Still life of white tulips with heartbreak card

by Karen Walker

The art gallery has rejected it.
   
Feel was pacing, and I was napping when the thanks-snicker-but-no-thanks call finally came.

On the way to pick up our painting, Feel wants to talk.

I don't.  

Feel sniffles.

Of course there's no tissue left in the car. Of course Feel used the entire box on the way home after I broke up with John.

Our painting is of his flowers and his card. Says, "Love you. Please don't leave." 
​ 
Feel says it hurts.

"Am sure it does," I reply.
​
The gallery is on the third floor. I climb the stairs alone. Feel stays in the car. 

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KAREN WALKER writes and draws and paints in Ontario, Canada. Her recent work is in or forthcoming in Does It Have Pockets, SoFloPoJo, Weird Lit, Hotch Potch, and Literary Garage. 

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