Arm-in-arm, an older couple walked into the museum gala. The man wore a black evening coat and his wife, an elegant black dress, evening gloves, and a white fur stole. The two strode in influential gait. Gazing at one particular painting, the woman turns to her husband raising a thin eyebrow, she utters, "Song Dynasty, dear…" 313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuppLTUEu3
The man nods in agreement, "I’d have never guessed that, by the looks of those signs," he said, gesturing to the Song Dynasty exhibit banners. His wife smiles and playfully bumps her hip into his. "You know Archie, art is not just pretty paintings. Every work of art has its history. It wouldn’t hurt you to know some of it, especially on a night like tonight.”313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HqI0pVCMp
“Of course, dear.." 313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OEUZzfb8r
The old man said dismissively as he steps away from his wife, grabbing two champagne flutes from a passing waiter with a serving tray. "Oh, my dear Birdie, tonight is a night for celebration—not for matriculation." 313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezLZgSJZob
Birdie plucks a glass of champagne from her husband’s hand and takes a small sip, sighing nostalgically. "Do you ever think about those days?" 313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1r6Tdjbgm
He stares into his glass as in deep thought. "Darling?" He looks up longingly, "My dear, I can’t walk through any room of our home, or look at any wall without remembering." 313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEjc6YMeoh
"Do you remember MoMA?" Birdie said with a light chuckle. 313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSJ6pKm2LM
"How could I forget! That’s where you lost your wedding rings."313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXMIASdIsc
She shrugs, "Too bad, I do believe that self portrait would’ve looked rather good in the sitting room.." 313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUu756WMiaW
"You’ve always been a fan of Picasso, my dear.." 313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqdip5RD01
The two sigh in unison as they remember that balmy, summer evening in 1980...313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YefrbLbjS
There the young couple stood, in front of the blue portrait of a young Pablo Picasso, stoic but with a small smirk playing at his pallid lips, his dark eyes staring back at them. Almost daring them to whisk him away.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZxrGQvJF6
Birdie watched as her husband stood in front of the large painting, his strong chin tilted upwards, his dark brows furrowed in concentration. His fists on his hips, as he glared at the painting. "Birdie, honestly, this painting is so utterly depressing.." He says in a hushed yet, urgent whisper, "Why is it, again that we decided on this one?" 313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQK7BA2Sln
"Well, for you, darling it's always been the thrill of acquisition, while for me…its’ always been about the art." Archie pauses, turning to look at his young bride. Her doe-like eyes brimmed with tears that threatened to fall as she looked up at the portrait.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZr9vtLbZj
In this moment, Archie felt his walls crumble as her delicate hands reached for the canvas. He shakes his head, giving a wry chuckle, "You’ve never looked at me like that before."313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXFNN4UMd2
She turns to him as she wipes the stray tears away, laughing. "Well, I'm sure this painting is a better listener than you, Mr. Delacroix."313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjBBhVhZfL
"Then I’ll take my ring back, thank you very much," He said as he stretched out a gloved hand.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SQZ9vQS4t
"You aren’t serious," she mused as she reached for her wedding rings. Upon feeling nothing, she let out a hitched breath. 313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPTH5PtR7X
"What? What is it?"313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteMYd3bCQb
"My rings! My wedding rings! They’re gone!" She exclaimed in a hushed whisper.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDkc68UY9x
"Surely, you didn’t bring them." 313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0giJM4x5QW
Her face flushed with anger as she hissed, "I never take them off! You should know that!" 313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVPklK3fNx
He raised his hands up defensively. "Alright, alright, where’d you put them last?" Slowly she turns to her husband in obvious annoyance, "If I knew that, they wouldn’t be lost."313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXjZlkak3t
"Okay, well, the guards will be circling back in about," the young man pushes up his sleeve to look at his watch. "twenty or so minutes. So, how do you want to do this, Mr. Picasso?"313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6R7iKPfhC
"Mr. Picasso?! My wedding rings, Archie, they’re missing!"313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YZjn69T85
Rubbing the back of his neck, he asks, "So…no more…Mr. Picasso?"313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZO80qD2Pc
"ARCHIE!"313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyzi60h50L
"Archie.."313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XQJYdH8pw
"Archie, darling? Are you alright?"313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9XdbBmVu9
Pulled back into the present, Archie looks to his wife. Her pale blue eyes were fixated on him, her eyebrows knitted together in concern. Archie looks past his wife and up at the centerpiece of the gallery.
"It seems that the Empress has finally graced us with her presence." 313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuJ52V5z6D
Birdie turns around, following his gaze up to the portraiture of a young Chinese empress, adorned in red and orange robes, her moonlike face turned away from the audience, her black hair hidden by the intricate bejeweled headpiece. Her tiny lips curled in the slightest of smiles. 313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDOBzJHg5V
"Oh Archie, she's beautiful.."
Archie clears his throat, before giving his wife a cunning side-eye.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhYbfYlXlb
"I do believe that Her Majesty would look amazing over the fireplace in the study."
The old woman whips her head towards her husband with a look of shock, her eyes shone with anticipation and excitement.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9DW3IsK3O
"How?"
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