57. Stress
The events of the day often take their toll on Len. From pressing tests, to malicious students, to teachers plagued with favoritism, and strenuous school activities- they pile onto his shoulders like hefty weights. Sometimes, he wants to tear out his own hair to relieve just a small portion of the building stress.
Yet, he waits. Through the rude remarks, ever-changing grade levels, he sits patiently and waits until he can get home.
When he finally arrives, the first thing Len does is go to his bedroom. No longer can he delay his favorite pastime.
Removing the thin blanket from over his beloved easel, he begins again on another of his works.
Delicately, he draws her eyes. A deep, cerulean blue, portraying sweetness and gentle affection. Her lips are decorated in a light shade of red, suiting her beautifully pale and unmarred face perfectly. Soft, straw-colored bangs fall just over one eye, giving her an almost seductive look even though her expression speaks of her innocence.
A girl. You'd think that, by the way he knows every detail to her figure, Len is close to her, but that would be wrong. In reality, Len has never, ever met her. The girl has no name, and unfortunately, the young painter has never lain eyes on her.
And yet, he feels she's familiar. He finds her in his dreams, taking his breath away and unwittingly stealing his heart, and when he awakens, she's gone as if she were of thin air.
So, he draws her. Countless portraits of the nameless girl litter his room. Despite not knowing her, just seeing her face is enough to ease his anxiety.
The stressfulness of the day nearly forgotten, Len smiles, tenderly dabbing more color to her cheeks.
He can see her smiling back at him.