WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR

HARD TO FACE REALITY

With paint all over my hands and clothes I didn't bother to look up as Lewis, my butler came inside my room with my lunch.
"Your lunch Ms. Wolf," he said.
Lewis was a great guy who was in his mid-fifties, with hazel eyes and a golden skin he looked like he was in his early forties but inside he was a four year old.
I continued to draw, spread the colors above the girl that came from her rainbow and said, "Lewis how many times I have to remind me that you can just call me Lilli."
"One more time Ms. Wolf," he said with a small smile but inside he was as broken as I was. Lewis lost his only daughter and wife in an airplane crash. Poor guy. He never gave up, he never accepted that his family was no more, he said they are somewhere better, they are with me. He never accepted to face reality. Maybe sometimes it's hard to face reality.
"What's in the lunch?" I asked.
"Whole grain sandwich and chocolate milk" he said.
"You... Thank you Lewis" I said.
"No problem Ms. Wolf," he said and I rolled my eyes and groaned.
He let out a chuckle.
"What are you making Ms. Wolf," he asked and I showed him the painting.

"I didn't understand why are the girls in your paintings are always black and colors keep on pouring on them" he said slightly shrugging.

"These paintings depict me, they depict even though there are tons of happiness around but the girl, but, I can't see them, can't fell them because the sadness is too much, so I agree to walk on without caring anymore," I explained him and he nodded his head in agreement.
" If you need anything call me, I am going to take a bath Ms. Wolf," he said.
"At 3 P. M.?!" I asked.
"At least I am not the one who takes bath on alternate days" he said letting out a laugh and I earn a glare from me.
"Okay, take your bath and come back quickly, I need someone to talk with," I told him and nodded.
I continued to paint with one hand and eat from another, soon the plate was empty and my tummy was full, but I continued to paint, my eyes glued to the canvas. The door opened and closed.
"Hey, Lewis didn't you took your bath too quickly?" I asked without lifting my eyes.
There was no answer so I lifted my eyes to see what was wrong.
Stood there on the door my devil with a small grin on his face.
"How did you got... Oh, Lewis gave the keys didn't he?" I asked and answered my question myself.
"yeah" he said.
"What is in your hands," I asked and he quickly hides them in his pocket and said, "nothing".
"You know, you are not good at lying" I told him and continued to paint.
"I know" he said and steps forward and asks, " what are you doing".
"Painting"  I told him without lifting my head.
Soon his minty breath fanned my face.
"You know, your breath stinks" I lied.
"What?!" He said and licked his wrist and smelled it.
"I smell like mint" he protested.
"What the heck you did right now," I asked a bit confused.
"Oh, you know, you can smell your breath by licking your wrist and smelling it" he explained and I asked again, "from where you get these awkward life hacks".
"Internet Wolfie, internet" he said and I ignored him.
Soon the door broke and entered Lewis with a gun in his hand and came inside.
"Hands up... What the... Theo what are you doing here?  " he asked after getting what he wanted to ask.
"Hi..." he said waving his hand.
"That's not the answer to my question," he said giving him a glare.
"Why the gun?" I asked and he shrugged.
"I thought it was someone who caught hurt you Lilli" he said.
"Finally!!!!" I exclaimed.
"What?" both asked in unison.
"You called me Lilli, instead of Ms. Wolf" I said and Lewis rolled his eyes.
"What!? He calls you Ms. Wolf" Theo said trying to hold his laughter back and then finally bursting out.
Which lead him two elbow hits, one from me and one from Lewis.
"What's that in your pocket?" Lewis asked and grabbed the paper out.
"It's totally nothing" Theo protested but since Lewis was much stronger than he was he quit quickly.

Lewis raised one of his eyebrows and smiled.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Three tickets to the flight to India" he said.
"What! are you going to leave me in the famous mental asylum in Agra?" I asked.
"What?! No." Theo said and I let out a sigh of relief.
"thank goodness" I said.
"But why India?" I asked.
"It has beautiful diversity, first we will go to Andaman and Nicobar islands, then to goa, then Agra, then Gujrat and at last Delhi," he told me.
"I wanted it to be a surprise but Lewis," as I point at Lewis "you ruined it" he said and pouts.
"But why three," Lewis asked.
"One for me, another for Wolfie and last one for you" Theo said casually.
Before Lewis could say something I yelled, "We are going to India"
And both the males shake their heads while Lewis whispers in Theo's ear, " You should rethink, we should leave her in Agra's famous Mental asylum." and Theo shakes his head unable to make his choice while I dream of our trip.
*
... * *...
Hey guys,
Hope you like Lewis, he is a great man.
Ooo... And hope u like that painting.
It took me a lot of time to make it and that's the painting Lilli made.
With Love and IDK what feeling it is inside my heart, maybe excitement.
L. Wolf