What is time?
Annie walked slowly through the museum, allowing her eyes to absorb the many details on the paintings. She had been here many times before, but sometimes she discovered something new. She turned a corner, pausing as she saw the next painting. A dog sat in the middle of yellow flowers, looking up at a bird sitting on a thin branch above him. “Aaron.” She whispered. After staring at the painting for a while, she looked at the label below it.
‘Aaron’ by Alleine Lancaster 1543 – estimated value $ 61.000
She had made this painting in her second life, as she called it. “For a bean I sold it, now tis worth a fortune. How I wish I got this loaded back in the day for selling it.” She muttered.
“Artists barely ever get recognition for their greatness until long after they’re gone.” A voice spoke. Annie looked to her left to see a beautiful Asian woman look at the painting. Annie returned her gaze to the piece, memories from so long ago flooding her mind. She had been painting her backyard when the bird landed on the branch, Aaron coming to watch it, trampling her flowers as he did so.
When the other woman moved on, Annie followed her, knowing it would be even harder to tear herself away from the painting if she didn’t. The next painting was a portrait, and Annie hummed in response to the woman’s comment on it. “Would you like to have a portrait made of yourself?” Annie asked.
“What?” she said surprised. “Are you an artist looking for a model?”
Annie smiled to herself. It had been quite some time since she last painted, and she seemed to be someone who could appreciate it. “I have not had a model in some time, I should not allow myself to foreswear my brush.”
She tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear, looking at Annie curiously. “I don’t know. This is… quite sudden. I don’t even know if you’re a good artist.”
“Your life only lasts so long, who knows you may never have a chance alike this again. I would highly appreciate it you choose to do so.” When she didn’t receive a reaction, Annie gave her a nod and walked on, continuing on to the next painting.
She was about to leave the museum when a call made her look around. “Wait!” it was the woman from before. “I’ll take your offer. I’ll let you make a portrait of me.”
Annie smiled and took a card from her wallet. “My phone number and address are on it, but if you want to get started now, you can just tag along with me.”
Annie leaned on her desk, sighing as she stared at the box next to it. She didn’t want to move again, but really, what choice did she have? After so many years packing boxes efficiently had become a routine, and she didn’t have to think much about which object to place in it first. She was soon interrupted by the sound of the doorbell, and went to open the door.
“Mikasa?” she asked, looking at the girl standing before her. She hadn’t expected her to come see her.
“I need to talk to you, Annie.”
“I am fairly busy at the current moment.”
“I’m sure we can talk while you do whatever you’re doing. Can I come in?”
Despite having asked the question, Annie knew she wouldn’t take no for an answer. She let Mikasa step inside and showed her to the living room, gesturing for her to sit down. She crossed her arms as she stood in front of her. “What is on your mind?”
“You have been avoiding me.” Mikasa stated. Annie didn’t respond, there was no point in making excuses or arguing the truth. “We were getting along so well and suddenly you back off, without telling me what or why. I can’t just accept this.”
Annie sighed, she hated goodbyes, for more than one reason. “I cannot stay. Spending more time with you will only make this harder.”
“What? Why can’t you stay?”
Annie shook her head. “Ask not, tis better for you to remain unaware.”
“Annie.” Mikasa stood up. “I won’t leave until you tell me what’s going on.”
“I admire your stalwartness, but this verily is the only way. Prithee do not make this any harder than it has to be.” She averted her gaze, clenching her jaw at the pain in her chest.
Mikasa reached to touch her cheek. “What are you afraid of?”
The tenderness in her voice brought Annie to the verge of tears and she pulled away from the touch. “Leave.” Her voice cracked as she pointed to the door, but she knew this was the only way.
“No. I won’t let you go. Not like this. Whatever it is that scares you so much, I want to face it with you. I’m not leaving.” She paused. “I love you, Annie.”
A tear rolled over her cheek as she replied, “Now you do, but if you witted the truth, you would hate me.”
“I would never hate you, no matter what happened.”
“Do you think I verily have not heard those words before? I cannot begin to count it! So oft have I been told those words, and they mean naught!” Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she remembered the many times her secret was discovered, her stomach churning in response. “I get ill just thinking of it! I cannot go through that again!”
“You talk as if they tried to kill you.” Mikasa said worriedly.
“I wish they could!” Annie shouted, her emotions finally taking over the control of her words. “Over and over, hundreds of times! No one can love me!” she was silenced by Mikasa’s lips on hers, her fear evaporating as Mikasa’s arms reached around her back, pulling her close.
Mikasa pulled back and looked steadily in Annie’s eyes. “I’ll spend the rest of my life proving you wrong, if that is what it takes. I love you. I’ll keep saying it until you believe me. I love you. I love you. I love you…”
Annie rested her head on her shoulder and wrapped her arms around her, crying while Mikasa kept repeating those three words. Once she calmed down enough, they sat down on the carpet. Mikasa ran her fingers through Annie’s hair while the shorter girl cleaned her face up with her handkerchief.
“I am sorry.” Annie said. “I really do want to believe you. But it matters not. I cannot stay.”
“Why? Running away won’t make things better.”
“I prefer to leave alike this. The longer I stay, the greater the chance you will discover. Methinks I cannot handle going through that once more. Not with you.”
“Annie.” Mikasa cupped her cheeks, gently forcing her to lock eyes. “Sometimes the one thing we fear most, is the one thing that sets us free.”
Annie huffed. “Using my own words against me, I see.” She closed her eyes for a moment and stood up, walking over to her desk. Mikasa followed her, frowning as she began to put more things in the box. “You are a clever woman. Perchance you may find out anyway, despite the short amount of time we have spent together. I cannot risk that.”
Mikasa sighed. “If you really don’t see this going any other way, I won’t stop you. But I don’t think I can move on if I don’t know why. You say I might find out anyway, so just… just give me a hint. Something I can work with.”
Annie cursed herself as she felt herself give in. “Are vampire tales not popular among the kids these days?” she cringed as she remembered the last time she made a vampire reference, and opened a drawer, adding its contents to the box.
“Vampires? That doesn’t even make any sense.” Mikasa said.
Annie said nothing, continuing to empty the drawers. When she saw an old bottle of scotch, she contemplated on whether or not to take it with her. She placed it on top of the desk, she could always decide later. She closed the box and turned to Mikasa, who stared at the bottle with a frown. Annie was about to ask her to leave, when her dark eyes shifted their gaze to her and widened.
Annie froze, panicking. No, she couldn’t possibly have found out so soon. Mikasa tilted her head, frowning again. “Are you…? But that doesn’t make any sense.” Her frown deepened, and she reached out to touch Annie’s wrist. Her expression held nothing but pure confusion as she asked, “Are you a vampire?”
Annie shook her head, muttering to quiet for Mikasa to hear, “At least that would make sense.”
Mikasa continued to stare at her, mouth open as she searched for words. “How old are you?”
Annie pulled her wrist free, taking a few steps back and balling her fists. “Leave. Now.” Her body shivered in anticipation of what she knew would come. Please not again, she begged internally.
Mikasa didn’t move, eyes darting over the many paintings on the wall. The one that held her attention pictured a crowd with torches looking at the center of the canvas with creepy smiles, flames obscuring the bottom side of the painting. Mikasa looked back to Annie, eyes filled with horror.
“They burned you at the stake for being a witch?” Annie took another step back, making herself smaller. “Oh, Annie.” She stepped forward, catching Annie in an embrace before she could bolt, holding her tight.
“You… you are not going to kill me?” Annie asked, surprised by the act.
“Of course not!” Mikasa cupped Annie’s cheeks, wiping fresh tears away with her thumbs. “I love you. No matter what happens, I always will. So please, Annie, stay with me.”
Annie stared at her, seeing the honesty in her eyes. It took several minutes before the fact that she wasn’t going to be murdered again sunk in. “I…” she stammered, “I do not wit what to do. This never occurred before.”
Mikasa smiled softly. “I never expected to meet someone who’s immortal. I’m willing to see where this leads. Are you?”
Annie nodded numbly, and Mikasa pulled her into another hug. She held her until Annie slumped in her arms, falling asleep from exhaustion.
Annice Leonard 1514.