STOLEN TALENT
1077 Words
By the time Laura was approaching the end of high school, one thing had become undeniable.
She was exceptionally talented.
What had begun as a lonely girl's escape from sadness had transformed into a remarkable gift. Over the years, Laura had spent countless hours painting in her room, often staying awake late into the night while the rest of the family slept.
Every brushstroke carried a piece of her heart.
Every canvas reflected her emotions.
Her paintings were filled with beauty, depth, and feeling. Some captured breathtaking landscapes, while others expressed emotions so vividly that people could almost feel them through the colors.
Painting had become more than a hobby.
It had become part of who she was.
Unfortunately, talent has a way of attracting attention.
And one day, Maria noticed.
It happened when Laura was working on a large canvas in her room. Sunlight streamed through the window as she carefully added the final details to a painting of a young girl standing alone in a field beneath a stormy sky.
The sadness in the girl's eyes was so realistic that it seemed as though she could step out of the painting at any moment.
Maria happened to walk past the room.
Curious, she glanced inside.
The moment she saw the painting, she froze.
Her eyes widened.
For several seconds, she simply stared.
"Did... did you paint this?" she asked.
Laura immediately stood up.
"Yes, Mum."
Maria walked closer.
The painting was extraordinary.
Even she, someone who had spent years in the art business, could recognize genuine talent when she saw it.
A strange expression crossed her face.
At first, she felt surprised.
Then impressed.
Then something darker began to emerge.
Greed.
Maria stared at the artwork while thoughts raced through her mind.
Their company constantly purchased paintings from different artists and galleries before selling them through auctions.
Sometimes the investments paid off.
Sometimes they didn't.
There were transportation costs.
Commission fees.
Artist payments.
Marketing expenses.
The process was expensive.
Yet standing before her was a talented artist who lived under her own roof.
And that artist happened to be someone she could easily manipulate.
A slow smile appeared on Maria's face.
"If I continue buying paintings from other states, I'll keep spending unnecessary money," she thought.
Her eyes remained fixed on the canvas.
"Meanwhile, I have a daughter who can create masterpieces like this."
The smile widened.
"And she never refuses me."
The idea excited her.
The more she thought about it, the better it sounded.
Soon, greed completely took over.
That evening, Maria knocked on Laura's bedroom door.
Laura looked up from her sketchbook.
"Mum?"
Maria entered with an unusually pleasant expression.
The sight alone surprised Laura.
Her mother rarely smiled at her.
"Laura, I'd like to talk to you."
Laura immediately sat upright.
"Of course."
Maria sat beside her.
For a moment, Laura's heart filled with hope.
Perhaps her mother was finally beginning to appreciate her.
Perhaps things were changing.
Maria cleared her throat.
"I recently saw your paintings."
Laura's eyes brightened.
"You did?"
"They're very beautiful."
Laura almost couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Praise.
Actual praise.
From her mother.
A warmth spread through her chest.
No compliment she had ever received felt as meaningful as those few words.
Maria continued.
"Our company could use artwork like yours."
Laura listened carefully.
"What do you mean?"
"I think it would help the family if you painted for our auctions."
Laura's eyes widened.
"Really?"
Maria nodded.
"It would be a huge contribution."
The thought filled Laura with excitement.
For years she had wanted to be useful.
To make her mother proud.
To finally earn her approval.
Without hesitation, she smiled.
"I'd love to help."
Maria smiled back.
Exactly the response she expected.
"Good girl."
Laura's heart nearly burst with happiness.
She didn't realize she had just stepped into a trap.
Over the following weeks,
Maria eventually decided to bring Laura into the family art company.
“From now on, you will be working for the company,” she said one evening.
Laura was surprised. “For the company?”
“Yes. Your paintings are valuable. They can help us in auctions.”
For the first time in a long time, Laura felt hopeful. Maybe her mother was finally seeing her worth.
“I’ll do my best, Mum,” she replied quickly.
From that day, Laura became the hidden artist behind the company’s success. She painted tirelessly—landscapes, portraits, and emotional artworks that carried deep meaning. Every piece she created was sent to auction.
And to everyone’s surprise, the paintings sold for huge amounts of money.
Collectors were amazed by the emotion in the artwork, and demand kept increasing.
But Maria never told anyone the truth.
Whenever she was asked about the artist, she lied confidently.
Sometimes she said, “I painted them myself.”
Other times she claimed, “We bought them from a famous gallery in Japan.”
No one suspected her.
Laura was always present during these conversations. She heard the lies, she saw the admiration, and she felt the pain quietly building inside her.
But she said nothing.
Because whenever Maria appeared happy, Laura believed it meant she was finally being noticed and loved.
So she kept painting.
And Maria kept demanding more.
“More paintings.”
“Faster.”
“Better.”
The success only made Maria greedier. The more money the paintings brought in, the more she wanted.
Laura’s exhaustion grew, but she continued working, hoping her efforts would eventually earn her mother’s love.
But that love never came.
Instead, Maria only saw her as a source of profit.
And slowly, Laura’s hope began to fade, replaced by confusion and quiet emotional pain she could no longer ignore.
- Writer
