Some Things Last a Long Time

The apartment was as white as the hallway. However, the floor was hardwood. Wide planks with a dark brown stain.

Kimberly could smell traces of gasoline.

There were two large windows straight ahead. One door on the left, one door on the right. Probably bathroom and bedroom.

Just before the left door a small area was separated from the rest by a kitchenette. Only a portafilter machine sat on it. Behind it, a refrigerator, stove, sink, and more storage space were fitted into a niche.

The furnishings were minimalist. A cognac-colored sofa stood somewhat forlornly in the middle of the room and faced the windows; otherwise, there was only an easel, a small shelf full of brushes and tubes of paint. and a large number of paintings hanging on the walls, leaning against them, and stacked up on the floor.

“Rather sparse interior.”

“I don't need much.” Said Robert, shrugging his shoulders.

He led Kim to the sofa and she sat down. The upholstery of the vintage piece of furniture was covered in leather and felt quite comfortable.

“Hungry, thirsty?”

“What drinks do you have?”

“Orange juice, water, I could also make some tea.”

“Water is fine.”

“Feel free to look around and check out the pictures.” Robert said as he headed for the fridge.

Kim remained seated and examined the pictures in front of her.

The first one depicted three deer in a forest. The largest was predominantly blue and towered above the other two, the middle one being red and the smallest yellow. Much of the background was green, but all four colors also broke through their respective sections. The entire image was intersected by lines that emphasized the shapes of the animals and the forest. To Kimberly, it seemed like the epitome of calmness, and also a little cute.

Below it leaned a painting of four skulls. Three of them formed a pyramid and the fourth lay on its side in the background. The gloomy still life appealed to her. Kim liked the aesthetics of skulls. But she had always been reluctant to say so, so as not to be labeled even weirder by others.

To the right, another image captivated Kim. She stood up and moved closer. Red, beige, and olive-colored shapes were intertwined in dynamic movements. She thought she could make out a face, perhaps even an entire body in free fall. A tingling sensation came over her as she looked at it, it almost made her feel dizzy.

Robert had returned to her side and handed her a glass of water.

“These are copies. This is practically the epitome of late Futurism. Specifically, Aeropitura.” He said, gesturing toward the third painting.

“Which ones are your originals?”

“Here, the two on your right.”

Kim turned around and followed Robert's outstretched index finger with her gaze.

The first image showed a blood-red light which illuminated a circle of wavering, ghostly figures of the same color. It looked as if dark blue and purple clouds covered the entire background. Only at the edges did the spectacle brighten to a light green and white.

In the other picture, Kim recognized a light blue sky bordered by golden clouds below. Rays of light cut through the image from different directions, and within the rays, she could also make out vague figures. Abstract depictions of a lion, a snake, horses and perhaps even a man in the center?

“Sun and moon?”

“Yeah, kind of.”

“I like the deep red and the light blue. Night and day. Like a description of it by someone who had only witnessed it as slivers of dreams after waking up.”

“Does it make you sad?”

Kim noticed that she was holding her left arm and that the corners of her mouth had dropped. Was she sad?

“I don’t know why.”

Robert took her in his arms. She buried her face in his chest.

“I love these moments. But when they are over, I am overcome by a feeling of lethargy. The expectation of not feeling so intensely again paralyzes me.”

“Then, for better or worse, we'll have to spend even more time together.”

Kimberly laughed bitterly and looked up. He stroked the back of her head and brought his face closer to hers.

“What happens to us after graduation? Even if you say you want to be with me, is it realistic to think you can go on tour with me and go to college at the same time? You can't base your whole life around me. What about your art? Are you willing to put my music first, for the sake of whatever this is?”

“I don’t care.”

“But eventually you will.”

“Who knows?”

“Most things don’t last.”

“Some things last for a long time.”

He kissed her. She tried to avoid him. She wanted to question everything. But he forced their lips together. Kimberly gave in. She slid her hands under his shirt, tried to feel his body, to be even closer to him. Robert picked Kim up and carried her to the sofa. They lay there, tightly entwined, kissing, catching their breath, and looking at each other.

He sat up. She sat on his lap. Facing him. Kim felt torn. All of this felt so close to her heart, and it came so easily to him. What did she actually want? His shirt came off. Hers too. Would it come down to that? His right hand encircled her slender waist, with his other hand he caressed her cheek. Tears welled up in her eyes. She tried to unbutton her pants. The kisses stopped. His right hand wandered up and pulled her into a hug.

“Hey, perhaps we should leave it at that for now.”

“But…” She said, her lower lip trembling.

“I feel so close to you just like this. I'll stay with you. After graduation, if your career flops, if I waste my college years, when we're old and blame each other for all the little things we did wrong.”

He let himself fall onto the sofa. She now sat on top of him and braced herself with her hands on his chest. Robert pulled her in again. Her head laid on his chest and he stroked her head.

Was that what she wanted? Yes, apparently so. Kim felt relieved and her racing thoughts came to a halt. Fatigue overcame her and soon she had drifted off into the realm of dreams. Into the depictions of night and day.

When she woke up, Kim was startled at first. Where was she? The memories came back, but the room still felt unfamiliar to her. She was lying in a large bed. That must have been his bedroom.

The bedspread was dark blue. Just like the pillows. Next to the bed was a nightstand with a small lamp that lit up the room and a telephone. To her left stood a large wardrobe, the door was at the front, and to her right she could see the night sky through a large window.

The night sky? How long had she been asleep?

Kim stood up. Apparently, he had put her shirt back on A delicious aroma filled the air. Bacon and eggs. What time was it? She approached the door and gently opened it. A quick peek into the main room revealed that Robert was indeed busy in the kitchen.

It couldn't have been that late, otherwise Robert would have woken her up. And after all, they had arrived relatively early.

More memories came flooding back. Kim had opened up to him further, had put some of her fears into words. He didn't yet know where they came from, but he had accepted it.

A small piece was still missing. But Kimberly drew a deep breath and stepped into the room, toward Robert.