A rich 61-year-old heir experienced a strong sensation of emptiness despite living in a spacious house. Because the women that entered his life seemed more interested in his wealth than in him, it was difficult for him to start a true family. On the outskirts of town, he once caught a glimpse of a woman searching among trash cans. Although she looked weak, her eyes were full of strength. He approached her with a great lot of sympathy.
The woman, who called herself Lexi, claimed that after her husband left her for a pregnant woman, she had lost her artistic career. She was offered temporary housing in his garage, which he had turned into a guesthouse after being moved by her circumstances. She was skeptical at first, but was convinced there were no requirements, so she eventually gave her consent.
After a few days, despite Lexi leading an own life, they began to share meals on occasion. She struck him as a strong-willed, clever, and humorous woman, and he enjoyed their growing bond. One evening, she confided in him about her passion of art and the failure of her dream to become a painter.
One afternoon, while looking for a gas pump, he entered the garage without knocking. The sight of dozens of paintings depicting him in a coffin, bound up, his eyes bleeding, left him speechless. Offended and shocked, he left the house without her knowing.
Unable to resist his nervousness, he spoke to her at dinner. Shocked, Lexi explained that while she had poured her rage and anger onto the painting, he was not the true target of her anger. After she apologized, he became agitated and ordered her to go. In a solemn pause, he gave her some money, took her to a shelter the next day, and left.
As the days passed, the emptiness within him simply grew more profound. He kept thinking back on their conversations and how Lexi’s presence had unexpectedly helped him feel less alone. One day, a package arrived at his house. Inside, a new artwork of him was shown, serene and tender. Lexi’s phone number and signature were included in the message.
After a moment of hesitation, he called her. When she replied, he expressed his feelings on the painting. To make amends, Lexi admitted, she had hoped for a better portrait. When they both realized they had misunderstood each other, he invited her to dinner for a fresh start. Lexi enthusiastically accepted and revealed that she had found work and was about to rent an apartment.
He hung up with a smile on his face for the first time in a long time.
What are your thoughts on what Lexi did? Did she accurately depict the man? Was it a foreshadowing or only an artistic choice?
