Book II - 11

AUDREY

We first strolled the landscape paintings. I have always had huge respect for the arts. When my father was still rational, he always hung paintings on our walls. One of my favorites was the pine tree in the winter land in our living room. I didn’t know if it was still there because Anton sold some of the portraits for his whims.

Then, we walked around the walls, which displayed hyper-realistic paintings, and one of the pictures got my attention. It was a half-naked woman floating in the air that flaunted her breasts and her nipples. Her face was beautiful. Her lips were as red as a rose and slightly opened, but then I noticed her eyes had tears. The painting had a dramatic shade of dark and green shadows, making the art more alluring and inviting.

I shut my eyes, imagining myself as if I was the woman. I was in the same position as her a few years ago in front of a man I barely knew. I was young, naïve, and so willing. My body was exposed, beckoning the man that haunted my dr