"Sounds like Ludwig had a fun weekend," Mei said as she and Feliciano walked to their class.
"Yeah I'm glad he was able to," Feliciano said looking away slightly.
"Aww you're blushing," Mei cheered in a teasing manner nudging Feliciano a bit. Feliciano gently swatted her away. However, laughing a little as he did. The two of them continued chatting before they entered the painting building. The two split off down the main hallway. Feliciano walking up to the second floor before entering one of the rooms. Quietly he took his seating the middle of the classroom.
A few minutes later, the professor entered the room. Everyone went silent as she entered and placed some stuff on her desk. Feliciano glanced at the clock. Quickly he shoved his phone into his backpack. Quietly adjusting his painting supplies.
"Alright everyone settle down," the professor said raising her hands and moving them down slightly. "Now as promised I', going over your next project today."
Everyone started to mumble and groan a little. Feliciano for his part sat in silence and only glanced around.
"For this assignment, we will be focusing on one's identity!" she announced. The students glanced at each other for a moment before facing the front again. "For this painting, I want you to look inward. Put yourself on the canvas."
"So like a collage?" One student asked.
"No no no," the professor said sounding very offended. "The painting must represent you. I do not want a bunch of itty bitty pictures. I want one complete picture that tells me something about you. Add symbols if you please but the piece must be cohesive."
"A painting that represents me?" Feliciano thought to himself with a small smile. "This shouldn't be too hard."
"Hey Feli," Mei said poking her head into his room. "Victoria is making Mexican food. You want some?"
"Sure," Feliciano said quietly as he closed his sketchbook. He climbed down from his bed, making sure to not disturb the book.
"Let me guess big project?"
"Kind of it's for Stern."
"Ouch," Mei said wincing a little. "What does she want this time?"
"A painting that represents me." Feliciano moved his hands in a rainbow motion before doing some jazz hands. Then he sighed and moved his head down. "I thought it would be easier but I got nothing."
"How long do you have?"
"Three weeks but I need a sketch for next week."
"Well, you got time. I'm sure you'll think of something."
"There's got to be something in here," Feliciano said tapping his head furiously with his pencil. Looking down he saw the blank piece of paper taunting him. He sighed before collapsing on his bed. A few seconds later he heard a small beep coming from his phone. "Nine already! How long have I been staring at this?"
Feliciano climbed off his bed and grabbed some pajamas. Quickly he made his way to the bathroom. Keeping the lights around him as dim as he could. Hesitantly he removed the binder off of him. Carefully he stepped into the shower. As he cleaned himself off he started humming to himself. After a few moments of this he paused.
"What song is this?" Feliciano thought to himself. He continued humming the song for a moment. "Wait this is the song Granpa and I used to sing before he passed. I wonder what he'd think of me now but maybe it's for the best. Still, it's still kind of weird being on my own..."
He started thinking back to his childhood. Back to those days where we would spend hours outside playing with brothers. Days where the three of them had no worries at all. He could picture his mother calling to them only for his father to respond that they were kids. Like he always did. Feliciano started to smile to himself. His mind started wandering to other memories of his childhood. How he felt liking nothing could change it. Even now he longed for those days. Despite telling himself it was for the best that he left, even if it was not how he wished for it to happen. Those first few mornings felt like a dream. How he forced his eyes closed and hoped he would awake back in his room and still with his brothers. But his parents had made their decision and Feliciano had come to terms with it.
"I have been through a lot this year," Feliciano said to himself before pausing. "That's it."
When the next Monday came, Feliciano gently placed his sketch in his portfolio. He held onto it tightly as he walked the path to the painting building. Keeping a steady pace, while holding onto his profile like a tiny baby. As he walked into the room he heard his classmates chatting over their sketches. Some talking about their ideas in intensive detail, while others were being secretive with their ideas. Others were egging people on for more details. As always Feliciano walked to his chair and sat down silently. Gently he placed his sketch on his easel. Looking around he saw no one noticed it. That was fine by him.
"Alright class," Professor Stern said as she walked into the class. "Glad to see everyone has their sketches this time. As with our last project, we will go around the class, you will come up here and explain your idea. We will then all comment on it and say how you can improve it. Now, who would like to go first?"
Everyone was silent after she finished. Students glanced at each other but no one spoke up. Professor Stern frowned as she glared around the class. People started to hide behind their easels. None of them looking at the professor.
"Feliciano," Stern said after waiting for a bit. "Why don't you start us off?"
Feliciano nodded before standing up. He held the sketch close to him as he walked up. Keeping himself up straight and looking forward. Gently he placed his sketch on the center easel and stood next to it. On it was a rough sketch. There was a silhouette in the center holding out their hands. In front of them was a group of five birds. Three of them were father out with one looking back. The other two birds were closers facing the silhouette. Behind them was the rise seemingly starting to rise above the horizon.
"Please explain."
"My piece is all about loss and change," Feliciano started to explain gesturing to the sketch. He started to point to certain elements as he spoke. "The birds are doves which represent love. Them flying away is about the loss of loved ones. The different difference is about the pain felt with loss. The farther away the bird is the less the pain hurts. In the background is a sunrise for new beginnings. Sometimes with loss comes change that can be for the better and maybe even the start of something new. Any questions?"
"So the birds closer to the person represent more recent losses?" one of his classmates asked. Feliciano smiled and nodded quickly.
"I don't understand how this pertains to you," Stern said gesturing at the painting before anyone else could comment on the sketch.
"What do you mean?" Feliciano pondered looking at the sketch with a raised eyebrow.
"Loss and change are universal experiences. This does not apply to only you."
"It's been a tough year for me," Feliciano said awkwardly taking a step back. "I don't want to into it."
"Very well but this is a project about yourself. This." Stern circled her hand around the sketch. "It's vague. It's bland. It's too general. If you somehow really like the design or concept add something. Add anything. Something that tells me about you."