What Was Lost

Chapter 23

20 Months Ago

Logan, a tall and lean artist with tousled dark hair and piercing green, stood beside his latest creation, a painting that was both bold and thought-provoking. He watched as Ryan, the young handsome senator with a perfectly styled golden hair and a sharply tailored suit, carefully observed the piece.

"What do you think?" Logan said, breaking the silence between them.

Ryan turned to look at Logan, a slight flush creeping up his neck. "It's beautiful." he replied, his voice laced with admiration.

"Do you ever feel like your art is a reflection of your true self?" Ryan asked, still studying the painting.

Logan considered the question for a moment, then shrugged. "I think all art is a reflection of the artist in some way. Even if we try to hide it, our true selves always find a way to seep into our creations."

Ryan nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I envy your ability to be so open and honest with your art. I wish I could do the same."

Ryan turns back to the painting. "Would it offend you if I guessed what this is?"

Logan smiles, "No, go right ahead. I like to hear people's interpretations of it.

Ryan studies it, his face tight in concentration. "It's a person shedding layers. Could be literal, could be metaphorical, a lot of your art is literal, but this one I think is metaphorical."

Ryan's eyes linger on the painting, taking in every brush stroke and color choice. Ryan's interpretation of the painting intrigued Logan, because of how quickly he seemed to pick up on it when no one else had.

"You're right," Logan confirmed with a small smile. "It's about letting go of old identities and becoming new."

"I can relate to that," Ryan admitted, a hint of vulnerability in his voice.

Logan felt a pang of sympathy for the senator. Despite his perfect appearance and successful career, he must have his own struggles with identity and acceptance.

"Is that why you chose this profession?" Ryan asked, gesturing towards the painting. "To express yourself through art?"

Logan hesitated before answering, unsure if he should reveal such personal information to someone he barely knew. But something about Ryan made him feel at ease and compelled to open up.

"Yes," he said finally. "I never felt like I fit in growing up and art was my escape, my way of finding my place in the world."

Ryan's voice was sincere as he spoke. "That's admirable," he said, looking over at Logan with genuine appreciation. "To take your pain and transform it into something beautiful."

Logan gave a small smile, his eyes softening. "There's not much that's admirable about me, so I appreciate your words." They both fell into a moment of silence, their gazes fixed on the painting in front of them. The colors swirled and danced on the canvas, a reflection of the artist's emotions.

After a few moments, Logan broke the silence. "I've seen you here before," he observed, gesturing to the gallery around them. "And at other exhibits as well. It's surprising to see a senator so deeply involved in the art world."

Ryan let out a soft chuckle, his deep voice carrying through the air. His head nodded in understanding, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, I suppose it is." He paused for a moment, a hint of wistfulness creeping into his tone. "In another life, I dreamed of being an artist myself." His gaze shifted to the paintings surrounding them in the museum, a longing look appearing in his warm brown eyes. "But alas, I quickly realized that my skills didn't match my passion. So instead, I delved deep into the world of art history."