Several years ago I had quite a different life. I suddenly found myself a young single mother with three children to journey through life with. My neuvo-unmarried status was not a choice of mine. Fate had dealt me a losing hand. Never would I have imagined that when I kissed my husband good-bye that fateful morning I would never kiss, much less see him again.
I arrived home late that evening to be greeted by my children, who were concerned that their father had not arrived home. I made frantic phone calls to friends and relatives. I had a feeling deep within my core that something was horribly wrong. My feelings were confirmed a short while later when I noticed a car slowly approach my house. My oldest daughter sensed something was amiss. She begged me not to answer the knock on the door.
I opened the door to a police detective. I knew before he told me. I immediately fell to my knees, I childishly covered my ears with my hands and threw the phone at him. On the phone was my husbands' brother whom I had been speaking with at the time. I heard the detectives words they burned deep into my being. He informed me that my husband was dead. The days that followed were a blur.
My many friends and family took over, they got me through the initial shock. However the pain would not dissipate that easily. Pain every breathe I breathed every thought I felt. Pain it was my constant companion, It kept me company in those long sleepless nights. The nights were always the worst. Darkness begets darkness. My pain was so immense that it burned through my veins circulating through my heart. There was no reprise. Pain ruled my impulses. At one point I considered ending it all. I plotted my own demise. It would have been so easy. So easy to curl up into a fetal position and reverse life. At one point I ran my car off the road only to turn the wheel back at the point of no return. I had pills. I had a gun. I toyed with these ideas, like a cat toys with its prey right before it pounces. I liked the idea of the gun it would be quick and there would be no chance to change my mind.
I had a lucid thought, who would clean the mess up? I began to laugh uncontrollably, then came the tears. I slept that night a long restful sleep. I awoke the next morning with a plan. Laughter and a plan, they have carried me far. I now enjoy life. I am a proud mother and grandmother of beautiful grown and infant children. I love life, humor, theater and the arts. Life goes on, and, surprisingly, it has only just begun.
Certainly as far as work was concerned, he could not fault me. However, we struggled to find common ground nevertheless, and after a few months of him starting, I pretty much dismissed any chances of progressing in the firm. Thank goodness I didn't do anything hasty as whoever would have thought that we would eventually find a mutual interest, and not even regarding work, but ? paintings.
Soon after my boss started working at the firm, major repairs were carried out on the building. Our offices were transformed in front of our very eyes. Old wallpaper and crumbling paint were replaced with modern interiors; our entire office looked very stylish and classy. That said, it still lacked paintings on the walls to give our eyes a welcome rest from staring at the computer screens all day. Sadly, the old still life that I had hanging on my wall didn't really suit the general ambience of the contemporary style, so some kind people advised me to go and look for some abstract paintings, as they went really well with any interior. After consulting with the shopkeeper at the art gallery, I quickly found several abstract paintings to hang on my office walls.
One sunny morning my manager came to my work desk. When he saw the paintings he stood staring at them for ages and finally said: - What's in this painting??
- It's a bird, I said. - A symbol of freedom, happiness and inner liberty.
- Is that so? He exclaimed. - And what about this one?
Well, one thing led to another and we found ourselves sitting in a cafeteria, discussing the benefits of abstract paintings. It became clear that my manager had for some time considered which paintings to furnish his home with, but had not yet been able to decide.
- Why don't you try some abstraction paintings?? I said. These wonderful artworks will harmoniously intertwine in almost any style in your house. You seem like a modern chap and I expect you follow contemporary fashions. An abstract canvas would be so suitable for you.
- Wouldn't it confuse guests though? He asked me apprehensively.
- No of course not! I answered. - Exactly the opposite in fact, abstractionism is interesting because of its multifaceted style and symbolism; your guests would be really fascinated by what the paintings have to say. Similar to how you expressed your interest to the artworks in our office.
Over the course of one lunch break, I managed to give my boss a comprehensive view about the harmony of abstraction paintings in the home. I told him about the multiple colours and how abstract art could be the focal and intriguing point of a room with its gentle tones. We talked about symbolism and discussed the merits of art-therapy where abstract art plays a very important role. I stressed the fact that an abstract canvas could add to any contemporary abode. To invigorate his soul and heart, I advised my boss to order a painting of any photograph and emphasised that its harmony would wonderfully complement contemporary-style living.
I could go as far as to say that we became friends that day?. Just after a couple of days I found a note on my work desk.. It was a letter for a promotion!
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