Epilogue: NYSSA
What could I say?
Life has become better in a short while. Not on my own but with the people I love by my side.
Violet, my mother, and I were gettin’ along. But we didn’t get along like I did with Ariadne who became my best friend automatically.
I sat in front of the camera, ’bout to go live when the front door opened. The man I love walked into the house with a smile on his countenance.
“Do you know what just happened at the auction?”
Settlin’ on the couch and next to me, he posed the question. I looked at ‘im, then at the camera before lookin’ back at his face.
“I wouldn’t know, Lysander. Do you want to tell me?” Excitement pulled on my face on his behalf, especially when he was much more than mine. “What is it ’bout?”
“I was asked to brin’ as many portraits as I can for the next auction, can you imagine that too?” With a smile, he asked and I started gainin’ without wastin’ time. “I told them I’ll be there without thinkin’ twice. It’s in twelve days.”
Twelve days?!
That was a long time to get prepared.
Maybe not long enough but long enough. “This is good news, Lysander. I am happy for you. You have proven to be the man you should be. And don’t worry, ’cause I’ll help you get ready for this.”
He heaved a knowin’ sigh.
“How did you know this was what I needed to hear you say?” With another sigh, the man got on his feet and paced the room. He looked like he had somethin’ else to say, but I wasn’t so sure ’cause the story looked very complete.
“Is there somethin’ else?”
He walked back and took a seat on the couch. “Yes, I forgot to let you know. They invited you to the auction too. I dropped your email with them so they can send the direct invitation.”
This was too much.
“I thought it was just you, Lysander.”
He nodded and got up again, pacin’ the room once more. “It was supposed to be me, but I asked them to make you come along with me. I feel they forgot and corrected themselves as soon as I mentioned your name.”
Such a good man.
Who would think that I would end up gettin’ along with a man like Lysander? Even though the public and the rest on the internet were yet to believe he was a changed man, only hidin’ in the guise of bein’ sick in the meantime.”
We didn’t need them to believe, did we? Ariadne believed he was a changed man, and that was enough. With a smile, I stopped the live video I was ’bout to start and then got on my feet. “When do we get the tools we need for the contract, Lysander? Twelve days is not enough even though it is and I don’t want us to miss out on this.”
He gave me a nod.
At least, I was makin’ sense. “I’ll be right back. You should get ready so we can go to the market.” And he was out of my sight, headin’ to our bedroom. A room we now share since I moved out of the guest room.
The next hour, we were both ready to be gone from the house. While Lysander did the drivin’, I calculated what needed to be bought, while I taught ‘im ’bout the best reaction to use when the people on the market or anywhere made any nasty comments ’bout ‘im.
He seemed prepared. Acted prepared too.
What could I say?
We reached the market in no time. Someone was standin’ in front of a shop, and I didn’t need to ask before understandin’ it was the man I was once with.
He looked normal, but not as good as he should on a normal day. “Kazmir?”
Lysander held my hand when he turned to meet our gazes.
“Nyssa?”
He just had to be sure that it was me. I gave a nod, and smiled at ‘im before lookin’ at Lysander who didn’t seem to mind. “How are you doin’? How have you been?” I asked the man while Lysander, before leavin’ my side, kissed my cheek and let us be.
So many people were around us.
Somewhere with their cameras, while some simply watched. “I have been okay, normal.” The man I spoke to, smiled at me. He looked at the other side and faced me again. “Are you really with ‘im?”
“Yes, Kazmir.”
A nod.
“Is he treatin’ you right?”
“Of course,” the thought of it alone made me want to start laughin’, and there was an urge to sit the man down and tell ‘im ’bout how much love I received from Lysander. The kind of love I didn’t feel for ‘im until months later.
“I have to go. Stay safe.”
What use was it talkin’ with ‘im for so long?
Turnin’ around, I looked at the citizens who didn’t seem to have stopped their fun moment. Then, I led my way to the shop I was certain Lysander was in, and we purchased what we needed to purchase, lookin’ forward to the auction and the beautiful pieces we would come up with.
Although, there was one thing left.
And it was reachin’ out to Ariadne. There was no way she would be left out of this auction. There was a need to see her there and link her to customers that might want to patronize her in the near future.
For all that I know, myself and Lysander cannot handle the wants and needs of customers for so long. And even if we could, Ariadne should be in the picture.
At the end of the day, Lysander and I walked out of the market. Not so many citizens took shots of us this time. Now, myself and the man I love were more than ready to paint. And keep paintin’ till whene’er.