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Elpidio craned his neck to the sculpture but didn’t ed, and reluctantly, Elpidio moved to my side and crouched down, careful our bodies didn’t touch I knew the instant he sahat I was referring to, as a quiet exhalation escaped his lips

Elpidio ran his hand down his face "It does," he agreed in a graveled voice

"Does the effect of bleeding fit hat inspired the piece? We don’t want to change what it’s meant to represent," I asked Elpidio hadn’t naround on what inspired them, what the art was meant to portray As a sculptor, its conception could only ever be explained by one person, hi about the sculptures’ backgrounds e

"Co completely taken aback, Elpidio sat on the floor, content to watch thealong the concrete below

Slu to my knees beside hi unconventionaltheir work, but Elpidio appeared to be co forward, I traced a long a black shadow on the polished concrete floor with ain some for aze was a touch softer than before and his expression aret carried away at tihed and flushed red in embarrassment "It h and went back to tracing the shadows near my knees

Elpidio didn’t speak for several seconds, but then asked, "What do you think he’s bleeding?" Surprised, I glanced at him Elpidio jerked his chin to the marble statue of the ?" I asked, confused

He gave me a stern nod

As I studied the sculpture, his forony, I said, "Pain? Blood? Rejection?"

Elpidio’s eyes were unfocused, lost in concentration

"Is that right? Is it pain? Blood? So else?"

Elpidio’s eyes abruptly met mine "Guilt"