PICTURE

 

Chapter I:

Meeting Joasia

Coming home from work, I often stop in a clearing in the middle of which grows a huge chestnut tree. In early autumn, the tree's enormous crown, with its beautifully colored leaves, shades a nearby bench. It serves as a resting place for weary passersby, and I, too, enjoy sitting on it, observing life unfolding around me.

One day, as I sat as usual, reflecting on a less-than-successful day at work, I heard a faint sob. I looked around. The sound came from the direction of the old chestnut tree. I slowly stood up, and with slow steps, trying not to let the fallen leaves rustle under my feet, I headed toward the faint sobbing.

As I approached, a small girl appeared before my eyes. She nestled against the tree as if trying to become part of it, and her hair, stirred by the wind, resembled spiraling rays of sunlight illuminating the dark bark of a chestnut tree.

At first, the image I saw so captivated me that I wanted time to stand still, I thought,

"Where's my sketchbook?" Hmm, yes, it's on the bench.

After a moment, I realized that this beautiful sight was caused by some misfortune. My desire to freeze time seemed selfish, and I felt ashamed. I wanted to leave as quickly as possible, to disappear, quietly, without a sound.

"This is such an awkward situation. "

Suddenly, I heard a loud crack beneath my feet.

"Did she hear that? Surely she already knows I'm here?"

She turned. I looked into her eyes with horror; they were beautiful, such a blue and such depth I'd never seen before, and her face... Despite the obvious pain and terror, there was something about her that was moving. Looking at her, I wanted to hug her as quickly as possible, to surround her with care. It was a very strange feeling.

I slowly reached out my hand. The girl took a step back.

For a moment, I stood there, unable to tear my eyes away from her. Suddenly, a wind picked up, blowing leaves towards us. I closed my eyes, and when I looked again, she was gone. I began to look around nervously;

"Is she gone, is she simply gone?"

Unable to believe it, I walked to the bench, grabbed my things, and headed home.

For the next few days, questions about this event occupied my mind; I couldn't stop thinking about it. Every day, I returned to the same place, hoping to see her again, wanting to immortalize this fragile creature in my sketchbook. Moreover, I expected to receive some answers explaining the behavior of this young creature, yet already so traumatized.

Autumn had ended. Winter had struck without warning, like an avalanche descending from a mountaintop, surprising unsuspecting nature explorers. Despite this, every day I visited a clearing where there was no one else in sight, not even the animals poking their noses out of their warm, dry burrows.

Because I have a difficult personality, and my stubbornness doesn't always yield positive results, good advice from my parents only proves valuable when it's too late. Like most young people, I learn from my mistakes and ignore good advice, considering it a sign of overprotection. As usual, this didn't bode well for my "health," in the literal sense of the word. I contracted acute pneumonia. This had consequences. I had to undergo long-term treatment, which prevented me from teaching art at school, which resulted in the subject being removed from my schedule.

The next day, immediately after a visit from my family doctor, I was taken to the hospital by my parents. It was located in the "lilac district," a strange name for this gloomy place where, instead of the scent of purple-flowered bushes—the ones I love most—there was the stench of a nearby fabric factory. After several days spent among coughing and choking people with unpleasant odors, the stench was unbearable. I returned home, where I continued my treatment under the watchful eye of Dr. Leon Władecki, a handsome man by the way, though a few years older than me. Mr. Władecki visited me every day, which, to my surprise, my parents accepted. Over time, I became friends with Leon. We mainly talked about children's problems. I told him about meeting a girl, showing him a sketch resembling her. Leon was delighted, as was I, with her exceptional beauty, though he thought she reminded him of someone. Besides his work, Leon cared for children from poor and dysfunctional families, and these topics were close to my heart, so we could talk for hours about his and my passion... children.

Boredom plagued me every day. The only entertainment I was allowed were Leon's visits. Lately, due to the nature of his work, he'd been visiting me less often, and I missed the movement, the faces, and the cries of the teasing little ones. I really missed the smell of paints.

I was lying in bed when a knock sounded at the door. I thought it was definitely Leon

—Come in, Leonie .

The door slowly opened

—Leon, don't be silly, come in.

Yes, it was him, smiling, though tired; he'd definitely been working at night; his clothes were rumpled and saturated with the smell of the hospital walls.

"Hello, Clara, I've brought someone

." These words caused a strange excitement in "someone." It had been a long time since I'd seen anyone except the people living in our small house and Leon, whom I'd already treated like a family friend, or maybe more like a member of the household?

"But, before I bring in the guests...

" "Guests?! I shouted. " Yes

, Klara, let me finish, so before I bring them in... " "Leon, don't bother me ..." "Will you finally open that door

, please ?" " Aa ... "Yes, Krzysiu, it's true, I'm sick, but since Mr. Władecki allowed you to come see me today, I hope you'll visit me more often now." A scream rang out as if a swarm of bees had flown into my small room . "Yes, yes, we want to, we want to!!! " "Children, calm down!" I looked at Leon. Unfortunately, he wasn't thrilled with the idea, and a strange grimace appeared on his face; he seemed even more handsome then. "Children? Let's ask Mr. Leon for permission. What do you think, Leon? " "No, no, and no again!" The bees swarmed over Leon, who kept repeating his firm "no." "Leon, come on, I'm fine now. " "At least you, Klara, be an adult?" The children talked about what was happening at school, and listening to them, I was full of happiness, filled with the joy and love that these little, energetic little things were showering me with. I listened attentively and with bated breath, absorbing every word. Suddenly, a loud clapping of hands brought us all back to earth. It was Leon, trying to penetrate the minds of the children who were still shouting. "Dear friends! Children!" Silence fell, and now he could speak more calmly. "The visit is over for today, say goodbye to Miss Klara. " "Madam, can we bring our work next time we come? " "Work?" "You mean they're painting..." They haven't stopped? My soul simply sang; such words from a student are the greatest joy for a teacher, a sign of good work. I remember... When I first entered the classroom?... It was probably five years ago... Yes, it was my first year right after college. They didn't want these classes, they thought, especially the boys, that it was a girl's subject, well... And now they're asking if they can bring their work. " "You know, because when you weren't there, it was a bit... You know..."

"Of course, you can always bring your work.

" "Does that mean we can paint with you?

" "Yes, you can... You can. "

Leon's face grimaced again.

"Klara, it's still too early for longer visits."

I waved my hand, Leon smiled, and then everyone left. My soul was filled with happiness, but unfortunately, my body needed rest, and I don't even know when I fell asleep.

In the morning, the first person to enter the room was Grandma Flora. This elderly woman, short, portly, with green eyes, ash-colored hair, and an energy that many a woman her age could envy, was all in one my grandmother, nanny, caregiver, and above all, friend.

"Good morning, Klara, how was your night?

" "Good, but the morning always comes too quickly

." Lying there, I watched her bustle about. What would happen if she were gone? Surely my life would be empty without her? I grabbed a pencil and quickly began to capture her every move on paper. Despite her rounded shape, her gestures are graceful and charming, filled with incredible delicacy and lightness; sketching Flora always brings me joy and pleasure.

"Klara, stop it, you already have so many likenesses of me you could cover the whole house with them.

" "Oh, isn't it all too little, Grandma? "

Suddenly I heard a strange noise in the next room.

"What's going on?

" "Don't worry your pretty little head about it, just get dressed, because Dr. Władecki will be here soon.

" "Leon? After me? Don't I know something

, Grandma? Of course I did?

" "Don't you whine. Get dressed."

As I dressed, my thoughts turned to the unpleasant tests Leon had mentioned recently. I'm a little scared. Someone once said, "...It's human nature to fear the unknown..." Strangely, I can't remember whose words they were.

I wasn't in any hurry, so Flora kept rushing me, which made me feel nervous. Luckily, my mother came in and announced,

"Klara, Mr. Leon is waiting."

As I was leaving the room, I noticed a few strangers, but for some reason I didn't ask who they were and what purpose had brought them to our door. The only thought that came to my mind at that moment was that they were surely the ones who had made so much noise this morning. Leon was waiting by the door with a radiant smile on his face and a hint of defiance in his voice:

"Good morning, Miss Klara, what do I see – fear in your eyes?

" "Don't be silly, Leon, I'm really scared."

My heart was pounding, my legs felt like rubber. I grabbed Leon's arm, and we left the apartment, heading towards the hospital. Winter refused to leave; a blanket of white fluff covered the trees; it felt as if someone had covered the world with a giant blanket. The frost crackled gently under our feet, seeping into my nostrils with the force of a volcano. It made me dizzy. I gripped my doctor's arm tightly. We passed a clearing with a chestnut tree in the center, but this time the view was different. The clearing was filled with children and their guardians. We paused for a moment, watching the cheerful crowd with envy, everyone enjoying the season. I snuggled closer to Leon, who wrapped a trembling arm around me. I asked if he was cold, but his answer was no; I asked no more. After a few minutes, we reached our destination. The tests were exhausting, so we took a taxi back, but the most important thing is that my lungs are healthy and I'll slowly be able to return to my old lifestyle, though perhaps not entirely "old." Well, now I'll have to follow the advice of my parents, and not only my parents... There's Leon, who will probably continue to surround me with his "trembling arm," because no one befriends their patient without reason. Truth be told, I hope, secretly hope, that there's another reason Leon visits our home.

I spent the next few days alone with my grandmother and mother; my father and Leon simply "vanished into thin air." When I asked where they were, no one could answer, even avoiding them, which was irritating. The noise from the next room was unbearable. I can't even look into it because it's being renovated, and the dust "apparently" affects my weakened lungs. It's simply a disaster for a curious person like me.

One morning, instead of the noise coming from the next room, I was awakened by Grandma Flora.

"Clara, sleepyhead, perhaps you'll get up and grace us with your presence at breakfast?

" Without further ado, I managed to get myself into decent shape and appeared in the dining room, where, to my surprise, I found my father. I greeted him with a phrase that always amused this elderly but still handsome man with a very cheerful disposition

: "Hello, Daddy, where were you while you were gone?"

A smile spread across his face, and then he replied mysteriously:

"We were preparing a Christmas present for you. You'll receive it right after breakfast, and I hope you don't mind it being a few weeks early."

After breakfast, my mother asked me to go to the room next to mine, which had been shrouded in mystery for the past week. She closed her eyes, refraining from asking questions.

The door opened and when I opened my eyes, I saw a group of children sitting at easels.

"Dad, is this a studio?

" "Yes, my love, yes

." I stood there, speechless. Leon stood somewhere to the side, as usual with a radiant smile on his face. He came over and led me inside. The children stood up silently, as if waiting for a sign. Then he announced:

"Isn't that all, Klara?" "I'd like to introduce you to someone."

He headed towards where one of the eight easels stood. That's when I realized how large the room was. When he approached, I couldn't believe my eyes, there sat a girl with hair like sunbeams.

"Leon, is that... Is that her?

" "Klara, this is Joasia."