The first Brushstoke

The canvas is empty, waiting.

The lights are dim in the Atelier, time seems suspended. Paint brushes all over the place, paints all over his apron. He is looking passionate at his old artworks... gently stroking his paint brush on the new canvas trying to find an inspiration.

As he tries to paint, he is unable to think of anything. He is not like how he was before, feeling suffocated by the smells of paint, the sounds of the brush putting him in a tight chokehold. He tears the canvas in anger unable to think of any inspiration and losing all hope in himself, of the rumors about him. The rumors stated in the article "The famous artist Arthur-François Manet is...".

Arthur was working in his atelier as always, then he was suddenly met by a message from his wife stating,

"Dear Arther

How have you been? I was wishing for you to come home as I miss you... for I am waiting for your return with passion and writing you with all this letters which I never got any reply to. I know you are busy with you work in the capital but, I wish for your presence with me here in the dukedom.

I heard of a rumor here among the maids, they were saying you were to not return to me as you don't consider me your wife... it made a little throb in my heart upon hearing it from those maids, but I don't want to believe so... they say that you're in the capital fooling around in the capital as you have never once send a single reply to me since you left the estate for the capital. I don't want to trust their words, but now it is making me uneasy as I saw an article about you.

Is it true you are giving up on me? Am I really not a good Duchess for you to be away from for 3 years now... I never expected you to love me, neither did I ever ask you to love me? For I was only wishing for you to see me capable of being your wife. I know you never loved me ever since we were married not even once, but you could have at least... well it fine now.

I will be waiting for you here for your return, so we can get a divorce since that is all that's left for us to do now.

Your loving wife,

Julia Isabeau-françois Manet. "

Arthur was amused on reading the letter, he saw it coming as he knew very well of his wife. He just never thought of his wife considering a divorce with him. he knew his wife loved him since they were young but he never acknowledge it for his fear of never being able to love her. Yes, he never once love his wife... and also he was fooling in the capital with other women. he knows his wife knew about it but he didn't care of it at all.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***