My Love From The Canvas

Unknown POV They keep me with old things but my place is so beautiful. It has colours you’ve never even imagined and flowers of every kind. I have a small house though it looks much bigger on the inside. Not that I’m ever in there though. I see people pass me by all day, everyday. Tall ones, short ones, fat ones, skinny ones. They walk past me everyday, sometimes they stop for a little while, though never for long. But she stops and stays, and looks at me. She sees me. By she I mean Jamie. She speaks to me and tells me everything; all her problems. I probably know more about her then her parents.  More often than not she just sits there and reads… or studies. Jamie is getting her masters degree in art history. She’s so smart and funny. People don’t get her like I do which is a cliche’ but it’s true. I’ve watched her go on dates with guys that don’t understand how lucky they are to be within arms reach of her. She brings them here sometimes the others I tend to hear about the next day. There have been three this past month the first droned on and on all about himself I doubt he asked her one question about herself he didn’t even get her not-so-subtle hints that she wanted to leave. The second one was way too handsy and kept trying to touch her, on her arm, her hair, her back. I’ve never wanted to beat the crap out of someone more than right then. When he tried to kiss her at the end of the night and she pushed him away I felt so happy that my smile hurt my cheeks. The third one was the worst by far it seemed to be going well so I was naturally pretty upset and then he asked her about what she wanted to do with her life then gestured to the whole room and said “This can’t be it” I obviously took great offence to that as did she. When she told him she was getting her masters in art history he said that was ”ridiculous” and that she should “choose something more realistic”. She ended the date immediately after that and would you believe he asked about a second date she flat out told him “no”. I love to watch her study. Today since it’s hot, I gather from what people have been saying. Jamie is wearing a loose coral colour crop top and high waisted lace shorts with tan coloured wedges and a long bow necklace.  Jamie comes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8.00am and stays til midnight then locks up and goes home, technically she finishes at five but she likes to stay for a while longer and who am I to complain a few extra hours to watch her is all I could ever ask for.  Jamie told me about her life experiences. About going on her first roller coaster (she didn’t like it) and her first kiss which made me cringe, she told me that the reason that she decided to study art history was because her father always made sure she appreciated and the people who created it for that I am grateful she also told me about her struggles when her father died I wish I could have been there for her. I can’t even imagine what it would feel like for me to experience these things with Jamie.  Jamie is reading one of her favorite books for the 4th time this month with her music in, while I admired her from afar like usual. She is wearing a teal ruffled spaghetti strap top and acid wash ripped skinny jeans with cuffed bottoms and sandals, her hair is in a high ponytail to keep it out of her face when she reads. Something caught my eye in the back of the room, it looked like shadows of people moving around but I know no one stays as late as Jamie. As I try to get a better look I hear them. The first one said “No one was supposed to be here, why are there lights on!” Then a second voice said “We’ll just handle it won’t we, we can’t afford to get caught.” I bang and try to get her attention, but she can’t hear or see me. I caught a glimpse of a gun and started to scream “Move!” as loud as I could just praying that she would hear me. But she didn’t even blink oblivious to the fact that her life was in danger and my heart was about to explode from terror. I can’t let her die, she is all I have. I began to push on the barrier separating us as hard as I could. I didn't know what I expected but I had to do something. I pushed harder and harder and suddenly I started to hear tearing, praying that it was what I was hoping for. I tried to push even harder. Then I heard a loud bang and saw Jamie collapse to the floor “No!, no, no, no''. I put all my strength behind my next push. The tearing sound was replaced by the sound of air rushing past my ears as I fell to the cold marble floor. My hands felt wet, I looked down to check and they were covered in some red liquid. As realisation dawned on me I scrambled as fast as I could to Jamie’s side I lifted her head onto my lap and held her hand. I reached into her bag fishing for her phone to dial 911. “No, please you can’t leave me, we haven’t even gotten to know each other yet.” Once I called 911 I tossed her phone aside and brushed the hair from her face even like this she was beautiful. She was pale and her breath was coming in shallow breaths. Her eyes fluttered open and we locked eyes and it felt so much better than when she would look at me before. This time she could literally see me.  I turned around to look back at my place, it was weird seeing it from this perspective it was even weirder that I wasn’t there. Not wanting anyone to know that I was missing I slipped out from under Jamie and removed it. I slid it in Jamie’s art bag; no one can know I’m gone. After I returned to Jamie’s side I began to hear sirens thankful that Jamie was going to get help. I looked down at her to see she wasn’t breathing anymore. I started to panic and called for help. As the paramedics rounded the corner, probably drawn in by my shouting I moved back as they moved towards her I watched as they stuck these plasticy looking things hooked up to a machine on her chest. They pressed a button and her whole body jolted. They put their fingers on her neck then pressed the button again. They pressed on her neck again and then picked her up and put her on this bed on wheels, a gurney they called it. They started to wheel her away and I followed them to a big vehicle that said ambulance on the front and side. After I refused to leave her side the paramedics let me get in the back with her. When I was finally sure Jamie was in capable hands I finally looked down at myself and I was wearing a charcoal three piece suit with a bright red striped tie with a matching flower in the lapel and a black bowler hat. I became slightly self-conscious knowing this is not what people wear nowadays.  When we got to the hospital they rushed Jamie to surgery as I was sitting outside the operating room they asked my name. I've never had one before but before I could think I blurted out “Patrick.” It was the name of Jamie’s favorite character in the book she was reading tonight ‘The Silver Linings Playbook’. The nurse asked if I would like a set of scrubs to change into. Looking down I noticed I was covered in Jamie’s blood. I was eager to be out of these clothes so I accepted and went to the bathroom to clean up and change.  While looking into the mirror I realised I’ve never seen what I look like I’m taller than average from what I’ve seen of other people about 6’4” and tan despite never having been outside. I have blue eyes with flecks of green and gold, high cheekbones and a shadow of stubble. Dark black hair that comes down my forehead and into my eyeline a little. When I come out I go and sit outside Jamie’s operating room and just wait. Five hours later and the doctors come out with Jamie on a gurney. The doctor comes up to me and says “We stopped the bleeding”, I let out a sigh of relief as she continues “We’ll move her to the ICU at the moment til we’re sure she’s stable then we can move her to a room”. “Thank you so much, Doctor” They wheeled her to the ICU after they left, I sat beside her and held her hand. After an hour or so with me just looking at her, it occurs to me that her family doesn’t know she’s here, she would want her mom and step dad to know her dad passed away ten years ago and her best friend Sophia who was more like a sister. She wouldn’t want them to worry. I look through her bag for her phone again and pull it out and call her mom, she picks up after two rings “Baby why are you calling so late is something wrong.”  I clear my throat and say “Mrs.Jonas your daughter is in the hospital, she is in a stable condition but you should still come down she is in the ICU.” “Oh my god! Why is she there? What happened?” “Your daughter was working late when thieves broke in. She was a witness so they shot her. Someone was uh...passing by and heard the gunshot and called 911. We’re at Warren James medical, come as soon as you can.” “I will, I will thank you” “You're welcome.” After that I had a similar conversation with Sophia. A little over an hour later I heard three sets of frantic footsteps coming closer and closer. I moved out of the way in anticipation of the three of Jamie’s loved ones about to round the corner.