Her Sky

Female Lead: Aurora Daisy Smith (Age: 21 Years)

My imagination for Aurora

Square-shaped face with chocolate-brown eyes and a straight nose

Dark chocolate brown wavy hair with mid-back length

Fair skin tone

5′4″ in height and rectangular body shape

A beauty mark on the left side above her lips

You can imagine Aurora as you like.

My female lead is a simple girl. She believes everything beautiful lies in its natural state.

“I don’t believe true love can be toxic in any way. Love is a beautiful emotion that can only share happiness and joy. That, which is toxic is not love- it might be something else.

Real love can transform the lives of two interconnected souls and help them realize their true potential in life.

Loving someone should be like coming home after a long tiring day or finding an oasis after walking in the desert for eternity................” Aurora

Aurora’s POV

I somehow managed to balance my art supplies in both of my hands. Walking out of my bedroom, I placed my precious materials on the small table in my cozy living room.

I love my one-bedroom apartment. The furnishings were completely aligned with my minimalistic lifestyle. My bedroom was not big enough to arrange a space for my painting sessions. So, my living room was the only option.

I was not complaining though. It was my luck to get this place when I was at my lowest. Before moving here, I tried to negotiate with many landlords to reduce the rent, but all my efforts were to no avail. But, suddenly, luck was on my side and my request for lowering the rental price got accepted. I moved to this apartment and have been living here for the last 3 years.

Now, I at least have my own place where nobody can belittle or ridicule me.

I am trying every day to get better and do better.

Upon taking a seat on my favorite olive-green couch, I took a peek at the sky from my glass window.

The sky is gray and gloomy. It’s perfect weather for me to sit and keep painting for long hours without any interruption.

It was already 3:00 PM. I knew it was not the best time to sit for painting since I would have to leave in the next 30 minutes for the bus stop. It was almost a 7-minute walk to reach there from my apartment.

Although I already had my lunch and got ready for work, I don’t feel like going anywhere today.

Yeah, yeah, I know, there is a chance for my clothes to get stained, but I don’t care. Colors stains after a painting session are my pride.

Should I call in sick? I didn’t apply for leave for the last eight months. I was in a dilemma.

No, I should save my permitted leave for rainy days.

It’s better to set an alarm for 3:25, otherwise, I would surely lose track of time once I focus on my session.

The alarm is set. All right!

I had already decided on today’s theme. A gray, dark sky with a hope of fresh drops of rain.

Sky has always fascinated me by its magnificence. I used to sit by the big glass window in my old bedroom and kept watching the changing shades.

My old bedroom!

I used to have a home.

A wrought iron gate

A white building with a small backyard

A lovely terrace garden

But, the space that used to fascinate me the most was the one on the other side of the kitchen.

The art studio

It used to be filled with pencils, brushes, paints, painting palettes, and many other art supplies.

A familiar smiling face suddenly crossed my mind.

He was painting, not anything ordinary, but a masterpiece.

I shook my head to clear my mind. Suddenly, I felt like crying.

I will always have your back. I promise you

No! Not again. I didn’t want to recall those memories. Those moments were once precious to me, but they became painful memories to chain me up to my past.

I can’t feel weak again. But, I couldn’t help myself from walking down memory lane. Those days were once real.

Flashback

I covered his eyes with my hands. He was immersed in painting something white. I took a peek from behind his back.

Small white flowers with a yellow disc in the middle

Daisies! He was painting a field of daisies. It was like I was gazing at a real green field decorated with beautiful flowers. He was a big painter after all.

My middle name was Daisy. Was he painting it for me?

“Princess” his deep voice startled me. I giggled and jumped in front of him.

He chuckled and opened his arms. I ran towards him and gave him a tight hug.

My dada.

He laughed at my enthusiasm. I always felt alive just by stepping into his art studio. The art materials, the scent of new paintings, the half-filled canvases, the shapes of paintbrushes, different types of colorful paints, and everything else always create a new world for me.

It’s like a world full of magic where my dada waves his magic wand and creates beautiful paintings. I memorized the names of each material a long time ago. They are like my friends.

“Dada, how can you always recognize me? it’s not fair!” I pouted.

He chuckled.

“It could be Ethan, not me, you could have guessed wrong for once.”

Ethan is my twin brother, but we don’t look alike. He has blue eyes like mama whereas I have brown eyes like dada. Our hair colors are also different.

“I can recognize you from anywhere, princess. Moreover, your brother never sets foot in this room, so it’s very obvious that these small hands can belong to my sweet little daisy only.” Dada’s eyes were full of love and adoration for me.

I walked toward the easel to take a closer look at the canvas. I stood there in front of the canvas, agape with wonder. Different shades of green, yellow, and white colors were dancing together in harmony.

I questioned him without averting my gaze from the daisies.

“Dada, are you painting these daisies for me?”

“Yes, princess.”

I was ecstatic.

“Wow! It’s beautiful, dada. When will it be complete?”

“It will take some time, princess.”

I turned to look at him.

“Why is it so?”

“Because I want to paint a masterpiece.”

My 7-year-old brain couldn’t understand the meaning of ‘masterpiece,’ but it must be something very special. He must have sensed my confusion.

“Every artist dreams to create something unique and memorable in their life. A masterpiece is like a unique identity of an artist that makes them immortal. I wanted to paint something like that for a long time, but I was lost without any motivation.”

Dada smiled and kissed my forehead.

“Then, I got my inspiration from you, princess. You are my motivation. Your enthusiasm for art encouraged me to do better. So, I decided to paint a field of daisies for you as a token of gratitude. Whenever you will look at it, you will realize how much your dada loves you.”

He continued.

“I want to paint a masterpiece for you, my little daisy flower.”

I clapped my hands with happiness.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, dada, but why not one for Ethan too?” I was confused.

He smiled sadly.

“He won’t be able to feel the meaning of my painting like you would, princess, I know that.”

“You have inherited my creativity and passion for art, princess. You have already started showing your brilliance in your drawings and paintings.” I beamed at his words.

“It’s rare for a 7-year-old to have such brilliant skills, I’m very proud of you and I have always been.” He smiled at me and stroked my hair.

My heart swelled with happiness. My dada was proud of me.

“Dada, I want to be a big painter like you.”

“You would certainly be a great painter, more accomplished and popular than I would ever be. Mark my words, my little daisy.”

“But dada, mama doesn’t like my drawings or paintings.Why is it so?” His face fell at my question.

An uncomfortable silence settled over the room.

“Dada, why does mama only love Ethan and not me?” I wanted to know it.

Mama scolds me most of the time whereas adores my brother. I am not good at sports like him. But, I love to draw and paint, like my dada. I get hurt easily and can’t stop crying then. So, my mama calls me immature, and my twin calls me crybaby. He always tries to put all his blame on me and mama trusts him without hearing my side.

“Don’t say that, princess. Your mama loves you, she just expresses it differently. Please don’t be sad, your dada will always be by your side.” He pleaded with his eyes to convince me. Maybe he is right. No, he must be right. My dada could never be wrong.

I nodded and assured him with a smile.

“I really loved your gifts on my birthday. Thank you so much for your efforts, my daisy flower.”

“You’re very welcome, dada.”

I gifted him two paintings on his birthday two days ago. One was a sunrise and the other was a full moon night. I love to draw skies. So, dada got a big window built for me in my bedroom so that I can watch the sky and paint whenever I want.

“Do you know why I named you, Aurora?” I looked at him in surprise at the sudden question.

I shook my head.

“Because Aurora means dawn and your birth was like a new beginning in my life. It was like your first smile encouraged me to be a better painter and a better person.” His eyes watered.

My face fell.

“I love your brother too, princess. He is my baby boy, but he seemed to be born with your mother’s temper and personality. It’s like I can’t love and adore him the way I want.”

My heart clenched to see tears rolling down his cheeks.

“Please don’t cry, dada. I love you.”

“I love you too, princess and I’m sorry I made you sad. I don’t know what came over me and made me such emotional.”

I wiped his tears and hugged him again.

I did not understand everything that my dada said, but it was true that Ethan was like the boy version of mama. He doesn’t like dada’s paintings and it annoyed me. I think he doesn’t like me as well. He always makes fun of my drawings and never plays with me. Dada tried to change his behavior many times but nothing changed.

But, twins are supposed to love and support each other, right? I had heard that some twins can even finish each other’s sentences. Why are Ethan and I not like that?

“Princess, your name also represents the northern lights, you remember that, right?”

My train of thought broke with his question.

“Yes dada, you showed me many pictures and videos of Norway’s northern lights.”

“Very good! aren’t you a smart little daisy flower?”

He pinched my cheeks and I giggled.

“Dada, can we visit Norway someday to watch those colorful lights?”

“Of course, princess, we would plan a family vacation when you twins grow up so that both of you can remember everything.”

I frowned at the thought of a family vacation.

“What’s wrong, princess?”

“Dada, I don’t want mama to scold me when I get super excited after watching the colorful sky for the first time.” I pouted.

“Princess, don’t worry about it. I know your mother gets strict sometimes, but don’t stress your little head too much about it. You have your dada, you know that, right?”

“Yes.”

“Princess, your smiling face gives me hope, joy, and peace. Just remember that you’re the apple of my eye. Don’t overthink, my little daisy.”

My heart melted with joy. Mama may love Ethan more than me, but I have my dada.

“Princess, I want you to remember one thing.”

“What, dada?”

“That no matter what anybody says about you, you’re perfect and my pride and joy. If you find yourself completely alone or insecure at any point in life, always remember, your dada is there for you. You are too young to understand my words now, but you’ll when you grow up. I love you very much and I will always have your back. I promise you, my little daisy.”

End of the Flashback

I promise you

I promise you

I promise you

My heart clenched at the memory and tears welled up in my eyes.

You were right, I was then too young to understand your words.

But, I have understood it later that you didn’t keep your promise, father.

You left my side and turned your back on me whenever I needed you the most.

You never completed the field of daisies.

Your masterpiece remained incomplete.