An Eye for Art

Chapter Fourteen

My father laid still. His skeletal fingers were cupped in my hands. Rhythmic pumps from the ventilator stifled out our whimpers as we watched his vitals drop. My glasses were tear-stained, making my vision blurrier than it already was. Stay with me father. . . please. . . don't leave me. I buried my face into the bedside, the tears draining into the sheets.

Beeeeeeeeeep.

Beep beep. Beep beep. My alarm woke up, rustling me from my slumber. I groaned and searched for my iPad under my pillow. I clicked the off button on the iPad and put my alarm into hibernation.

Today was Saturday—the worst Saturday of my life. Today was the day my father died. The memory was seared deep inside my brain, and this day only brought the worst out of me.

Sitting up, my bed head collapsed around me. . . I felt. . . okay, actually. I glanced around the room, and my roommate was still asleep. Everything's silent. . . no fan whirring from my roommate's desk. . . no beeping from the garbage disposal trucks. . . pure silence reigned over the room, and I felt calm.

Breaking the tranquility in the air, I hopped out of my bed as my feet pitter pattered to my dresser. I grabbed my hygiene products and opened the door, startling myself in the process; the metal door broke my room's tranquility.

With my toothbrush dancing in my mouth, I opened my phone with my other hand and pulled up my email. My inbox was always empty because I wasn't the type to pile unread emails. Who knows if I'd miss something like that! At the moment, the only email I have received was from Zach.

Adilene,

Here's a friendly reminder that the spring exhibition is in a month. Keep up the good work, and I expect to hear progress during our next meeting.

Sincerely,

Zach Newman

Dancing my toothbrush around, I looked back on how far I've come. Four years of college was about to be done, and I was about to have yet another successful art exhibition. My father would be proud. . . Lamenting joy filled me as the memories of my father resurfaced. If only you could see me now.

My eye lingered on Zach's email, and his stunning smile warmed my heart as I crossed over his email picture. That smile. . . it feels like home. . .

Spitting out my toothpaste and saliva, I exited the email tab and opened up my messages between Zach and I. Hey Zach.

Two seconds fly by, and a text is already coming my way.

Good morning, Adilene. How may I assist you today?

My cheeks grow a vine of red after reading his message. How was I supposed to ask him to hang out? What would I even say? What would he even say? Spitting the toothpaste out of my mouth, I set my toothbrush down and picked up my phone with two hands. Uhhh. . . Do you wanna— I deleted my message. What are you doing today? My eyes bore into the screen, waiting for his response.

I was planning on staying in today, why?

My heart was beating to a vigorous beat. Can we han— I deleted my message again. I was wondering if you'd be interested in hanging out?

Hanging. . .out. . .

I bit my lip. That wasn't an answer! Did I do something wrong??? Oh no. . .

Why not. You can stop by my place and have some lunch.

My heart melted, filling my eyes with a sparkle. I'll be there later.