Chapter 4

Did he really just say 'sure', or was I imagining it all? Was it a selfish plea maxed over in some form of a hallucination? No, he was real. He was really there, walking next to me, helping me make my rash decision with his support. I was so thankful he was there, and yet I didn't even know him. He was just a friendly stranger. Just a friendly stranger.
The odd thing about it though was how surreal it was. He didn't seem like a stranger at all when he talked. His voice was smooth and comforting, the only thing that sounded reassuring for these past couple months.

"What are you studying?" He asked.

"Art." I said.

"What sort of art?"

"What kind do you think?"

"Hmm. I'm guessing probably everything?"

I stopped, and looked at him. I was surprised at his answer, even if he was trying to be smart ass.

"I think you are probably the first outsider to have ever answered that question right."

"An outsider?"
"Yeah, the Art world is like one big party, and we don't like to invite everyone in."
"A party of misogynist art critics?"
"Something like that."

I started walking again, leading the way. He slowly caught up with me. I knew he was questioning his motives, and if he should really be here with a total stranger.

"Normally people always assume Art is just painting, drawing, and scultpure. I think it's really interesting. It reminds me of when I was little, and drew shapes in preschool instead of stick people. I saw the world differently then, and it's almost like a precious memory knowing I can't get it back."

I was rambling again, like I do most of the time, only to an actual someone. I suppose I can thank Art school for that. When I looked at his face expecting a strange look, like I was sure I would get from my mother, there was something else. He was deep in thought, but he almost seemed happy to be there with me. In some blank nothing.

"Video."
"What?"

"That's my favorite. video, well video and sound I guess."

He smiled.

"Why is that?"

"It's the best way to reveal the world around you for what it really is. Something moving, something fast, and something you can't have once it's gone."

"Molly?"
"Ha, I'm surprised you remember my name."

I reminded him that we were strangers, but he didn't even notice. Or did he care?

"Why are you quitting?"

I frowned. He had interrupted my moment of peace on reminiscing about the one thing that had made sense until now, my passion for art. I had to quit. I couldn't go back and be some emotional scared wreck like I was there today. I needed to find myself again, and I couldn't do that there. I needed to find myself in the most irrelevant and vulnerable place. I kept on thinking of one quote I read,

“When we allow ourselves to become vulnerable, to take chances, and to risk our pride, that is when we find our own glory.”

"I can't tell you."

"I know you don't know me."

"There are some things I wont tell anyone,

We just have to be two people that help each other for no good reason at this random time in our life. OK?"

He wasn't angry, instead he looked like he understood completely. I could tell he was fine with it. Fine with it all.

"OK."

"So what do you do Raleigh?"

He seemed struggled with this question. I knew he didn't want to tell me. He didn't know me, and it was so comforting. It was odd, and almost ironic to think that, because he didn't know me, he knew me better than anyone. I wanted to keep it that way.

"Lets just be two people that help each other at random times in our life."

I smiled.

"No specifics?"

"None that we want to share."

"Sounds like we are going to be good friends."

I grabbed him by the arm, and led him inside. All of it was really strange, but then my world had been just that recently.