Perfectly Too Far Read Free

the
gallery space.
    The
evening was warm, though Judith couldn't tell how much of that was
from her nervous sweating. Her flats clicking along the sidewalk like
a clock's hands. As she approached the gallery, she saw something
about the large front window was... different. Within a few feet, she
was able to tell what it was.
    There,
in scrolling, curly letters, someone had painted the words, 'Gallery
of Flight' and then below, 'the art of Judith Flight.'
    Seeing
this, the young woman felt her cheeks burning, her grin spreading
wide. Through the glass, the place was lit up like an orange sky, the
red walls especially adding to the effect.
    Pushing
her way in, she saw Lorraine bending over a table. The tall woman's
hands were busily setting up stacks of cards. She turned at the sound
of Judith entering, the girls flashing each other excited looks.
    “ Do
you like it?” Lorraine gushed, standing straight with her hands
clasped together. Judith didn't need to ask what she was referring to, she just stepped forward and wrapped the woman
in a tight hug.
    “ Lorraine,
this is amazing! Did you set this all up by yourself?”
    “ Psh,”
she laughed, disentangling herself so she could finish adjusting
things on the table. “It was nothing! You did all the real
work, the art looks fantastic.”
    “ Do
you think I'll sell anything, then?” Judith didn't want to ask
so bluntly, to reveal her goals or her fears, but in the moment it
simply slipped out. Biting her lip, she studied the woman's face for
any hint of doubt, finding only that crooked smile.
    “ Judith,
honestly. You're worrying too much. I'm sure you'll sell something on your first night. Now, help me with these. They're the
registration cards, so people can bid secretly by number on the art.”
    Together,
they finished setting up. It was just in time.
    As
the evening turned the outside sky into a navy bruise, the warmth of
the gallery seemed to draw people in like bugs to a lantern. They
lined up, and didn't stop. Quickly, the place was full, and Judith
was smothered in a haze of comments and questions from pure
strangers.
    “ How
long did this take you?”
    “ Have
you painted for a long time?”
    “ What
school do you go to?”
    “ Do
you plan to have another showing in the future?”
    “ What
was your inspiration?”
    By
the end of the first hour, the young woman was dizzy. She swam
through the crowd looking for Lorraine. The tall woman was caught in
her own sea of people, juggling forms and answering questions.
    Judith
ducked her head, worming her way towards a far wall, trying to become
invisible. Glancing around, she saw some of her canvases, as well as
the papers next to them. The little cards had been filled out with
her prices, and her heart throbbed with the excitement of knowing
people might buy her work. It made her brain tingle, the memory of
the night before tugging at her curiosity.
    I
wonder if that guy, Benedict... I wonder if he'll come by and
purchase the big piece he liked.
    Rubbing
her neck, feeling the dampness from the heat of such a crammed space,
she sighed. There was no time to even ponder if she'd see that
stranger again. Already, people were swarming her once more,
demanding her attention, making her feel claustrophobic.
    Somehow,
the time flew by. All too soon Judith was waving farewell to the last
stragglers leaving her gallery. “Bye! Have a good night!”
Smiling, she locked the door, then promptly sat on the floor. “Oh
my goodness. That was insane.”
    “ Right?”
Lorraine laughed, flopping over the long table. Her eyes twinkling on
the young artist. “But it was fun, wasn't it? How did you like
it, be honest.”
    Giggling,
Judith covered her eyes with an arm as the lights above blinded her.
“It was amazing. I loved it. But,” she suddenly gasped,
sitting up and gripping the edge of the table. Her nose was close to
Lorraine's, the willowy woman smirking at the clear anticipation on
Judith's face. “Did I sell anything?