My life was dull, not until I met Adwin. Besides painting his canvases, he also brought color to my life. I thought of my life as a beautiful masterpiece. But I lost him, and then lost our daughter because of the same reason: Art. I continued living for what was left, Anatole. I hated art ever since. Now I only felt safe in a colorless and monotonous place.
YEAR 1980
"Welcome to Techne Island!"
I smiled as I watch Adwin jumping on his feet like a little kid. He was able to save a large amount of money from his commissions so we could live here comfortably after our marriage. And now we're finally here.
"Amore! We're at the place of my dreams!" My husband lifted me and kissed my lips. I hugged him tightly, laughing.
"I am the happiest now that you've reached your dreams, tesoro." I said.
Surprisingly, Adwin bought a house here at the North. We stayed in a small apartment first while waiting for our papers to be processed. It will take for about two weeks until we get to live there and create our own family. I told him that it's okay for us to live in an apartment, but he insisted to buy the house.
"Sembra bellissimo," I said as I watch Adwin paint.
"Grazie amore," he said and kissed my cheek.
I developed a habit of watching him paint. It's been years since I watch him paint in Italy, and until now, my admiration for his love of art never changed. I almost memorized all the brush strokes that he does with his left hand. Watching him do what he loves, and how passionate he was, I can't help but fall for him each time.
That's what I loved about Adwin.
We roamed around the area, and I slowly understood why this was his dream place. Almost every building here displays beautiful artworks, and everyone that we see are either artists or people who appreciate art. A park near our apartment was interesting, people would always go there to paint.
"Amore, I want to paint in the field tomorrow. Would you like to have a picnic there?"
My eyes sparkled like diamonds and agreed in an instant. The next day, I prepared our food and drinks to bring. I placed them on a basket, together with a blanket. The two of us walked to the park. The weather was perfect for a picnic and people are also busy with their own artworks.
"Should I paint too?" I laughed. "I think I'm the only one here who's not holding a paintbrush."
Adwin stopped painting and glanced at me. "That's perfectly fine, Amore. You don't have to do something just because everyone loves doing it."
I smiled. "I would like to try, could you teach me?"
He looked excited and sat closer to me. "Of course, Amore!"
We spent the whole afternoon painting. It was actually fun to do. Adwin taught me a lot, just like how to enhance my painting, the shadows and lightings, everything. He's so talkative when it's about painting.
"Oh, ice cream! Let me buy us some, wait a sec," Adwin stood up and ran towards the ice cream vendor not so far from here.
I continued painting, and I didn't notice that someone was watching me paint. It was a man. "That looks beautiful," he pointed at Adwin's artwork.
I smiled, "It's my husband's painting."
"Your husband's a painter?"
I nodded. "Yes he is."
The man left without a word and I minded my own business and continued painting.
Adwin returned, handing me an ice cream cone.
"What did he say to you?" He said and sat beside me.
"He said your artwork looks beautiful," I said proudly, looking at him.
"You're more beautiful, Alba," he said and kissed my forehead.
The next morning, a letter was sent to our apartment. It was for Adwin. He opened it and I saw how happy he was.
"I got invited to a dinner!" he exclaimed.
"Really? With who?" I asked.
"Look, amore, dinner with artists!" He smiled widely and hugged me.
Before the invitation, Adwin was already creating his name in this neighborhood. Despite living in an apartment, some people would come here just to offer my husband a commission. They loved his art style just like how I do. That's how talented he is, and he deserves to be recognized.
"You look handsome," I said while fixing his tie. He's wearing a formal attire. "Enjoy the dinner, alright?"
He wore his cap and kissed my forehead. "Of course, Amore. I'll go ahead now. I love you."
I hugged him and patted his back. "I'm proud of you."
He left the apartment and I started cleaning our living room. I finished washing the dishes too and noticed that his invitation is still on top of the fridge. I gasped and immediately grabbed it, I think this is something important to bring!
I wore my coat and went out, running. I called a taxi to bring me to the venue. I hope I'm not too late, my husband must be panicking that he left this invitation!
"There, the golden gate," I pointed and the driver stopped in from of it. "Thank you, but could you please wait for me? I'll go back here immediately, I just need to give this to my husband."
"Of course, Madam," the taxi driver said.
"Thank you so much, I'll be right back." I went out and got inside the gate. It was huge, and everything looked... elegant.
"Where's your invitation, Ma'am?" a man asked.
I showed him the invitation. "Oh I just need to give this to-"
"You can go inside, Ma'am," he said and got busy talking to another co-worker.
He didn't even let me finish! Oh my. I started walking up the stairs where I think the venue is being held at. Where is he? Did he entered this venue already without an invitation? I looked back outside and didn't see him. Instead, I continued walking upstairs.
I gasped when I saw people inside the venue, they were gathered in the middle, as if there was a commotion. What's happening here?
"Excuse me... have you seen a man named Adwin?" I asked a man who was standing at the entrance.
"Adwin?" He looked confused.
"Oh, sorry," I apologetically smiled and looked at the crowd. "What's happening here?"
"A commoner made a scene, saying that he's a painting."
My eyebrows scrunched. "What?"
I immediately started walking inside the venue. I didn't care if my clothes were not as elegant as everybody, I wanted to know where Adwin was. I suddenly had a bad feeling about this.
"Excuse me." I said.
I forced myself to go through the crowd to see what's happening at the center of the venue. There were too many people and nobody was listening to me.
"You don't have the power to declare yourself as a painter! You're a mere rat in this place, fool." A man shouted which made my heart stop.
I finally had the chance to see who was there. But seeing the people involved made my body froze.
"You're copying artworks and stealing everyone's ideas for sure. There's no place for you here, leave now, moron!"
"Adwin?" I said worriedly. Tears started pooling on my eyes. I saw how some men started kicking his legs and face.
"Stop painting here and go to hell!"
"STOP!" I ran towards Adwin and gestured my hands to make the men stop. "Please, stop hurting him!" I begged.
"Alba..." he whispered. "Get out of here, please..."
I shook my head. "What's going on here? Why are they hurting you?"
"What do we have here? Who let the rats in? You'll contaminate this place for fuck's sake." another man said in disgust.
People started saying harsh words at us. I don't know anyone, but everyone was wearing the same mask. A mask of wealth, greed, and power.
"Everyone can be an artist! With or without power, everyone can paint!" Adwin cried.
We were silenced when a man pointed a gun at us. It wasn't enough, he pointed the gun on my forehead. I felt horrified that my body couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. My world suddenly stopped.
Is it the end for me?
I looked at the man who was holding the gun, it was the man that I met at the park.
"You can marry me if you want to live," he grinned.
I frowned. "I'd rather die," I gritted my teeth and gripped my hands.
"Oh well, I won't marry an imbecile like you. I'm just joking everyone, they don't deserve my million dollar bullets," the man laughed and moved the gun away from me. "Get the hell out of this place and pack your bags. We'll send you off to the East for violating the rules."
"What rules?" I clenched my jaw. "We didn't do anything wrong!"
He pointed the gun at me again, then pointed it at my husband.
"We'll throw you at the East, and never paint again."
A loud gunshot silenced the whole venue. The bullet went through my husband's left hand.
"Understood?"