Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 140896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
However, my favorite statue is the one I chose as the main theme of this event. The piece I spent two years perfecting.
The piece everyone gawks at like it’s their custom-made god.
A giant statue of Mia stands in the middle of the gallery. She’s wearing her gothic dress and boots. Ribbons interlace her hair and her eyes stare at nothing. Her lips are sewed shut with stitches. The stone dips under each one, looking painful and deep and impossible to undo.
Two large wings blossom from her back, leaving gashes in the stone. One of them stands proud, but the other is crooked, broken, and half fallen. Red is splashed on the edges—her virginal blood that I got on a canvas two years back.
She holds out both her middle fingers. Like she did that day she let me chase her and showed me the side of her that spoke my language fluently.
The world is caught in a chokehold by my favorite—and possibly my only—masterpiece.
But not more than me.
I found myself in complete awe of my creation after I finished it. And, in a way, I experienced a strong sense of emptiness at the thought that I was done. My only solace is that I can make more masterpieces as long as I have Mia.
The woman in question appears by my side, her eyes blindfolded, guided by Bran and Glyn.
And she’s wearing a blue dress.
A color she reserves only for super precious occasions.
My art exhibitions belong on that list.
She’s snatched Mum’s position and has easily become my number one cheerleader. She just graduated and is ready to start working on her businesswoman dream, but she still models for me and pouts so adorably when I say she can’t see what I’m working on.
“Where are we going? Glyn? Bran?”
My siblings grin and give me the thumbs-up before they join Mum, who’s fighting tears as she gives a few interviews. Dad is by her side, looking proud and content. Let’s just say my decision to stop bugging my siblings for sport has improved things dramatically within the family.
Turns out, I was the problem and the drama king. Shocker, I know.
But anyway, this is the moment I’ve been waiting for.
“Bran?”
“It’s me, muse.” I brush my lips against her cheek.
It flames in a bright red color. “Lan?”
“Yes.” I take her hand. “Follow my lead.”
“When can I see the statues? I’ve waited long enough.”
“Patience.”
“I’ve been patient for two whole years. I don’t understand why you’re being so secretive when I’m your so-called muse.”
“It’s for a good reason, believe me.”
The crowd parts like the Red Sea for Moses.
I get past all our family and friends, including but not exclusive to Rai and Kyle—yes, we’re on a first-name basis now, as I’m obviously their favorite future son-in-law and anyone who tells you otherwise is lying—Maya, who’s been apologizing to her sister for the past two years, Nikolai, Uncle Aiden and Aunt Elsa, Grandpa and Nana, and our extended group of friends.
“Are we there yet?” she asks again.
I stop her in front of the statue and remove her blindfold. She blinks against the sudden light, but as she refocuses, her lips part.
The ethereal color of her eyes widens the more she takes in the details. Her gaze turns to the rest of the statues and she cups her mouth with her hands.
I can’t help watching her, falling for every spark in her wildflower eyes all over again. I thought the world was an utterly pointless loop of nothingness but then realized I was empty. I thought I came to peace with that part of myself, but that was until Mia showed up in my life and unlocked a side of myself I didn’t know existed.
She finally faces me, her face flushed and her lips still parted. “These are so…so…beautiful. No, that’s an understatement. I can’t believe you’ve been making these the entire time.”
“You’re the reason this masterpiece exists.” I lower myself to one knee and pull out the ring that I had custom-made from a rare jewel that matches her eye color. “You’re not only my muse, but also the sole reason I create anymore. You don’t complete me, you fill me up with your hope, determination, and constant nagging. But I digress. Only slightly, though.” I let my charming smile show through. “I used to believe I didn’t have a soul, but it turns out, I just needed you to fill it up. Now that I found you, I can’t and won’t live without you. Mia Sokolov, would you marry me?”
Tears shine in her eyes as she gets on her knees in front of me and nods frantically, then signs, “I love you.”
“Is that a yes?” I sign back.
“Yes. A million times yes, Lan.”
I slide the ring on her finger and then kiss her in the middle of cheers, hoots, and camera flashes from everywhere.