Even though he lived in a huge home, a wealthy 61-year-old heir had a great sense of emptiness. It was challenging for him to establish a real family because the ladies that entered his life appeared more interested in his fortune than in him. He once saw a woman looking through trash cans on the outskirts of town. She appeared frail, but there was strength in her eyes. With a great deal of sympathy, he walked over to her.
The woman, who identified herself as Lexi, said that she had lost her artistic career after her spouse abandoned her for a pregnant woman. He had converted his garage into a guesthouse and, moved by her situation, offered her temporary housing there. After being dubious at first, she finally consented because she was certain there were no conditions.
After a few days, they started eating meals together occasionally even though Lexi had a self-sufficient life. He found a strong-willed, funny, and intelligent lady in her, and he liked their developing relationship. She told him one evening how much she loved art and how her ambition of becoming a painter had fallen through.
He went into the garage without knocking one afternoon while searching for a petrol pump. He was rendered speechless by what he saw: dozens of paintings that showed him in a coffin, bound up, with his eyes bleeding. He left the house without her noticing, feeling offended and shocked.
He addressed her during dinner because he was unable to control his anxiety. Disturbed, Lexi clarified that although she had vented her fury and wrath on the painting, he was not the real object of her ire. She apologized, but he couldn’t help but feel upset and asked her to go. He handed her some cash, transported her to a shelter the following day, and then departed in a somber silence.
The emptiness inside him only deepened throughout the course of the days. He couldn’t stop thinking about their chats and how Lexi’s presence had unpredictably made him feel less alone. A parcel showed up at his residence one morning. There was a fresh painting of him inside, one that was peaceful and gentle. There was a message with Lexi’s phone number and her signature.
He hesitated for a second before calling her. He told her how affected he was by the painting when she responded. Lexi acknowledged that she had hoped for a better portrait as a way to atone. He invited her to dinner for a new beginning after they both realized they had misinterpreted one another. Accepting with excitement, Lexi disclosed that she had secured employment and was on the verge of renting an apartment.
For the first time in a long time, a smile came to his face as he hung up.
How do you feel about what Lexi did? Was her portrayal of the man accurate? Was it a telling sign or just a creative decision?
