I wake up as the sun isn't yet showing itself but the sky becomes lilac in colour, I quickly get dressed and grab the bag I prepared before going to bed... After a quick breakfast I cut some bread, throw some cheese in between and tuck it into a lunch box, ready to head out.
I quickly walk to the nearby town, almost running so I don't end up being late and board the first train leaving the town... Direction: Paris!
Once a month I pack all my stuff and head to the nearby city, Paris, to spend the whole day painting in the busiest streets of the City... That has proven to be a nice source of income for me, sometimes people come and buy little paintings I made during the previous days while other times they commission me something more specific... A few times, people even left me some coins as an offer while passing by.
While looking outside the Train's window I hug my luggage as I see the landscape if that beautiful city approaching, I don't hate my life in the countryside but living in Paris is my little secret dream... Those unique blue roofs, the gorgeous river, the monumental buildings all over, the churches and the smell of sweet bread... Everything speaks of possibilities, of art.
I love this city in every season, but autumn might just be my favourite... With the fallen leaves and the stilish clothes that the rich people wear, so beautiful. There are tons of little shops and venues dedicated solely to artists and that is what makes it all more special to me.
While lost in thoughts, the train enters the station and slowly comes to an halt. I grab everything and rush outside the cabin, stopping a moment under that glass roof to take everything in -Ah... So beautiful... Paris, I'm ready to work!- I laugh to myself and start walking toward the exit.
...
I place down my easel and lay out a thick blanket on which I position some of my recent creations, mostly small canvas about landscapes or fruits... That's what I normally like to paint, sometimes I paint animals too. I rarely paint peoples and when I do, I simply draw them from the back or leave out their faces... I'm not sure why, but It has become a habit since I lost my mother.
Although she passed away just five years ago, her face seems to have faded from my memory, they say I resemble her so much but I'm still unable to draw her... No matter how much I tried, I couldn't draw a single face since that day...
As I am lost in thoughts a man comes closer -Y y you...!- he says quite shocked but then his expression turns into a smile as he looks down at a painting portraying a lavander field where a beautiful woman with red hair is braiding a daisy crown -Camille...- he murmurs
-What did you say?!- I get taken back to reality and stop my current work -You knew her?- I point toward the painting of my mother -I do, she was my daughter... Which makes me your grandfather- he smiles and take off his hat, revealing beautiful red hair in the process of turning silver -May I have a few minutes of your time, my child?-.
...
After spending all morning talking with that man, he asks if he could meet my brother too but I have to ask him to wait for me to finish my work... After that he offers me a ride in the carriage and takes me back home.
We happily chat together and he gets along with my little brother right away, he's an oddly kind person... Quite different from the idea I had in my mind, many times I've wondered why I never met my grandparents so I assumed they either passed away or that they were horrible peoples.
And yet the person in front of me is the opposite of that.
He takes quite a lot of interest in my paintings and his expression softens everytime he catches a glimpse of my mother in them -Would it be too much to ask you to take one back home?-
Although those are all very precious to me, I can see that they're for him too -Sure, which one would you like?- he widens his eyes content -Any is fine, as long as it's her-
I grab one and hold it tightly in my hands, unsure if I should say my next words out loud... -If you cherished my mother so much... Why didn't you ever came to meet us?- I immediately regret saying it out loud but I have to know
-Well... You see, some things happened in the past and I had a hard time to accept them... But when that happened, your parents had disappeared. I've been searching everywhere for you but the only thing I could find was a name written on a tomb... I was too late...-
-I am sorry... I didn't mean to make you recall such things...- he shakes his head -It's fine, I already lost my daughter twice. Those who suffered the hardest must have been you and your father-
I nod while passing the canvas to him and at that moment the front door slams open -Francois, Lou!- my father shouts coming in, once his eyes falls on me and the canvas in my hands he flames up with rage and stomps my way
-Out of this house, you're not welcomed here- he warns the other man and then turns to me -Did he hurt you, Lou?- I shake my head -No dad, actually I invited him here...-
-You what?- he asks in disbelief and faces the other man again -Kids, go upstairs, I need to talk with this man... Alone-.
Francois doesn't really understand and just follows me back into our room -What's happening Lou? Why was dad angry?- I shake my head -I don't know either...-
-Is that grampa a bad person?- I shrug my shoulders -Who knows, he looked like a nice man but maybe he was just pretending... I really can't tell by appearances alone-
-Will dad throw him out? I want to see that grampa again! He looked like a King! Very cool clothes and he had a carriage!- his eyes shines while thinking about the big horses waiting outside -Actually... That is very weird, isn't it? Why would he own a carriage if he was mom's father?- I say to myself, trying to make it click but without any success -Francois, wait here and be a good boy for me, will you?-
He nods and I silently slips out of the room.