The Art of Vulnerability

  In Vulnerable embrace, I stand tall,

 With open heart, I face the fall,

  For in the depths of weakness, I find strength,

 A courage born of fragile length.

 "Tell me about your past," he said still guiding my hands on the piano.

 "It was wrong to have spilt out my situation to you yesterday. I was overwhelmed." I tried defending my yesterday actions.

 "You sure have a lot to learn." He said. "You are trying to build a wall against heart break, but losing your touch on vulnerability. Vulnerability is not a weakness...." He added and I scoffed, and interrupted him

 "It is a weakness, I learn the hard way." I said

 "Look at it this way, maybe that guy didn't deserve you, vulnerability is not a weakness as I said earlier, but courage in it's purest form. It takes strength to be soft, to be open and to be real. You are brave and resilient, I know this when I look into your eyes. Have at the back of your mind that, vulnerability is a gift, a reminder that you are human and that you are worthy of love and connection." He said his voice so calm and cool, he held my hands tighter. "Let go of the pain, this is what is stopping your creativity. Learn how to love again, be vulnerable and be happy." He added.

 "It's no easy." I said

 "I didn't say your first step should be flying when you don't know how to jump. Take a step at a time. Come on let me show you something." He said and moved back he held my left hand pulling me up. I led me through a door in the studio. I looked around surprised it was a garden inside the studio.

"This is beautiful." I said breathing in an air of refreshment.

"This is my place anytime I feel down, I come here when I need inspiration, when I'm feeling bad and when I'm overwhelmed by my emotions." He said. "Tell me about your last relationship." He said folding his hands

"We met when we were in high school, he was a transfer student, and we got pretty close, I was showing him around, and I was meant to fill him up on what we had done before his arrival, Adam told me about himself, his family and the reason he transferred to our school. We were friends for one year in high school, first year in college, and during our second year in college, he asked me out and we dated throughout college, I noticed he started drifting after he moved to Canada, he would not fall, never sends messages, one thing that hurts the most was him forgetting our anniversary, the anniversary was not just as lovers but also as friends, I saw the signs he was always online on Instagram, but we had turned strangers, the day I knew there was another person was when u saw a comment of his on a particular lady's post, h said 'you look nice baby' I confronted him about it, and he said he never wanted to tell me because we were friends, and would not want to lose the friendship, he said he lost interest already, and didn't love me again, he said lots of things and never apologized for any of them. It was my first relationship, he was my first crush, my first love."

"One's first break up is always so painful, I can tell you are hurt, but don't let your emotions get the best of you. He of course didn't deserve you, and at the right time, the right guy will come." He said his eyes full of promises, love, and more untold.

"Are you seeing anyone?" My curiosity got the best of me, he smirked. "No, no, no... I'm really sorry for asking, I was curious that's all." I apologized

"Do you want to know?" He asked, I nodded and he smiled. "You didn't have to apologize for getting curious, I was seeing someone, we broke up a year ago, we weren't getting the hang of relationship, I was basically to blame, I gave art more attention." He said, I didn't know he could sound like that, he sounded guilty and a bit hurt.

"I'm sorry to hear this." I said and searched for a smile on his perfectly shaped face, but I was disappointed.

"Nahhh, it's fine. That's one mistake I know I've made that I regret, I could have equalized my love for art and my love for her. I'll do better in my next relationship." He said and finally smiled.

"Apart from art what do you love doing?" I asked and his eyes shone so bright.

"That's a rare question I have been asked, I love cooking, you need to have a taste of anything I Cook, you'll come asking for more. Cooking is an art for me, I can turn old recipes into something new. I'll Cook my mum's pancake recipe for you, they are my favourite."

"Pancakes? No way, that's my favorite. My uncle used that to welcome me." I said excitedly.

" Can we head to the kitchen? My mum's pancakes are the best." He said proudly.

"Pride!" I said, and he laughed.

"Definitely the good type of pride." He replied still laughing. We left the garden back into the garden, he led the way down the stirs, the way I came through earlier.

"Why are you staying in such a big place?" I asked

"Apart from the fact that I love silence, and this makes me feel good, I planned this for my future family, my mum always dreamt of living in a mansion in this part of the world, this is a dedication to her."

"Where is she?"

"Mum is in a better place, she died when I was 10 years old. She died of cancer."

"I'm really sorry, she must have been special."

"She was, she was sweet, loving, generous, and full of life, an epitome of beauty. She made me love art, she loved it, she taught me how to cook when I was 4, we would spend the time together in the kitchen making new recipes she had plans of owning a restaurant." He paused "I can't help but wish she was alive to witness my heights, I wish I could see her face when I make her proud. I lost her."

"Sure she's proud of you, you've not lost her, she still in your heart, she lives on, her goodness speaks for her. Just continue making her proud." I said and patted his back.

He looked at me, we are now we are just inches from each other, I felt a warmth sensation in my cheeks, my heart is racing, there's this strong desire to be closer. "Thank you very much for your words, they are soothing." He said and moved back. He left me standing, he wore an apron and turned go me again "Are you ready to be dazzled?"

...****************...

                   Two hours later

 "I've never tasted anything like before in my life, thank you very much Ray."

"You're welcome. I've got a question for you." He said packing the plates

"I could have done that you know... Anyway go on with your question."

"How and when did you start loving art?"

"How and when... Well... It's more like since I was given birth to. I had started talking through my art works since kindergarten with the small school made paintings, when my mum saw that I had love for art she got lots of paintings, books, canvas, easels, paints, paint brushes and lots more just to help me grow. I took lessons too."

"A natural talent." He said, and his eyes glittering and dancing out of excitement.

"What about you?"

"Me? I took interest in art since childhood. My mum loved art, we would go to galleries, art exhibits, and all and she would explain each painting with so much enthusiasm. I loved it when her eyes sparked with interest anytime she saw a painting. She bought lots of art works... I was 6 when I started though."

"Your mum is a Darling."

"That means so much to me. She was my support... My parents got divorced when I was 5, dad never had time for us. He cheated and would beat mum up sometimes, he was plus a drunk."

"Where is he now?"

"He's married to someone else, they have three children. I don't want to mention his name."

"That's fine, you sure don't have to. I don't know who my dad is. My mum said he was her love in college and ran away after finding out she was pregnant, I didn't grow up without a father figure though,,, my mum filled the gap. My uncle's role in my life too can't be under stated, the times when I would come back home crying because my mates mocked me for not having a father, he would console and remind me he's my father."

"Your uncle was the one I saw that day?"

"Yes,,, I just moved to New York, and I'm staying with my uncle and his family. I left Australia because I wanted to move on badly. I didn't think I would be able to say this, but you're making that possible. Thank you."

"You're welcome. I have a suggestion. You can take all the time in the world to agree, maybe you should work for my art gallery. I would love to have someone as talented and blessed like you around."

"I'm honored, thank you,,,, I will get back to you on this though. I wasn't exactly thinking of settling in New York."

"Be opened to new things, don't forget what vulnerability entails... Openness. I understand, and as I said earlier, take your time, when you are ready you have my card, give me a call." He said and gave me the brightest smile.

"I sure will."

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