Ten years ago
"Why would you accuse your father of such an horrendous act Hazel"mom asks me
"Because it's true mom "I tell her sticking to my accusation
"What did I ever do to you Hazel" dad asks me
"Look at your father when he talks to you Hazel "
"Why would you accuse me of something like that Hazel "
"Because it's true "
"Oh my god what has gotten into this girl " my mom says standing up from her seat
"So you don't -" I am cut off by a loud slap before I finish
"What is wrong with you hazel "
"But mom he - he -"I say in between sobs
Present
''Good morning Hazel ''
''Hey Johnny, how was your date''
''it was good,thanks for covering for me ''
''no problem johnny i'm happy for you''
I pick up my apron and get to my post. Being a coffee barista gives me the closure I need to forget about any of my problems. Its just serving a couple of strangers coffee and smiles and they smile back. I actually do love this job well except the little pay.
''your birthday is coming up soon Hazel, what do you plan on doing?''Johnny asks me
'' I don't really know,maybe just get a day off and spend the day with Lia'' I tell him as I hand the lady on the other side her coffee
''you can just throw a party you know'' Liam suggests
''nah me and parties don't really go well''
''or you can just get boyfriend you know'' Liam says
''and how is a boyfriend going to help me on my birthday''
''take you out''
''Lia does that perfectly''
''I am really starting to doubt your sexuality Hazel'' Johnny says
Just as I am about to reply to him the door bell chimes and I turn round to serve the next customer.
''Lia ''
''hey babe''
''what are you doing here''
''getting my boss coffee'' she says
''hey guys'' she greets the other guys
''you want an expresso with a lot of sugar right''
''yeah and an iced americano''
''you don't drink coffee''
''yeah it ain't mine''she says leaning forward
''Its for that american friend I told you about''
''okay but why are you whispering?'' I ask her
''Just that its not yet public he is in london yet''
''so he is another trust fund''
''yeah and his family is richer than the Bassett's''
'' but which family is richer than the Basset's''
''the Bakers dummy''
''so he is a Baker''
''yes ''she says while laughing
''I don't know if that pun was intentional but it was well executed and really funny''
"You've got no sense of humour Lia"
''here you go'' I say also laughing as I hand her the coffees
''I'll leave early today guys '' I say once it hits eleven
''sure thing hazel its okay'' Liam answers
''bye guys'' I say leaving the shop
***
I walk towards the art gallery. Recently I have rediscovered a part of me that I thought I had lost forever I might even say that its my favourite part of myself or was whatever works. Despite the fact that I have been only painting a specific face all week I think I might be ready to start this again.
''how much '' I ask at the front desk
''a hundred'' the guy at the front desk tells me uninterested
I hand him the bill and enter the gallery. It feels like the first time I have entered an art gallery even though I have been here like a hundred times or maybe a new me is entering the art gallery for the first time.
So this is how people who don't understand art feel like. I feel drawn to absolutely nothing, pieces that once inspired me now look like just colours left carelessly by a brush.
''thats a Matisse replica'' a familiar voice disrupts me
''excuse me'' I say looking behind me .
Its him the guy from the coffee shop you can also refer to him as my weird muse.
''you look really fazed by that piece''
''yeah I am and I know its a Matisse''
''a replica''
'' I know''
''do you? you look really confused''
'' That's nothing for you to worry about''
''if you say so '' he says
''also your coffee is great''
''thanks feel free to come back again ''
''oh I will''he says and leaves
****
''what do you mean by you saw him again Hazel'' Lia asks me
''I saw him today at the art gallery''
''well did you even ask for his name''
''no''
'' picture''
''why would I ask for his picture Lia I barely know him''
''so that you can draw him better duh''
'' I couldn't just tell him I wanted to draw him''
''yeah you are right'' she says slumping back to the chair
''so do you want to draw him again''
''yeah'' I say
'' And this time I'll draw a full portrait''
''okay here you go'' she says handing me the pencils
Drawing his face has gotten pretty easy in the past week I can basically draw his face with ten minutes,all I have to do is add his 190.50 cm in this piece of paper.
''you've really gotten good at the face I can basically recognize him from here''
''yeah I can too''
''wait I can recognize him''
''what do you mean ,do you know him''
''knowing him no, but seeing him yes''
''Do you know his name'' I ask her
''Just a minute Hazel''she says as she takes out her phone and types something. she turns the phone around to show me
''that's him right'' she asks me
''yeah'' I say looking closer at the picture
'' who is he ?''
she takes her phone back and types something and turns the phone back to me
''No way that's his name it can't be''
''It is Hazel ,your muse is Aaron Baker ''she says
''Aaron Baker ''
''yes baby "