Guertena was born to be an artist. He was sure of it. He considered himself a prodigy and some people had recognized his ability to paint but why won't people see things through his eyes?

"This...piece of art you're showing me... I don't think I can sell it." An art dealer sat across Guertena as he eyed Guertena's collection: The Hanged Man. "In this time of age, people need something positive. This is ... far too morbid. Perhaps you can sell it at circuses?"

The door of the office slammed shut as Guertena stomped away from the building. Circus? How dare he tell him his art was for a circus! He had been dejected before but this was too much.

Guertena arrived at his empty apartment. He didn't need anything but his artwork to keep him company and that room was the proof of that ideal. He placed his painting against the wall and sat down in front of his covered easel. He placed a cigarette in his mouth and lit it with his lighter.

"Nobody understands."

He turned his attention to his easel. When the cover was taken off, a half-finished painting of a girl with long yellow hair was revealed. The girl's smile was not finished and her blue eyes were not alive as how Guertena always made his artwork to be. After exhaling a smoke-filled breath, he smiled gently at his painting.

"I'll find you a place where I can display you with pride. A home for both of us."

And he began to paint.

x—x—x—x—x

Life proved to be difficult for Guertena to sell his paintings. Excuses after excuses kept him from putting his art into the world. Despite the rejection, he was still able to work on the girl painting with utmost love and care. He poured his feelings towards making this painting more than he ever did in others.

Entering his mid 20s, the feeling of wanting to be a parent came naturally but without the aspect of having a life partner, this proved difficult for Guertena. He was never one to communicate well with women let alone find one that would accept him and his works. Which was why he dedicated all his feelings to this one girl.

Mary. That was the name he gave this painting; this identity. He was a daughter to him and would be his daughter that he'd proudly display in his own private gallery.

On his last trip to an art dealer, he brought Mary with him. Proud of his latest creation he let the dealer eye the painting.

"So?" The man said. "This is just another painting of a girl. Lots of people had done this. Nothing special about it."

"But sir, this one is different. I've put my heart into this—"

"That's what everybody says. Only the painter feels that way but what does the viewer feel? Nothing." The man gave the painting back to Guertena. He led the dejected artist to the door.

"Your collection has potential, kid, but had you told me that the artist is dead," said the man as Guertena walked out of his office, "things would be different."

Guertena saw the man's mocking smile as if to tell him to drop dead. The sentence lingered in Guertena's mind. His piece had been about depression and other meanings of life. Take his statues, for example, they were all headless. It began to make sense.

By the time he arrived in his apartment, he was determined. Mary was placed in her easel and Guertena began to list all his work in a notebook. One by one he described what his piece was about; their names, their history were all recorded. Once he finished, he looked around the room and smiled.

"I'm proud of all of you. There's nothing about you that I would change." He turned to Mary. "In a perfect world, we'd all be living together, my daughter."

Guertena took another empty paper and began to write.

"...and may they find a place fit to be called home." was the end of the letter. He placed it on the table where people could easily see and opened his door towards the balcony.

He wondered how long until people realized he was missing. The landlord had frequented visits in his room chasing for rent; perhaps he would be the first to find the letter.

With a bitter laugh, Guertena jumped.


Author's Note:

This is my take on the story of Garry. There is no proof that he is Guertena in the game itself, but I like to connect things and I'll try to make things believable. You'll have to keep reading to know which ending I'll apply to this game. It's short but that's because it's just an introduction to the story and the style I'm writing this in.

As mentioned in my profile, the story is inspired by Juliuslove a fellow Ib fan.

The main focus in this story will be Garry and later on, Mary. It will explain why the gallery did what it did to Garry, of all people.

Hope you'll enjoy the story :)