Things changed after the night Ib and Garry revealed their feelings for each other, but in a good way. They were not afraid to show affection toward each other like they were before. The first time Garry held Ib's hand in public made her heart soar. Roy and Mary were elated that the two finally confessed their love for each other and supported it completely. Ib's parents joked that it was about time that this event occurred since they had known it all along; they liked Garry and knew that he was a good person for their daughter to love.

Roy and Mary were still living together in his apartment. He maintained fresh yellow roses as always for her, but he was certain that even if he did not, she would be all right. She had not exhibited anymore episodes since that one time; however, he did keep an eye on her. Despite Ib and Garry knowing what had happened, they treated Mary just the same as before and remained her friends.

The summer passed quickly, and it was time for school to start. Garry started teaching high school before Ib and Roy began college. Mary decided not to go to college that year; she wanted to gain more money and not have Roy support her college funds since he could barely support his own. Garry enjoyed teaching high school, much to Ib's happiness. Fall semester of college began, and Mary went full-time at the restaurant she and Roy worked at in order to make things easier for the both of them. Often, Roy would go straight from school to work and stay up all night doing homework. Mary felt sorry for him and would try to help out every way she could, such as keeping the apartment immaculate and cooking for him when he had a chance to sit down and eat. Despite things being hectic, she and Roy still enjoyed each other's company greatly. Oddly, she found herself missing Roy when he was away, and when he was around, she had a peculiar feeling in her chest.

One day, Roy returned home to see a new painting hung up on his wall. All it consisted of was just a dark blue color and nothing more. There was a golden frame around it, but as for other art on it, there was nothing. Mary told him that she was walking home by the museum and they were just giving it away, stating it must have somehow ended up in their museum by accident. She thought it matched with the interior, and since it was being given away, she thought she might as well take it. Roy smiled and told her she had a better taste in furniture and interior than he did, so he trusted her judgment. Two months passed by, and things were going smoothly, until one evening when Roy returned home. He noticed the yellow roses were beginning to wilt. It was late, and the flower shop was not open in order for him to get a fresh dozen; however, if Mary were to notice the roses wilting, he feared what would happen. He decided to hide them, and just as he picked them up-

"What are you doing with my roses?!"

Roy wheeled around to see Mary standing in the living room, her eyes filled with anger. In fact, her entire demeanor seemed completely different. Her left hand was behind her back. "Er, well-"

Mary took a step toward him. "I knew it! You're trying to kill me!"

Roy remembered everything that Garry had told him about the painting. He shook his head. "Not at all. I'm trying to keep you alive. See? These are wilting. I have to put more water in the vase, or the petals will fall."

Mary snarled her lip. "I'll do it. You just leave them alone."

Roy kept his cool, regardless of Mary's fury. "I want to help you. They're fragile, after all." He turned to the sink in order to put more water in the vase- through the corner of his eye, he saw the glare of metal, and he felt a sharp pain on his cheek. Stunned by the pain, he dropped the vase in the sink (which luckily did not break) and cried out. He reached up and placed his hand on his cheek; he brought down his hand and was surprised to see blood on it. Eyes wide and alert, he looked at Mary to see a bloody pair of scissors in her left hand. Her eyes were narrow in rage, and she gripped the scissors tightly.

"I told you to leave them alone!" she yelled.

"M-Mary…" Roy stammered. "Look… I put them in the sink, okay? You can put the water in them."

He started to walk away to leave her alone, but just as he got to her, she gasped and dropped the scissors. He felt her hands cling onto his shirt, forcing him to stop. He turned toward her to see tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Roy! I hurt you, didn't I?"

Roy shook his head and smiled. "It's fine. Just a scratch is all. Nothing to worry about."

Mary began to sob out loud as she leaned her head on Roy's chest. "Why?! Why does this happen… I'm sorry, Roy. I'm sorry… I'm so sorry!"

All he knew to do was hold her tightly as she cried. He wanted to help her somehow, but he was not sure. The only thing he wanted was for her to be happy and to not cry anymore. The next day, he got her a dozen yellow roses; when he gave them to her, she cried yet again. She felt so guilty for have hurting him. He had to keep a bandage on his face where she had cut him with the scissors, and surely the wound would leave a scar. It was because of her…

After that incident, Mary chose to talk to Garry about what had happened. She invited him over the next time he had the chance. Four days passed until he was able to come over and speak to her. Ib came along with him, for she realized something was troubling both Roy and Mary. In the two classes they had together, Roy was somewhat quiet, which was not like him at all. When they came over, Mary had the television on the news; Roy watched the news often, and since he was always gone, she kept up to date with the news and would relate to him what she had seen. It was about twenty minutes before she started talking to the two of them about what had happened four nights ago. In the middle of telling them, Ib suddenly froze, her eyes stuck on the television. Mary and Garry turned their attention to the screen and were shocked by what they saw.

"Mary…" Ib breathed. "She looks just like you…"

On the screen was a young woman who looked identical to Mary. An item on the news was about a painting Guertena had done; apparently, it had gone missing, and the girl on the screen was looking for it.

"I am Guertena's daughter, Mary. My father passed away two months ago, and the last painting he did was of me. He gave it to a museum, but I cannot recall which one… He was a very well-known artist, and I'm sure he has pieces all over the world. If anyone knows where the painting is, please send me an email or call me. I wish to have it as a memoriam of my father. I would be so very thankful to you…"

Her information appeared on the screen. Garry and Mary were at a loss for words. They were not even sure what they were supposed to be feeling at the moment. When they came to their senses, they realized Mary was gone. The door was wide open, and they could hear the rain pouring outside. They ran out to the porch and looked down to see her running down the stairs, so they took off after her. Garry was fast on his feet, and in no time he caught up with her. She had tears streaming down her face, and at first she struggled to get away, but Garry held her tightly as she cried. Five minutes passed by, the rain drenching them, before she finally calmed down.

"Mary…"

"I knew," she spoke. "I knew something was different about me… That day when the museum was giving that plain painting away… when I saw it… I felt odd. Like, it was my home." She laughed sadly, bowed her head, and closed her eyes. "Silly, isn't it? A painting making me feel at home…" She opened her eyes. "So, I got it. I felt safer knowing it was with me… because if something happens to it…" She broke away from Garry and turned away from him and Ib. "I know what I did to you two ten years ago. I don't think I'm the same person, but I had dreams of it every night. It was always the same. And even now, I try to hurt Roy." She clenched her fists, her body trembling in a vast mixture of emotions. All Garry and Ib knew to do was to let her vent out her frustrations. "I'm just… a figment of someone's memory. I'm not real…" She closed her eyes again, tears falling from her lashes and mixing in with the rain on her face. "Who would ever want me? Who would ever love someone such as me?"

"I'll love you."

Hearing this made Mary gasp, open her eyes, and turn around. Ib and Garry looked outward near the road to see that Roy stood in the rain, his eyes full of determination and sympathy for her. Astonished by his statement, she was unable to speak for a moment. She wondered if he knew what she meant by love.

"Wh-what?" was all she could manage.

"I said that I'll love you," Roy repeated as he took a step toward her.

Mary shook her head. "You can't mean that. After all I've done to you…"

Roy walked to her and smiled. "After all that you've done? You mean how amazing you have been to me? How you've made each day exciting and worth living?"

Mary took a step back, fear all over her face. "That's not… I've hurt you, Roy."

Roy let out a slight laugh. "Ah, I hate shaving anyway. If you want, you can do that to the rest of my face so I won't have to."

"This isn't a joke, Roy…"

"I know," Roy winked at her. He then changed his demeanor to seriousness. "Listen to me, Mary. This time I've spent with you has been wonderful. You've given me purpose when before, I was just living for me." He reached out and took her hands into his. "I don't want to see you cry anymore. Your smile brings me so much happiness and hope, and my goal is to never make you cry again."

Mary could not hide her surprise and fear. She did not want to hurt Roy anymore, but at the same time… she was euphoric to hear him speak these words to her. "What if I… Roy, I can't hurt you again… I care about you too deeply…"

Roy gave her hands a light squeeze. "We'll work on that together. I'm willing to help you through this. Just please… stay here with me. Not as a friend, but as the woman I love."

Mary closed her eyes and bowed her head. "But… I'm not real, Roy. I-"

"Don't talk like that," Roy interrupted her. "You're standing here before me, and I'm holding your hands. You have feelings just like me, and these tears you shed are not fabricated. How are you not real?" With his right hand, he reached out and placed it gently on her cheek. "You're just as real as the rest of us."

Just at this moment, the rain stopped, and the sun began to poke through the clouds. Mary opened her eyes and looked up into Roy's eyes. She saw nothing but love and truth. Incapable of holding back, she started to cry, but his time from happiness. Over the time she had spent with Roy, she had found herself falling for him. Even if she was merely a painting given life, she knew that what she felt for him was true. She leaned her head into Roy's hand and let the warmth of his skin sink in.

"You'll be in danger…" she whispered.

"I don't care," Roy smiled. "We'll do this together, Mary. I promise."

He pulled her gently toward him and held her. Her tears no longer fell; instead, a smile spread across her face. Ib and Garry said nothing, but merely stood by and allowed the two to have this moment. Ib wiped away tears from her cheeks, and Garry held onto her hand.

Mary wrapped her arms around Roy. All her fears seemed to have washed away with the rain, and courage had taken place just like the sun was in the sky. No longer would she be afraid to let him know how she felt. She found her voice again, and made sure the words she spoke could be heard by Roy.

"I love you. We will… do this together."