Page 23 (1/2)

"What are you sketching?"

I flip open e There’s already a sketch on that page, but before I can flip it to the next blank page, she stopsthe paper so she can look at it "Whoa, you drew that? It’s so good"

I look down at the hand I’ve drawn It’s one ofth of mine In those few formal art classes that I did take, all I needed was to study the les Afterward, I could bring up the picture in my mind whenever I needed It allowed s

"Whose hand is this? Every single detail is so…" Then she holds up her hand and positions it next to the drawing I figure she’s guessing right now that she is the model

"This is my hand?"

"Well…" I’m not sure how she will take that, so I don’t answer

She points to thethe chipped nail "I chipped that the other day…the day I went to your house When did you draw this?"

"Thiswhile tucking a strand of golden hair behind her ear And now I can’t take my eyes off that ear…the shape, the texture It looks soft and delicate like the rest of her I’ll draw that ear next

"How the hell did you do that, Wil? It’s such a ht fra I see If I concentrate, I can see the details, too"

She’s shaking her head as if she doesn’t believe e me, call me a liar

"That’s just…unbelievable"

I blink "It’s true"

She looks at ain "Yeah, I believe you, Willia, really I wish I could do that My s I wish I could remember better"

"Like what?"

She sucks her bottoht pink and a little shiny from the product she’s put there It occurs to me that I’d like to knohat it feels like to press ainst hers I’ve never wanted to kiss a woht When we are alone I’h, because then I’d actually be tempted to do it now instead of later "What would you like to re away Her leg is bouncing up and down in place "My father"

"You haven’t seen hi time?"

She licks her lips and brushes her hand across her jeans as if to re that isn’t there "Twenty years He died in the war"