Don't Cry

Later that night, there was a dinner party at the hotel I'm staying at, and they invited me, so, I went to that party.

As I went here and there, some people greeted me as they had been to my photography shows.

"I really love your works, Nick. They are just so perfect! I can't believe you quit after that incident! It's kind of a waste of your talent! I'm sorry to hear about what happened! Such a misunderstanding...but I'm glad to hear it was all sorted out and your name is now cleared."

"Yeah...sorry to disappoint you Michael. But I decided to quit it myself, so I'll be happy with that."

"Yeah yeah...I know that I can't convince you. But remember that I'll always welcome you back anytime, son!"

"Thanks!"

"Arr...there's a special show soon. Be prepared to be astonished!"

"Really? What kind of show?"

"You'll see."

Michael just winked at me and led me to the front seat. People gathered around to the stage near the buffet counter.

Soon, the lights dimmed and the lights showed on the LCD screen up the stage. A sound of soft music playing was heard and then suddenly a girl came up the stage.

To my surprise, it was the girl I met earlier!

Clary was arranging something in a container in front of her. I took a closer look and I found that there was sand in it.

"Don't tell me, is that a live performance of the sand animation art?"

I asked Michael in an excited voice that Michael laughed and nodded.

"Yeah. I thought you have no idea of what this show is about and would be new to this. But it seems like you have an experience of seeing one before?"

"Well, kind of. I can't believe I would see one out here again."

"Yeah. Normally this kind of show is held in town. But the host personally knew the artist and she invited her. The artist may look young, but her artistic skills are superb. A genius indeed although it's a pity that she doesn't speak."

As Michael talked, the images from the container were shown on the LCD screen.

The music turned into a livelier one and then Clary started drawing on the sand.

At first, she threw some sand to the top three quarters of the square container. Then, she used her fingertips to draw dots on that area.

God, it looks like stars!

Then she drew some S-shapes and threw some sand to it.

Is that a picture of people chattering?

She used her fingertips again to overwrite the star-like dots with candle-like figures.

Ok...first stars, now candles?

That was my second time seeing the sand art. Yet I could clearly see the complexity of this second art was nothing compared to the first one.

As I was dwelling in my thoughts, the music changed into a slower rhythm and she started drawing a face.

Eyes, nose, lips, curly hair...which some sort of represent a girl, came into my sight.

Slowly and slowly, the girl figure was drawn in a party gown and she seemed like dancing on a floor with the balls above her head.

Arr...now I see. So that's not the stars but the party disco lights!

I couldn't help but let out a chuckle after that thought.

The music became a livelier one again. Then she drew the music figures and the girl dancing beautifully on her toes. She flung out some sand over it and covered up all the images up until now.

Then she started drawing a Christmas tree with miniature light bulbs and a star on it. A girl in a prom dress was drawn beside that beautifully lit Christmas tree with a prince-like boy figure on the other side. Between the two was a bunch of present boxes. The girl and boy images cheerfully smiled and then the top of the sand was a message saying 'Happy Holiday'.

The lights on the stage and the party were back again and I could finally see her charming smile again on the stage. There was a big applause and the host went up the stage with a big bouquet.

Clary accepted the gift gorgeously and bowed the audience before she stepped off the stage. I got up from where I was sitting and approached the stage.

"Waaa...."

"Wooo...!"

It seemed that she somehow slipped on her long dress and almost lost her balance. Luckily, I managed to catch her in time before she fell off the stage. She looked up and when she saw me holding her in my arms, she gave me a surprised look.

She quickly escaped from my arms and bowed to me in appreciation. I nodded at her and smiled at her.

"Hi Clary! We meet again!"

She smiled and gave a light nod. She gestured me to come with her and led the way, so, I followed her.

She led me to a dining table where her bag was. Then she took out a big sketch book and started writing.

I sat beside her silently and waited for her. Soon, she gave me the sketchbook.

"We meet again Nick! How are you feeling now? Better?"

She gave me such a concerned look that made me smile.

"I'm fine now, thanks to your amazing performance!"

I answered sincerely and she started scribing on her book again asking what I do for a living.

"I love capturing the images of beautiful things at their most beautiful stage."

She gave me such a 'What?' look with her childish face that it made me want to squeeze her cheeks. I chuckled and she hold up her finger as if she found out what I meant. She and I talked a lot like that until midnight.

Later I found out that she was not mute, but she just had a difficulty in talking to strangers ever since she was a child and it became a habit that now she only talked in very rare occasions. Instead, she expressed everything she wanted to say by drawing or writing on her sketchbook.

She even asked me why I was crying heavily that day and I told her about my ugly past which I did not want to think or tell back to someone...but strangely, I spit it out to her without leaving out any detail. She even cried after hearing my story. She was indeed a nice girl and also a cry-baby.

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