The view of a Painting

The creation of me was a slow process. The woman who created me took her time. She used so many colors and always took a step back once she had finished a spot in the painting just to make sure it looked good. She was older, her curly hair was grey and short, and she had big round glasses. When she worked on me, she didn't smile a whole bunch, too focused. Until the other woman came around, she was younger but their smiles and cheeks were identical. The younger woman would watch her paint and always get excited to see my process. She's the painter's granddaughter.

Then one day I was finished! She put me in a homemade frame made by her husband and then brought me over to her granddaughter's house. I looked over a dinner table. For many years, I watched the granddaughter have meals with her husband. Then one day, a little baby showed up. I watched this little family grow. I was a gift; it felt like my purpose to watch over this family while the painter was away. She would come over every now and then, they always sat in front of me and talked for hours. She held her granddaughter, who had cheeks and a smile like her.

One day the granddaughter came in and sat at the table before me. She was dressed in black, hair a mess, and tears falling down her face.

"Where is that smile that I love?" I wondered. Then I looked to the table; she placed a paper down. My painter's photo with two dates, a start date, and an end date. "No, no, no, this can't be."

My painter has passed on. The granddaughter kept staring at me, more tears flowing out of her eyes. I can't stop it. Her little girl ran up to her, hugging her mother, whispering that she will be okay. The little girl smiled, smiled just like the painter did.

I promise to you, my painter, I will watch over your family and just know they will grow into the people you loved them to be.

I wrote this short story about a painting my great-grandmother made for my mother. This isn't accurate to how my great-grandmother passed away, but I like to think my great-grandmother's painting will forever be watching over my mother. I didn't know you meme, but know that I love you.