Page 59 of Chaos Theory

FIFTY-SIX

I finally reach Shane’s car, dizzy and out of breath. I’ve run the two blocks back as fast as I could – not easy, given I’m holding a medium-sized painting.

Shane is already out of the Jeep, waiting for me. I thrust the painting at him. He takes it, props it against the car door without glancing at it. He tries to touch me, but I shrug him off, backing myself into a wall and putting my hands to my face.

‘Hey, hey, what’s wrong? What happened?’ he asks.

Josh emerges from the far side and comes around to me. ‘What’s going on? Is Kobi not coming?’

I shake my head without looking at either of them, silently point to the painting. Shane retrieves it, holds it up. Josh goes over to look at it with him.

‘Did…Kobi do this?’ asks Shane.

‘That’s his brushwork,’ says Josh.

‘Did he give you this?’ Shane asks me.

‘Not exactly. But I think he wanted me to have it,’ I say. ‘Wanted us to have it.’

I look at the painting again, this time taking it in fully.

The picture looks like an Impressionist painting.

The same pointillism technique Kobi used at Trish’s art therapy event.

In the foreground, two figures hold hands and face outward, as if looking at the artist. The faces aren’t distinct, but I know they’re supposed to represent me and Shane.

There’s a smaller figure in the background, facing to the side – a tall figure with fair hair.

The three of us say nothing for a moment.

‘Did you…see him?’ falters Josh.

I nod. ‘Yes, but…he’s gone.’ My voice cracks.

I hand my phone to Josh, tap the screen to bring up the image.

Shane carefully places the painting down and draws me to him. I collapse into his arms.

‘He’s gone,’ I say into his chest. ‘Kobi’s gone.’