Two people, Two goals, One City.
He went to the city to find inspiration to paint again.
She went to the city to find closure.
Instead they found the one thing they least expected……
The sun shone brightly as people bristled around the city, going about their daily activities.
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Anna made her way across the city squeezing in between people to get to the coffee shop.
The last place she had seen her mother alive.
She raised the phone to look at the screen to make sure she was going in the right direction.
It was such a big city and in the process she walked right into someone.
Her phone fell to the ground. She bent down, picked it up, muttering a sorry then continued walking.
The aroma of coffee hit her nose. A fresh wave of pain coursed through her.
If she had known that was the last day she would ever see her mother alive, she would have done so many things differently.
For the better years of her life, all she felt was anger. Anger at the woman that had left her when she was ten.
"Can I help you with something?"She turned around. The barista smiled at her from behind the counter.
She smiled back, "No. Thank you. Is it okay if I just sit here for a moment? I need a break from the chaos."
The barista nodded in understanding, "Of course. If you do change your mind about needing anything. I will be right here."
Anna had barely taken her seat when a voice spoke to her.
"You have my phone."
She looked up, stunned for a moment as a pair of silver gray eyes stared down at her.
She snapped out of it quickly to register the frown on his face.
"What do you mean I have your phone?"
He frowned deeper, "Why don't you just save us both the trouble and look at the phone in your hand."
Anna looked down at her hand. He wasn't wrong. It wasn't her phone she was holding.
She blushed, "I'm sorry. I didn't realize."
He clicked his tongue, "Don't be sorry. Next time just watch where you are going."
He dropped her phone on the coffee table, yanked his out of her hand and walked away before she could say anything.
Anna looked around the coffee shop. What was she doing here exactly?
She thought being in here would make her feel something other than pain and anger.
Her eyes traveled to the now empty seat, where her mother sat four months ago.
"I wish I didn't have so much hate in my heart. I wish I could just simply forgive you."
She stood up, smiled at the barista and walked away.
As she packed her things into her suitcase, she realized it had all just been a waste of time.
She couldn't find closure when she was still so angry. Her phone rang interrupting her from her thoughts.
Her best friend's voice sounded from the other side of the line, "You are still going to the art exhibition tonight right?"
"Oh. Em. I totally forgot. I was going to fly back later today."
"Anna you promised. I need you to help me charm some artists and then randomly mention that you have a best friend that loves to paint. I really need this."
"Okay fine. I'll reschedule my flight."
Emma squealed, "Thank you. How was it? Did you find what you were looking for?"
"No."
The atmosphere in the art gallery felt off. Art was never her calling. She was much more of an experimental girl.
"Some people might call this stalking."
She turned around, a frown marred her features immediately.
"It's you.", She said drily.
"Your lack of excitement warms my heart."
"Look I don't know who you are-"
"Alexander Rousseau." A man with grey peppered hair came up to him.
Anna wasn't a fan out artists but she knew exactly who the man was.
"Leonardo Blackwood", Alexander replied.
Leonardo smiled, "And who is this beautiful young lady?"
Alexander wrapped his hand around her waist, "This is my date, Victoria."
What?
Leonardo kissed her hand,smiled then walked away.
Anna pushed him off her immediately.
"You are so arrogant and don't you ever touch me again."
She walked away.
As the night went on, she avoided Alexander at all cost until she stopped in front of a painting. Two figures were entwined in a graceful dance, their face filled with both longing and acceptance.
"It's really beautiful isn't it?" Alexander said coming up behind her.
She nodded. There was a pregnant pause before he spoke again.
"Look I'm sorry about earlier and every moment since then. I've just been in a mood. It's been a rough couple of months."
"It's fine. I should have watched where I was going."
"So can we start over?"
"Well I'm Alexander and you're not Victoria."
Anna laughed, "Anna."
They spent the rest of the night, looking at the pieces. He explained every single one of them to her.
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From the paintings, they deviated to talking about life.
The night ended finally, as he called her a cab, he said, "I think your mum would understand if you needed more time."
She nodded cleaning the escaped tears from her eyes.
"Thank you Alexander" she whispered as the cab drove off.
Two months went by in a flash.
Things got better. She even visited her mother's grave a couple of times to just simply talk.
She sat in the small cafe around her campus sipping her cup of coffee.
Emma came rushing in, "Oh my God. Oh my god. Have you seen the news?"
Anna rolled her eyes,"Almost everything excited Em."
Emma shoved her phone in her face.
"Why didn't you tell me you met Alexander Rousseau?"
"I didn't think I needed to?"
Emma's eyes opened, "You don't know who he is? He is a famous artist but he hadn't painted anything in over a year until this."
Anna's eye bulged, "That's me."
"It is", Emma swooned, "I wonder why he named the painting Victoria though."
Anna laughed.
Just then the bell of the restaurant chimed.
Everyone's attention was turning to the door.
Their eyes met almost immediately. He walked up to her.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"Heyyyyyyy!!!", Emma added.
"Can I talk to you for a moment outside?"
Anna nodded.
He walked ahead of her. Anna turned to her best friend quickly.
Emma knew what she wanted so she quickly rushed out, "He is twenty nine and no he is not married."
"Thank you. Love you."
Alexander stood beside his car. She stared at him from across the parking lot.
She didn't want to admit it to herself two months ago but she wanted him to say something more.
"You painted me.", She said dumbly.
He smiled.
God!!!!. The man was beautiful.
"Yes. I should say thank you. Before I met you, I hadn't been able to pick up a paintbrush in a really long time. That's why I was in the city."
There was one question on her mind, "How did you know where to find me?"
"Well it was just by luck. The same way I found you at the coffee shop. You have a really organized schedule. Although I didn't think you would be at the exact place you scheduled yourself to be two months ago."
She blushed, "I like being organized."
"Well according to your schedule, you are free on Friday. Would you like to go on a date with me?"
"Who is the stalker now?"
"Say yes you dummy", Emma shouted from across the parking lot.
Anna grinned, "Yes."
And so Victoria was the first of many paintings.
