Heartsong (Logan 2)

think?" he asked gazing at the picture.

"What?"

"I'm sure you snuck a peek, Melody. I would

have."

"Oh. I I. . . yes. I did. I was surprised at how

much detail you got into it already," I said, trying to

keep the disappointment out of my voice.

"Uh-huh. That sounds diplomatic."

"I'm not an art critic. Not yet, at least," I said.

"But it looks like the beginning of something special."

If only it was my face that would grace his

masterpiece, I thought.

"Yes. It's only a figment of my imagination

right now, but soon, it will grow. You know, this is

going to take us all summer," he said.

"I'm not going anywhere," I replied. "I was

going to run away yesterday, but then I thought,

where would I run to?"

He stared at me and I held my breath, hoping he would offer his home as a sanctuary should I need it. But he remained silent. If the words were on his

tongue, he swallowed them.

"I guess the bottom line is none of us can really

run away. We can escape but we can't run away," he

said. "How can we escape if we don't run away?" I

asked. "You find another place to go inside yourself,"

he said, staring at the block of marble.

"As you found with your art?"

He nodded.

"What were you escaping from?" I asked and

waited as he hesitated, his eyes still on the block of

marble.