked him sleepily, propping myself up against the bed's headboard. "Nice place you've got here."

It really was, with minimalistic, on trend furnishings and a few canvases here and there. "I like your paintings," I said, admiring the portraits hung artistically around the room.

"Thank you. I made them myself," he admitted, blushing a little.

"Shut up! You are joking, right?"

"No, I'm dead serious."

He got up and unhooked one of them, depicting a tumultuous relationship, and he showed me his name signed at the base. "See, I wouldn't lie to you."

He was serious; I was in disbelief though. He never struck me as the starving artist type, metaphorically speaking of course, or even capable of creating something this great. "They're just so...," stammering at a loss of words, "they're so cool. And you're so..." I purposefully trailed away, taking a small sip of my coffee, literally heaven in my mouth.

He makes really good coffee too, I thought. What else didn't I know about this Eoin creature?

"And I'm so what, Zoe?" he asked, edging closer to me on the bed. "I'm not cool?" His eyes, transparent in the light intimidated me a little, making me move away from him. He came closer. "I'm not cool, Zoe? Is that it?"

"Not really, no," I stated, staring into my round mug.

He laughed and pulled my coffee from my hands before jumping me, throwing me over his shoulder. "Hey! Put me down! Eoin, please put me down!"

I was slapping him and tugging on his t-shirt, in a dismal attempt at hurting him. I was only injuring myself trying to hurt him.

"You're going to change your answer," he replied, his grip tighter around my waist.

He skipped down his floating staircase two at a time, jogged across his incredible kitchen I vowed to abuse one day, and led me into a dark room.

I was deposited onto a comfy couch against one of the room's four walls. He flicked the lightbulbs on, producing a dim light for his work area. All around me were paintings, images and portraits conveying numerous emotions, seasons, people, and places: cultural phenomena. The light manipulated the media, emphasizing the theme of every piece.

"Believe me now?"

I sure did; his art was very intriguing and ingenious, showcasing another part of him I was not privy to until then. It should have come up in our interview. "Why didn't this come up in our interview?"

"Because I only allow a few people to know everything about me. I still have to maintain my mysterious persona, otherwise where's the fun?" he said with a cheeky smile, tussling his locks.

"These are really good. Why aren't you a painter full time? You're great, man. I know I'd definitely buy your work."

I walked over to a black and white portrait of a couple kissing passionately, the woman, a bride it seemed, wearing a vintage dress and her hair adorned with royal looking accessories.

The groom looked familiar too - it was his twin sister and her handsome husband, Duke Ronan. "That's her, right? Your sister?

He nodded his reply, coming up to me.

"I asked if I could photograph her wedding. This is my favourite of all the pictures. She's very happy, and he's smitten. He makes her very happy."

He smiled sheepishly at that, looking very adorable under the faint fluorescent glow. "I'm very protective over her if you haven't noticed." I had, and it was really sweet.

He showed me a few more pinned on the wall, illustrating the beauty and royalty of love. My eyes smarted as I saw how much they felt for each, reminiscing about how it felt when I had that kind of happiness in my heart and in my life.

I bit my lip to halt the tears - Eoin had been so worried for the most part of my stay at his place and I didn't want to freak him out again.

His stomach growled, breaking me out of my emotional trance. "I'm hungry. Please, let's eat? I didn't manage to have anything to eat last night."

I looked at him, confused. "Why?"

"I was worried about you. You started crying in your sleep again and you kept mumbling something I couldn't understand. I didn't want to leave you alone so I kept watch over you but I eventually fell asleep when you stopped."

He fell asleep watching over me. Oh Eoin, you sweet, sweet man.

"Thanks, Eoin. For everything really," I said, following behind him into the kitchen.

I deeply appreciated his generosity and it meant a lot to have someone take care of me at this difficult time of my life.

"It's my pleasure."

He unhooked an apron hung on a rail next to the kitchen counter and stood authoritatively in front of the breakfast bar. "Now, what would you like, woman?"