Episode2
951 Words
The next day,
Henry faced the mirror looking at himself. His eyes still bright blue, seemed to dig into his core. He couldn't stop thinking, how did I end up here? How did I turn into this person?
As Henry filled his glass with scotch, he thought about the past. Long-buried memories came back to him. The object on his wrist seemed to throb with strange power almost pushing him to face his hidden truths.
Henry remembered his childhood and the odd condition he couldn't explain. He always looked younger than kids his age, with his body aging. His parents had taken him to many doctors, but no one could figure out why this happened.
As time passed, Henry learned to accept his special trait. He built his life around it using his young looks to his benefit. But each year made his secret harder to keep.
Henry looked at an old faded photo on his mantle. It showed him from many years ago. He looked the same now as he did then. This hit him hard – he had been living a life filled with lies.
He shrugged off the thought and headed to the bathroom, he had a long day ahead.
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Sophia moved her brush on the canvas mixing bright colors to create a beautiful picture. She focused on her artwork forgetting about everything else around her studio.
The phone's loud ring cut through the quiet room.
She paused reluctant to interrupt her creative flow. Yet something urged her to pick up.
"Hello?" she answered, her mind elsewhere.
"Sophia, it's Andy from the Bellwether Art Gallery. I've got amazing news – we've chosen your paintings for our next showcase!"
Sophia's pulse quickened. This was the chance she'd been hoping for, an opportunity to show her art to everyone.
"No way, are you serious?!" she cried, her eyes bright with joy.
"!" Andy chuckled. "Your work is beautiful, Sophia. We're eager to show it off. Can you stop by the gallery tomorrow to talk about the specifics?"
Sophia nodded still in disbelief. "Yes, of course! Thank you so much for this chance! But please, what made you pick my paintings? If I may ask. I have been registering with different art galleries, but they were all rejecting me"
"Well, your unique style and perspective blew us away," Andy said. "Your art speaks to something deep inside us. We think it will strike a chord with our audience."
Sophia's cheeks turned red with pride. "That means a lot to me. I'm excited to be part of this showcase."
"We're excited to have you," Rachel said. "We'll show your work next to some of the city's most talented artists. It's going to be an amazing event."
Sophia's mind was filled with possibilities. This was just the start, a chance to share her art and connect with others on a deeper level.
"What time should I come to the gallery tomorrow?" she asked already planning her day.
"How about 2 pm? We can talk about the layout, marketing, and all the details."
"Sounds great," Sophia said. "Thank you again, Rachel. I won't let you down."
As she hung up the phone, Sophia felt a rush of emotions. This was her chance to shine, to share her art with the world. She turned back to her canvas, her brush strokes full of new passion and purpose. The colors looked brighter, the textures more alive. She was making something special, something that would touch hearts and minds.
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Henry was going through some files when James burst into Henry's office, excitement pouring from every pore.
"Henry, we did it!" James shouted, pumping his fist in the air. "We're going to make a fortune!"
Henry chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "I told you, James. My charm and charisma can't be beat."
James laughed, dropping into the chair across from Henry's desk. "Yeah, yeah. It had nothing to do with the fact that you're a 75-year-old man who looks like a 30-year-old Adonis."
Henry laughed. "Hey, my young looks are just a bonus. My business skills closed the deal."
James shook his head. "You're a genius, Henry. A genius. I don't know how you do it."
Henry smiled, feeling proud of himself. "It's all in a day's work James. Now let's celebrate!"
James nodded. "I was thinking we could go to that new restaurant downtown. The one with the champagne and caviar."
Henry's eyes lit up. "Perfect. Let's go."
Over champagne and caviar, Henry told James stories of his business conquests. James listened captivated, as Henry spun tales of wheeling and dealing. He had told his 35-year-old friend James about his secret when he asked about his artifact and James had promised never to share his secret.
"...and then I told him, 'Listen, I know you think you're getting the better end of this deal, but trust me, you're not,'" Henry said, chuckling.
James laughed. "You're a master manipulator."
"Hey, it's all about getting what you want."
As the night continued, James asked, "Henry, for real how do you manage it? You're 75 years old, but you look and behave like you're 30."
Henry moved closer, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Let's just say I've put my money in the right places James."
James looked skeptical. "Put your money in the right places?"
Henry gave a wink. "Let's just stop there, shall we?"
James chuckled. "Fine, fine. I won't dig deeper."
As they finished eating and got ready to go, Henry turned serious. "James, this is the start. We've got big ideas, and I want you to be with me as it lasts."
James nodded, looking solemn. "I'm on your side, Henry. All the way."
- Writer
