PAINT MY LOVE IN YOUR HEART

in as her stomach growled loudly,

f when she realized she was alone in the vast, white

pace only made her acut

ner had clearly run its course, and her stomach was craving something far more satisf

of a steaming, enormous bag of seafood from

s she imagined sinking her teeth into soft, bouncy shri

spicy hot sauce that would accompany the soft boiled eggs and pota

k to reality. She quickly wiped away the drool

me?" A woman's voice interrupt

expensive than Alice's entire wardrobe, l

er feet. "I believe you'll like it. I really pou

rth my time." Mrs. Charlotte's voice was cold, and he

the painting. In her nervousness, she knocked over t

ing onto a pile of documents, and Mrs. Charl

! What have you d

ration dinner she had dreamed of

m so sorry," Alice apologize

wo million dollars!" Mrs. Charlott

rlotte picked up a small, expensiv

pair. Alice noticed the signature-this wa

ad to blink rapidly to fight bac

ed in anger. Alice couldn't help but imagine her as a

s painting are coming in twenty minutes. They'll either w

was too much. If she had that kind of money, she wouldn't be living

ronical boyfriend, checking

und brave despite the overwhelming fear threatening to swallow her whole.

client in the next 18 minutes," Mrs. Charlo

tte's mind. The room fell silent for a moment, until Ali

" Mrs. Charlotte said, her

it didn't make it any easier to face. She handed over her pain

gh the painting were a mere consolation prize for the one

feeling heavier than the last. Going home meant losing her pai

e opened it immediately. His face fell

want here?"

" Alice pleaded, standing at the d

everything you did?" He scowled,

Alice pleaded, the tears she had been holding back now flowing

don't want her to catch you here, do yo

eserved. "Just this once, Uncle Jim, can you be family to me? Just this once?" Alice's v

laugh. "I told you, didn't I? I said you'd come craw

er face before she co

rudged back to the box she called home. Sitting on the stairs outside her doo