Through the Shadows

Chapter 1

Two years ago, Clary awoke with the strange feeling that something was missing. She never really gave it much thought because she was constantly concentrating in art school. Which to her demise, seemed to go by in the blink of an eye. Or at least that's how it felt. 

She remembered she applied. She remembered she was accepted. She remembered the past two years of art school. But, she couldn't quite imagine the emotion she had for any of those moments. It was as if the memories weren't really hers. As if she was put into this life, rather than actually lived it. 

That's crazy, she thought. 

She never really gave it much thought as the months passed. She was now in her fourth year of art school, with new memories that she had felt to the greatest extent. Clary thought it was best she lived her life to the fullest from now on, rather than dwell on the past two years of her life she felt like she missed. 

This time, Clary awoke to the sound of her ringtone, all feelings of emptiness gone as she saw his name. He filled her life with happiness. Clary felt it didn't matter now that she couldn't quite remember those two years of her life, because she knew whatever it was, she made all the right choices. After all, it led her to him. The past two years having him in her life made up for the those "Absent Years", as she called them. 

"Yeeees?" she said in playful voice, still half asleep. How did I get so lucky with hi-

"Would you mind telling me where you are??"

Clary's thoughts were cut short by his questioning tone.

"Um, home?" she responded.

"You just woke up from a nap, didn't you?"

"Maybeeee."

"You know, I've never met someone so passionate about art, actually forget to get to their art exhibition on time..."

Oh no.. she thought as she turned directly to the clock and realized she was already 5 minutes late and still had to walk ten minutes to get there. 

Thankfully, she had decided to take a nap with her clothes for the exhibition on and all she had to do was sprint through the door. 

"By the Angel! I'm on my way! Be there in ten!"

----------------------------------------------------------------

Clary made it to her spot in exactly 7 minutes, as she decided to sprint rather than walk. 

She was presenting her work, but wasn't quite concentrating on it. Something felt different. And a certain conversation kept coming to her mind. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You made it." he said, smirking. 

"Thank goodness the professor didn't notice I was late."

"Yeah. Thank the Angel." he said in a jokingly matter.

"Huh?"

He laughed. "That was my exact reaction. Never in my life have I heard anyone say 'Angel' instead of 'God' or 'Goodness', but it has a nice ring to it."

"What are you talking about?"

"You said, 'by the Angel' in our call. I'm guessing it's kind of like 'oh my goodness' or something like that?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Let's talk about this later. We have to go exhibit our art."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the Angel.. I've never heard or said that in my life. How weird. 

Clary's thoughts were interrupted again. But this time by someone else. 

She caught his eyes. He seemed to have been there for a while, as he seemed to have made himself comfortable against the wall. He wasn't looking at any art, but instead at Clary. But not in a weird way. In a way of admiration, as if she were the art. With what seemed to be love in his eyes. 

Unsure as to why, he felt familiar to Clary. 

Trusting herself, she began walking in his direction.