LOVE MY ARTIST

HER PAIN

Sunlight filters through the uneven buildings, casting warm shadows on the cobblestone streets. The aroma of rich coffee wafts from the corner café, as a few passersby stroll leisurely, their occasional laughter carried away by the wind. The green trees provide ample shade, and flowers gently sway in the breeze. The hustle and bustle of the city seem to be filtered out here, leaving behind tranquility and harmony. This is a neighborhood brimming with the essence of life, with every corner revealing the beauty of everyday moments. Yet, it seems everyone is busy.

Aveline is walking home, clutching in her hand the check that represents her achievement. Aveline Lin's emotions are like a roller coaster, surging with uncontrollable joy as she holds the check she just won.

"I'm so happy, I got the bonus!" Her lips can't help but curl upwards.

Her steps are light and almost bouncing, each footfall seeming to announce her happiness to the world. A radiant smile graces her lips, and her eyes sparkle with boundless expectations for the future.

She fantasizes about the warm interactions with her family when she gets home, imagining the surprised expressions on her parents' faces when they see the bonus. Her heart is filled with beautiful visions of the future, and every step is filled with strength and hope.

Thank the world, thank the universe!

She stands at her doorstep, pausing her hand on the doorknob, taking a deep breath, trying to dispel the gloom in her heart with the good news brought by the bonus.

When Aveline pushes open the creaky door, the dilapidated scene inside instantly shatters her good mood. The room is dimly lit, the paint on the walls peeling off to reveal mottled concrete. A few shabby pieces of furniture occupy the limited space—a cracked sofa, a wobbly dining table, and a few chairs, that's all this home has.

The moment she pushed the door open, all her joy was instantly shattered by the cold reality.

Her father sat at the dining table, his figure looking particularly stooped under the dim light. His hair was unkempt, his face covered with unshaven stubble, his eyes red and swollen, revealing signs of alcohol immersion. His shirt was wrinkled and stained with unknown spots, and he exuded a strong smell of alcohol.

Her father stood up, his figure swaying in the dim living room, a strong smell of alcohol hitting her face.

Her father's red eyes lit up the moment he saw Aveline, his mouth twisted into a ferocious smile.

"Where's the money? Give me your bonus!" His voice was rude and urgent, alcohol had completely robbed him of his senses.

Aveline tried to explain in a low voice, "This is for mom's treatment."

Her mother's illness had made her indifferent. Her face was as pale as paper, the shadows under her eyes showed her long-term illness. She lay weakly on the shabby sofa, her face pale, her hair dry and loosely scattered on her shoulders, her clothes loose as if draped over a skeleton. Her eyes were empty, without any luster, and she only slightly lifted her eyelids at Aveline's words, then closed her eyes again, as if she had lost interest in everything outside.

But her explanation only angered her father. He grabbed Aveline's wrist and shook her violently, and the check slipped from her hand.

"Dare you to resist me? You little b**ch, what qualifications do you think you have?" Her father's anger was like an out-of-control beast, and his fists fell heavily on Aveline, each blow carrying the madness of alcohol.

Aveline's body curled up under her father's fierce beating, feeling like a leaf in a storm, helplessly swaying. Each heavy blow was like a knock on her fragile heart, her body ached unbearably, but she dared not make a sound, dared not resist, could only tightly close her eyes, let the tears quietly slide down the corner of her eyes.

My paintings were once her outlet to escape reality, her pride and hope.

"Why... why is it always like this..." Aveline silently shouted in her heart, her thoughts struggling in despair.

But now, all this has been swallowed by the cruelty in front of her eyes. She silently asked herself in her heart, "Is it that my existence itself is a mistake, is it that I don't deserve happiness and love."

Her arms instinctively protected her head, but her father's fists still fell mercilessly on her shoulders, back, and even head. She could feel the pain like the skin was splitting, blood spreading at the corner of her mouth, the salty taste made her more aware of her helplessness.

At this moment, Aveline's world became blurred, her thoughts drifted to the past, those days of praise and expectation.

Just when Aveline thought she couldn't bear any more, her father finally stopped. She lay on the ground, like an abandoned rag doll, the pain on her body far less than the trauma in her heart. Her father went to drink again.

Her heart is shouting, her soul is seeking redemption, and her eyes, although full of tears, still stubbornly look out of the window, where there is the freedom and light she yearns for.

Aveline lay on the ground for a while, the pain in her body like being hit by a heavy hammer made it difficult for her to move.

She exerted all her strength and crawled towards her mother with difficulty, hoping to find a trace of warmth and shelter there.

"Mom, help me..." Aveline's voice was weak and trembling, her hand gently touching the corner of her mother's clothes.

Her mother slowly opened her eyes, those eyes that were once full of love are now only indifferent and tired.

But her words were even more harsh: "Do you think it's for what? Do you think you have any qualifications to decide? You are our money-making tool!"

Her indifference made Aveline feel an unprecedented despair.

Aveline's heart was completely broken at this moment, she knew that in this home, she could no longer find any support. She struggled to stand up, stumbled towards the door, every step as if walking on a tightrope, ready to collapse at any time.

She picked up her only painting and quietly left home.

It started to rain outside the window, when she opened the door, the air from the outside came face to face, she greedily breathed, as if this was the first time she felt the breath of freedom.

The neighbors' eyes were complex, some full of sympathy, some were puzzled and avoided. Aveline knew that her family situation and the frequent quarrels had already made the residents of their community heard.

"Poor child..." a kind old neighbor sighed softly, but she didn't dare to say much, just handed Aveline a clean cloth to wipe the blood on her face.

Aveline did not stop, she did not want to be the object of others' sympathy or ridicule. She quickly crossed the street, trying to avoid the crowd, there was only one thought in her heart: to escape, to escape this place full of pain and memories.

"I just want to be loved, I just want a home..." Aveline's heart was bleeding, her thoughts wandering in pain.

She knew she had to be strong, had to find a way out, but she felt so small, so helpless. In this corner shrouded by violence, her dreams and hopes were like dust scattered by the wind, hard to grasp.

Passers-by on the road saw her injuries and the embarrassed appearance, some cast curious eyes, some chose to avoid, as if her pain was a contagious disease.

Aveline to the indifference of the world, "Everyone has their own life and problems, no one has the obligation to share my pain."

Her mood became heavier, her eyes were full of tears. She tried to control her emotions, but she couldn't do it. Her body began to tremble, her breathing became rapid.

Her body suddenly lost strength, her eyes became blurred, her consciousness began to blur. Her body collapsed to the ground, her breathing became weak. She felt a sharp pain, her heart beat accelerated, her body trembled.

She fainted, she fainted on the street, in the busy street.