“Everything is fine. There is no need for you to worry,” I said, trying my best to sound convincing.
“Really?” she asked skeptically.
“Really. We’re just living together in the same suite, but we have separate bedrooms and to be honest, we’re both not interested in each other…in that way. Just as you saw at the church, Hayden already has a woman that he is in love with…” I said.
“I see. That’s good then…” my grandmother mumbled.
“Of course, like I told you, there is nothing for you to worry about,” I said, reassuringly.
“What about you?” she asked abruptly.
“What about me?” I asked, not getting what she was referring to.
“You also have someone that you love, don’t you? You know, that guy who came around our shop very often to see you…” she asked.
That’s right. I never got around to telling grandma that I already broke up with him. More accurately, that he dumped me without a care in the world. Ethan, I wonder where he is now and what he’s up to. Sometimes I would wonder if he still thought of me, even if just a little. However, deep down I knew that that was impossible.
“You mean Ethan, right?” I asked. Just saying his name made me want to break down in tears.
I guess time doesn’t heal everything fast enough…
“Yes. Yes, Ethan…” she said.
“Of course, I’m in love with him. I haven’t told him about all that has happened though. When these 30 days are over, we’re going to return to our normal lives. Trust me,” I said.
Technically, I wasn’t lying. I was still very much in love with Ethan, although, I haven’t seen or heard from him since the day that the dumped me. However, my grandmother didn’t need to know that. It would just make her worry more about me, needlessly.
“That’s good. I wouldn’t want to leave you alone when I…you know…” my grandmother said with relief in her voice.
The look on her face broke my heart and I hated when she talks about her own death as if it was fast approaching. Although her life is coming to an end, she is still worrying about me above all else.
“Don’t say things like that. I’ll be fine…and you’re going to be with me for a long time,” I said as I squeezed her hand comfortingly.
I think it was in that moment that I was inspired to use my grandmother as the subject of the painting for my project. I wanted to capture her in my painting. It was the perfect idea since I wanted to spend time here with her anyways so I might as well spend that time painting her.
“I have this project to create a painting. I was thinking that it would be a great idea to paint your portrait. What do you think?” I suggested brightly.
“A portrait…of me? Really?” she asked, surprised by the idea.
“If you’ll allow it. I think it’s a great idea. I’ll come here to visit and paint you,” I said with confidence.
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