My Brother stands by the door teasing me for my solo adventures, as I stated at my face wondering why I looked so different today. I felt it in my chest, I woke up with my eyes craving to see some art. like it was all I was meant to do with my life, like this whole world was created so I could watch some paintings and wonder why the colors bounce off each other like that.
“Jacqueline, This is why everyone calls you weird. I mean who goes to an art gallery on a Monday morning at 10:00am? Alone” Ezra yelled at me.
“I do not care, I'm was born to be alive Ezra, and if that means I get to stare at a bunch of Art pieces on the wall alone on a Monday morning then that is what I would do”.
I walked towards the door to push him out, to Relieve myself from the torturous sound of his voice.
The Lilac marble ring I had gotten from an antic shop stared at me and I felt obligated to wear it, even though I hate bright colors as black is the only one that truly calls out to me. You can call me a sadist or emo or whatever suits you perception of me in this story but colors do not pop on me, They make me want to vomit in a not-so-disgusting way.
I made it to the gallery, and the huge walls made me feel so small and insignificant. I wondered aimlessly through each room, the splatters of colors and the silence except the sounds of feets dragging across the floor.
I do not know why I decided to come here, why I wanted this so bad until I saw a canvas that had a bird staring at me with big beautiful blue eyes. I stood there lost until I felt someone beside me, I turned and She stared at me.
“Beautiful isn't it?”
“Urm yeah I guess, I think it's sad though”.
“why sad” She asked me.
“I don't know, it feels like this bird is waiting for something, I don't know” I replied.
“what do you think that is?” She stared at it with so much passion this time, so much sadness in her eyes and her voice held the story I held.
“Maybe a lover?” I giggled awkwardly, I'm bad at conversations.
“That sounds right”
“Hey that reminds me of a painting I read about that was transferred from a gallery in Romania today” She had the kindest eyes, her hair golden brown and she had tiny freckles on her face that looked so much like they were painted on.
“Okay?”
“Well, it's said that two lovers in the past promised to meet in the next life in a particular spot, to remember each other they promised to wear something to remind them of their love. They were painted in 1907 by their artist friend Ludincinl”
She mumbled on and I was intrigued.
“Follow me”
She said and I didn't argue, Something pushed me to follow her. To see this painting myself, we walked through the stairs to a room and I found myself staring at a portrait of two men who looked like they had been in love in every lifetime. One laid on the bed while the other sat beside him reading a book, They had greed in their eyes to never let go of each other.
“See how much defiance they have in their eyes? how in love they are?” She smiled and I smiled back.
I stared at the picture some more until I noticed my ring on the finger of the one holding a book, I looked at my finger to make sure my eyes were not failing me. It was the same color, with the same gold flower imprinted inside. His lover also wore one but it wasn't lilac, it was green.
“Hey do you think this ring looks like his?” I showed it to her and her face turned pale.
“What the fuck?” She moved backwards again like she had seen a ghost.
“What?” I asked her.
she pushed up her finger, It was shaky but something drew my attention. She was wearing the green ring from the painting.
We looked at the painting inscription, it was written there.
(A painting of Paul and Jack, please remember me 1907)
“When we meet again, You’d wear the green and I the purple. Please remember me, Please remember me
“Fuck” I yelled.
“Hi I'm Paula”
It all made sense, This nagging urge at 10:00 am on a Monday morning. This lilac ring.
“Hello nice to meet you, I'm Jacqueline”.

© Hope