Artistic Lover

The next morning dawned brighter than usual, sunlight streaming through Ethan's curtains in golden ribbons. He stirred groggily, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Luna was already awake, perched by the window and gazing out at the street below.

"Morning, sleepyhead," she said cheerfully, turning to him with a grin.

Ethan groaned and stretched, his joints popping as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. "You don't sleep, do you?"

"Not really," Luna admitted. "There's too much to see."

Ethan chuckled faintly, shaking his head. It still felt surreal to have her here, but he was getting used to it—her radiant presence, her endless curiosity. She made everything feel lighter, like a splash of color on a gray canvas.

He trudged to his desk and opened his sketchbook, his pencil hovering over the blank page. But today, the familiar comfort of drawing didn't come. His hand felt heavy, his thoughts scattered.

"You okay?" Luna asked, leaning against the desk.

"I don't know," Ethan said with a sigh. "I just feel... off."

Luna studied him for a moment, then brightened. "Maybe it's because you've been cooped up in here too much. Let's go out again!"

Ethan frowned. "I don't know if I'm up for it today."

But Luna wasn't one to take no for an answer. "Come on," she said, tugging at his arm. "Just a quick walk. It'll clear your head."

Reluctantly, Ethan agreed, pulling on his hoodie and sneakers. They stepped out into the crisp morning air, the streets buzzing with life. Children on bikes sped past, a mail carrier waved from across the road, and neighbors exchanged greetings as they watered their plants.

As they reached the small park, Ethan noticed a few classmates sitting on a bench near the playground. His chest tightened at the sight of them. Claire was there—a girl from his art class with short auburn hair and a bright smile. She was chatting animatedly with two other students, her laughter ringing out like wind chimes.

Ethan slowed his steps, hoping to go unnoticed, but Claire caught sight of him and waved.

"Hey, Ethan!" she called, her voice warm and friendly.

He froze, every muscle in his body tensing.

"You know her?" Luna whispered, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"She's in my art class," Ethan muttered under his breath.

Claire stood and approached, her smile genuine. "I haven't seen you around much. How's it going?"

Ethan shrugged, avoiding her gaze. "Fine."

Her eyes flicked to the sketchbook tucked under his arm. "Is that your art? I've seen some of your sketches in class—they're amazing."

Ethan felt his face heat up. He opened his mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't come.

Claire didn't seem bothered by his silence. "We're actually organizing an art exhibit at school," she said, her tone encouraging. "You should submit something. I bet everyone would love your work."

Ethan's stomach churned at the thought. He shook his head quickly. "No. I'm not really... into that kind of thing."

Claire frowned, looking disappointed. "Well, if you change your mind, let me know. It'd be great to see your stuff out there."

She gave him one last smile before heading back to her friends. Ethan exhaled shakily, his hands gripping his sketchbook so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"You okay?" Luna asked gently, her gaze full of concern.

"I hate that," Ethan muttered, his voice trembling. "I hate how they act like it's so easy to just... put myself out there."

Luna tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe it's not about being easy," she said. "Maybe it's about being brave."

Ethan glared at her, his frustration boiling over. "What do you know about it? You're not real. You don't have to deal with people staring at you, judging you."

---

Luna flinched, his words hitting her like a slap. But she quickly composed herself, her voice calm and steady. "You're right, I don't," she said. "But I've seen how much you care about your art. It deserves to be seen, Ethan. You deserve to be seen."

Ethan's jaw tightened, guilt creeping in as he saw the hurt in her eyes. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "I didn't mean that."

Luna smiled softly. "It's okay. I know this isn't easy for you. But you don't have to do it all at once."

They walked in silence for a while, the weight of their conversation lingering between them. As they approached the river, Ethan's mind swirled with doubts and fears. He wanted to believe Luna, to believe that he could step out of the shadows and let others see him. But the idea felt impossible, like trying to leap across a chasm with no bridge in sight.

When they returned home, Ethan retreated to his room, the encounter with Claire replaying in his mind. Luna didn't press him further, giving him space to sort through his thoughts.

That night, as Ethan lay in bed, her words echoed in his mind.

You deserve to be seen.

For the first time, he wondered if she might be right.

---

To Be Continued..