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"Austin," Levi croaked, unable to hold back his cries, "We rong We !"

Austin was lock still, until his eyes snapped toer show, but I snapped, "He bought it after the Seahawks ga me I hadn’t known he was Axel Carillo until that day I’d met and fallen for Elpidio, then when he was introduced to me as Axel, I freaked out I hurt hi between you that day," Molly suddenly said I offered her a weak smile "They way you both couldn’t keep your eyes off each other… I should have put two and two together, but I never ever dreaallery of his works "The talent he possesses is astounding"

I nodded and my tears came thick and fast "I hurt hiht the drugs fro He just wanted to escape the pain for a while… he was so lost and reverted to what he knew best"

"But he didn’t take the coke, did he?" Austin asked, knowingly

"No… he didn’t"

"Shit!" Levi said, "Hoe tell hiet him back?"

Everyone looked as helpless as I felt, when Austin suddenly asked, "Which piece was his first? The one that got hi calel, which was the study of many admirers But I heard the uished cries ripped fro

"It’s called Ave Maria," I explained "It’s how he saw your mamma in this life…" I pointed to the other side of the sculpture, "and how he drea out, Austin crushed Levi to his chest as they both broke down at the feet of the ut wrenching and I couldn’t take looking at it Turning away, I tried to breathe despite uests lookingas they exited a darkened, cornered-off display A door separated it fro soether here Hell I’d been so preoccupied with Axel’s disappearance that I had forgotten all about it

Walking toward the door, I heard Molly and Ro behind me, but I didn’t turn around, couldn’t turn Suddenly, I heard theto me from behind the wall

My heart hammered in my chest as I slowly opened the door, the sound of Yiru intothis, my favorite piece of h my mind With every memory, I felt my heart break just that little bit athered around the sculpture, lavender lights creating a soft glow fro the air

As I h the crowd, many smiled at me as "Kiss the Rain" played on repeat As if the visitors sensed I needed to be alone, they quietly dispersed My feet abruptly ground to a halt…

Staring back at h from behind me, but I couldn’t look away I was transfixed by the sculpture in front offace,to one side was staring back at me

Shivers ran down my spine and butterflies rattled around my stomach as I realized thison this week, outside… this hat he so desperately wanted to carve… this beautifully crafted face… was how he viewedeyes followed the sound of her voice and she looked at lasses as she added, "This piece is called ‘Hope’"

Choking back a sob, I noticed that the room had cleared apart fromthe room

I watched as they saw the sculpture, and Austin had to turn away

"What have I done?" I heard him whisper to his wife "What the fuck have I done? Look at what he’s created Look at all this, what he’s achieved and Iconclusions… I never gave him the chance to explain!"