Crawling Back To Her Series Redemption and Refuse

Book2 Chapter25.

I stared at the blank canvas before picking up a brush, my fingers trembling slightly with anticipation.

The cheers from the crowd below mixed with the rhythmic sound of my brush against the canvas, sending a rush of adrenaline through my veins.

The theme was "Self."

As I sketched the outlines, memories of the past years flashed through my mind. I had intended to paint a portrait of myself, but as I drew, Leo's figure started to appear.

Leo, have I been living in the shadow of who I thought I was supposed to be, all because of you?

I put down the brush, my heart pounding as the realization hit me.

"Ten minutes left, everyone," the host announced. I looked at my painting, increasingly dissatisfied.

"No," I whispered to myself. "Leo is Leo. I am me."

I subconsciously tied up my hair with a pencil, just like I used to do in college. I quickly smeared paint across the canvas.

During those last ten minutes, I heard nothing but my own heartbeat.

"Time's up!"

The host's voice snapped me back to reality.

The announcement was swift; my painting took third place by popular vote.

A mix of relief and joy welled up inside me, tears threatening to spill.

Rolin brought me down from the stage, letting me cry on his shoulder.

"Hey, it was just a friendly competition. Third place is pretty impressive!"

"And by the way, everyone thinks you're my girlfriend - they think the crossed-out figure in your painting is me!"noveldrama

I hit him playfully.

The final painting showed Leo, crossed out with a large red X, with my figure emerging above him.

"Elizabeth, so this is what kept you busy..." Leo's voice broke through the crowd as he held out a bouquet of flowers.