The Painting

^{Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash}

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The university days were for me the best. There were special situations, beautiful friendships, talks with interesting people, and loves that were not fulfilled, but were necessary. Tears shed, stress, and frustrations. People passionate about teaching and many intriguing seminars for a future history graduate.

What I miss most is sitting in the cafeteria and enjoying a delicious mocha coffee alone, reading some book that quietly captured my interest. I remember sweetly how each sip of my drink dissolved pleasantly in my mouth with a tender taste as I read. Peaceful moments have always been fantastic for me.

Although I had very good times I also had many bad ones. The studies and the pressure I was putting on my father to send me money and survive each semester was becoming overwhelming for me.

I thought about getting a part-time job and reducing my courses at the university, but this was not easy because in the city where I lived and, coined to that, the terrible situation of the country, did not allow me to get a job that would give me enough to survive in the city.

I felt sad, and worried and thoughts began to flutter in my mind; they have always been a benefit in my life, but on that occasion, they became a torment. I no longer wanted to continue studying, I had lost interest in finishing my degree and I only wanted to return to my hometown to get a job and continue with my life as needed.

I felt lonely and my dark ideas were gaining ground in my mind. I needed to vent so I told a friend everything that was happening to me. He was a fine art aficionado by then, we are still friends and communicate almost often through social networks.

In those murky days, he invited me to an art exhibition that was taking place downtown as if to cheer me up. I was reluctant to go out to that kind of place just to see boring paintings, but he ended up convincing me since the confinement was too harmful for me and I needed at least to distract myself.

When I arrived at the site, I noticed several interesting works, there were not only paintings but also sculptures with an abstract concept that made me think. The place was very spacious and had several facets. My friend took me by the arm as if anxious to take me to the section of oil paintings.

In that part, the atmosphere was beautiful and illuminated. I could see how the color of the paintings made a beautiful contrast with the lights that radiated from the place. My friend kept leading me until we reached the end of the hallway, where I saw one of the most wonderful paintings of my life.

I instantly felt a special connection with that work; as if I had seen it before in a dream. I was enraptured, lost in every detail of the painting. The painting had two phases: a dark and an illuminated one, and it showed a woman emerging from the dark side and beginning her journey to glory.

The painting was beautifully defined with a dreamlike theme and strokes in its beautifully striking colors. I was so struck by it, I had to ask the artist more about her work. She was very friendly and cordial. She was very flattered when I asked her what had inspired her and responded almost immediately; as if she was waiting for me to ask.

I will never forget her answer, for it stuck in my mind like the dreamlike colors of that painting.

"This is the most important work for me," she told me. "It took me almost a year to finish it, as I was going through a terrible situation in which I only saw darkness. I was unmotivated, uninspired, and had no will to live. Then there was my discredit as an artist, there were people who told me that my work was worthless and that I would never be in an art gallery.

"I thought about leaving my craft and dedicating myself to other things, and that made me feel even worse until I met someone very special who motivated me to continue in the art world and took me down paths that I would not have traveled alone. He helped me to overcome my problems, gave me the energy to continue and continue with my works until I finished developing them, and managed to exhibit them in an exhibition like this one. Today, I feel happy because I was able to achieve the goal that many did not believe I would achieve."

I smiled. Her brief story was more than inspiring to me. She had already crossed the seas of torment that I was in at the time. I identified with her immediately and we continued chatting; further enlivening my spirit to pursue my goals.

My meeting with that artist produced a change in me. I had my problems, but I also had a goal to achieve. I gradually shook off the stress and worry that were covering my thoughts. I focused only on finishing my career, without worrying about the lack of money or the situation of the country.

I kept at it without giving up, and things happened. Thanks to a friend, I got a part-time job that allowed me to continue my studies. I had to reduce my class schedules and take intensive classes in order not to lose the rhythm; it was stressful, but when I felt sad, I would get back my motivation to finish my career, remembering that artist who managed to reach her goal.

I stayed focused and figured things out as they happened. My father sent me money again and that was an extra help that allowed me to pay for some things. Time passed and I finally finished my degree, feeling proud of myself. Still today, I can't stop thinking about what would have happened to me if I hadn't met that artist.

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THE END