One Night Plus a Lifetime

Jealous wife.

They unveiled the long lost famous painting and a lot of them surrounded it marvelling and calling it beautiful. Aria did not see anything special about it or maybe she had a bad eye when it came to art.

" it was covered by a lot of colors and a lot of things happening in one picture. the painting showed a place full of people moving around and living happily. it looked like a happy community in the 80s all smiling at each .

she tilted her head trying see what was making these people love this painting. it just seemed too plain to her.

"its a master piece ....the artist really captured the detail of the events in the past." one man said.

"Yeah it really makes one smile just seeing how simple life in the past was people just living there lives in a simple way no technology and no internet ." another woman spoke. and everyone all agreed.

Aria looked at the painting again carefully she knew there was something missing and something odd about the happy community.

everyone continued praising the artist and the painting. they each made comments about what they thought of it.

"its depressing .." she said out loud and everyone looked at her. the room went quiet after her voice was heard.

"excuse me??" one man standing next to her spoke.

"how is it depressing?.... how can a picture about a happy community be depressing. ?". everyone shifted their attention on her.

Aria bit her bottom lip. why did she have to say that out loud, she wanted to sink to into the ground so bad. "Mrs Presley what makes you think this painting is depressing?" a man dressed in a navy suit walked to her and asked her.

Aria recognized this man. he was the president of the country. he had a lady on his left arm which she knew was his wife. 'this would be a perfect time to faint or drop dead she thought to herself. she was beyond nervous feeling the eyes of everyone on her.

"don't be shy... why do you think its depressing?" the man asked again. the room went stone cold silent every one waiting for her to speak.

she took a deep breath and looked at Devon .secretly asking for his help but the man only looked back at her with a blank expression on his face. she had the worst luck in the world.

"go on... " the president spoke.

"well... because.. because i think these people are dead" she bit her lip again.

"that's because this painting was made in the 80s of course they are dead" everyone laughed lightly when the president spoke.

Aria hated looking stupid. "i know that what i mean is ... the people is the picture are either dead or they never existed.. i mean just look at the entire painting there is no single sign of a tree. you would expect the environment in the 80s to have greenery there where no tall buildings back then but there is not a single one not even a plant .. and there is no pet or dog nothing.. this is a community somebody must have had a dog or a chicken. it could not have been this plain . the kids are laughing with the elders normal kids don't hang around elders and behave like that kids run around and play , there is a small toy thing on that corner why is no kid playing with it. and if you look inside that window of the house in the painting ...... you see a tiny picture of a flower that's dead.. why would the only plant be inside a picture and be dead??.... i think the artist was not trying to capture a moment that happened I think he was trying to paint something else. ... our attention is focused on the happy community and not the things that are missing ..... nature means life and the only representation of nature in this picture is that dead flower painting located in the furthest corner on a tiny house.

the artist was depressed, his community never saw it they only saw a .... perfect picture... and happy smiles."

now that Aria said what she was really thinking she understood why the painting made her feel plain , she understood why she did not not find it happy she had been depressed before after that incident on prom night she understood what this artists must have felt like and it made her sad for him . she bit her lip once more and looked down. she did not want to remember those days.

the room went quiet again after she finished talking.

"wow..." the president spoke...

"I have never seen anyone analyse a painting like that before... how can you tell what was missing ... i must say i am very impressed Mrs Presley. ..."

the president walked forward to the painting.

"what a lot of people don't know is that this painting was not painted by Omrad the greatest Artist in history. ....."

everyone gasped and murmured. "it was actually painted by Omrad's father. ... and the man committed suicide when Omrad was just a few years old. this was his last painting before he died... Omrad took inspiration from his father and he started painting too. and later he recreated this painting and buried the Original in his fathers grave ... that's why this painting was missing for so long. it was discovered again back in another country a few years ago and our country fought had to have it back ... it is back where it belongs"

"well done Mrs Presley...you have a good eye for art.." the president turned and faced her. he looked at Devon and smiled before he walked past them. soon everyone went back to enjoying the night.

Aria looked at the painting again. so it was more than special after all. "beautiful " she said in a low tone.

Devon looked at Aria. he was fascinated by what she just did in front of everyone. for the second he felt a sense of pride . when she said the painting was depressing he was surprised and just like everyone else he wanted to hear her explanation. and when she was talking she kept on squeezing his hand tighter and tighter he did not know why..but he could feel how emotional she was getting with each word. "Ari-"

"hello Mr Presley... it is so good to see you... you look as handsome as ever"

A woman interrupted him before he could say what he wanted to say to Aria.

she moved closer to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Devon gave her the same courtesy.

"Hello Evie ....its good to see you.. you look beautiful too. "

Aria watched as Devon let go of her hand and gave the woman a kiss on her cheek. she subconsciously swallowed . the woman did not look at Aria or acknowledged her presence she just kept her eyes on Devon.

"its been so long i missed you" she spoke and pouted like a child. Aria only blinked when she heard her say that.

"i missed you too Evie .... how is the company abroad ... ?"

"ahh Dev ... it is exhausting i don't want to talk about the company tonight .. i just want to look at ...not ..so depressing things you know" Aria could feel the malice behind the woman's words. she did not let them affect her. she stood there not knowing if she should even be around them anymore.

"why don't we have some champagne .... oh i saw something over there.. come on" she held Devon's hand and pulled him away from Aria. the woman was more beautiful than any super model she had ever seen what kind of a person wouldn't follow her.

Aria just looked at the floor for a long time and looked back on the panting. she went from each one starring at them. many people would come and talk to her from time to time and congratulate her about her marriage but they would leave her again. she got tired of looking at paintings she wanted to go home this place was exhausting to be at. it had been more than an hour since Devon went with that woman. she sat on some chairs and waited for him. when Aria got tired of waiting she decided to go look for him. she did not want to disturb him or seem like she was interfering but she just wanted to let him she was ready to leave.

she went from room to room checking to see if he was there but on the down stairs floor he was not there. Aria looked at the stairs they where long but she decided to climb them slowly she checked many places on the there but he was not there too. Aria started to feel her heart shake this felt familiar as memories of the night she caught Pete in bed with another girl on that night flooded her brain. she shrugged those thoughts away and went on to find Devon. when Aria opened the door of one of the upstairs office. she blinked twice. Devon had his jacket removed, he was seated on a chair and that Lady Evie was on his lap . they where kissing passionately his shirt was unbuttoned half way.

When she looked at him. he only looked back at her without saying a word. he did not move nor push the woman off his lap. Devon looked at her as if he was looking at a stranger who interrupted something important to him Aria looked at the woman she did not stop kissing Devon she had her lips on his neck licking him.

Aria closed the door and turned away she hated seeing that she kept on walking back down stairs. she smiled sadly at herself. why? why did her heart stop when she saw him with another woman, why did it make her freeze .. why did she go to find him why did she agree to come out tonight . why did he hold her hand .. why did she marry him. .. why was she feeling this way. she knew very well this was not a love marriage, he clearly told her he hated her so why was she upset. she almost tripped on the stairs again. Aria stopped . this time she was Not running into the streets and crying. she breathed deeply and continued walking. .

there was no need in acting like a jealous wife. he did not love her and she did not love him.

she however wanted to leave this place with or without Devon. the paparazzi was still outside and she did not have car keys. if she walked into the city they would follow her and ask her questions about Devon. Aria dialed a number on her phone and called someone who could help her. .

"just go in the bathroom .. and wait for me there.. ill be there in 10 minutes. "

Aria did as she was told. she went and sat on a closed toilet seat and waited for her phone to ring. she knew that getting out of here alone without being noticed by paparazzi was going to be impossible. she just sat there quietly for 15 minutes.

"Aria...??"

a voice called her.

"am in here." she opened the door and came out. Meredith was standing near the bathroom mirror. Aria went and hugged her tightly.

"what happened Aria??....are you okay.? she asked.

"ill explain when we leave.. did you bring me what i asked."

"yes..yes.. i brought the hoodie , the baseball cap and the sun glasses."

Aria took them and wore them quickly.

"where is he?? " Meredith asked.

"with someone he doesn't hate.. " she answered. there was no emotion in her voice.

"we can use the long corridor no one will notice"

they walked out of the bathroom really fast and existed through another door, no paparazzi where there luckily they where all at the front Annoying celebrities.

once in the car. "should i drop you off at your new home?"

"hey don't be quick in getting rid of me, i haven't seen you in weeks you have been busy with school and your other important friends ... i want to go back to college just for tonight ... i miss you and Callie."

"you missed me the most right?? ,"

Aria laughed and closed her eyes she sank in her seat. Meredith also smiled and started driving.

When he came down stairs he looked everywhere for Aria but he could not see her.

"i see your ... fake wife has decided to leave without you" Evie said

"she is not my fake wife.." Devon answered with his hands in his pockets as he scanned the room with his eyes.

"oh come on Devon you expect me to believe there is anything real between you and that girl... she's not your type and you have told me countless times you don't do love"

Devon just looked at Evie and looked away.

"it does not matter what i have and don't have with her..."

"then why did you let her watch us make out.?" she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"the poor girl must have run away feeling jealous".

.