He had deep green eyes that could captivate even the straightest guys to bend towards him. As the sound of soft footsteps continue to grow louder, I stood leaning against the wall. The door finally creaks open and he trespasses enters into my secret ‘room’. The room was a place where I could relax and take my mind off several complications I faced in my life (such as life itself, for example). It was a small, square room but it wasn’t confining. Its walls were originally painted white but its purity had faded throughout time. His pale, milky skin glowed underneath the dim light but he did not look sickly. Emerald green eyes could be felt as they gave a soft glow but dissipated just as quickly during the brief moment of time to whereas he entered.

It was just the lack of sunlight that made him so deathly pale. No, in actuality never once in his life has he ever seen the sun. I stared blankly at him and gave a lazy wink. He gave me a look of disapproval and his soft dark-blonde hair dropped to his eyes. “Stop slacking off will you.” He said firmly. I smiled cheekily at him without breaking eye contact. I was determined to display to him my unwillingness to obey. He was respected and feared here, I was an exception though. I saw him more of a best friend and nagging mum rather than a ‘genius-scientist that changed the course of history at the age of 14 and stuff.’

I could tell he appreciated it that way. Through the way he looks at me, they held no defensiveness or guard against me whatsoever. He sighed and stood beside me. The room I resided in was dark. With only a single light bulb that produced off a dim white light. The room ceased to be dusty and was filled with many painted canvases instead. Painting was a hobby of mine and my collection had piled from time. I tilted my head towards him and so did he. “James again?” I ask him. He nodded approvingly and questioned: “How’d you know?” “Woman’s intuition” I half-heartedly say.

With a tinge of sarcasm and mischief he’d softly joked in an exaggerated tone. ‘You saying that guys don’t then?’ a motherly smile replaced his former stoic expression. In a playful tone, as to not leave him hanging I replied ‘I don’t see how they came into the picture.’ During such a moment I’d gave a gentle touch, feeling the smooth and slightly old wall. Cold and low chills were felt in turn and they proved soothing as the room consisted of only a single fan that lay plugged against the socket, standing the fan turned its head; from left, to right. Repeating the never-ending process.

‘But, I have to say. You, joking? Terribly bad, mom.’ Purposely emphasizing the last word, the dark eyed lad had given an even broader smile. Paintings of bright and equally bland colours lay neatly hung in a horizontal manner. Framed sketches did too; and truthfully, unlike what most would think first impression wise in my secret hide out, drawings had always been my expertise more so that painting actually. The smell of art materials hung in the air: the smells of pencils and ink. The scent of paint and used, paint contaminated water. It gave off a sense of peace. Unfortunate that there were no window in which a piercing sun could shine upon, to complete the peaceful air that wafted through the room.

With snow white, slim and beautiful fingers he traced one of the paintings that hung on the wall. Artworks on the walls were a special kind. They were the ones I was more proud of compared to the others but I loved all of my works equally anyways. His deep, sharp green eyes pierced my painting. It was a painting of 3 colours. Black, white and red. A girl with crimson lips and flowing black hair resided on it, streaks of red ran down her hair. Black coloured thorns surrounded her. Blood red petals drifted close her, on the ground. They looked more of blood drops in shapes of petals instead. Red spider lilies hung in the air. 6 of them, they drifted freely, as if the wind were carrying them. The sides of his lips lifted.

James was a co-worker of mine but had always pried into the affairs of others’ department. His actions irritated everyone and he was thus avoided majority of the time. In jealousy, he scorned the beautiful lad. In truth, it was somehow petty to dislike and speak badly of the jealous guy but it was unavoidable as in this environment and like all others. The time now is full of anxiousness and the atmosphere that surrounds this world would grow painfully tense now and then. To dislike someone was but another step of stress relief in this confined area. I knew this, he did too. Despite his cold interior, he’d always been a fragile and sensitive child. “You always know.” He smiled sadly. Of course I do. I always did. And had I mentioned? My little brother could only do otherwise. He was terribly bad at knowing, much less understand in an emotional sense. He’d also look completely different in contrast to me; with the exception of our eyes, it was the one thing we’d shared.