We walked in silence while we were skipping through the rocky path that littered the area close to the mountain. As soon as the possibility of falling had evaporated the conversation began.

“So when did you start painting?”

“Well, I just recently started painting. Sketching was one of my favorite past times as a child but I had to stop at a certain age.”

“Why?” His brows furrowed with consternation.

“Why what?”

“Why did a certain age steal your favorite past time?”

I had to think for a moment because I was supposed to honor my mother but I was also supposed to be honest.

“There is a time in life when a woman must put childhood fancies in the closet and then she must lock that door. It is necessary to be practical and useful to become a good wife.” I hope he didn’t think I was being forward by bringing up the whole idea of being a wife.

“Something or someone caused you to open that closet door. What or who was that?”

I didn’t know what to say. How was I to tell him that the reason that I had started sketching again was because I was enthralled with his beauty?

I would have to lie. Just this once God, please forgive me. Well, okay I think that is twice actually. Yes, God I remember the “sick” act I played to get my charcoal pencils back.

Maybe I can just distract him and lying will not be necessary.

“Hmmm, that is a  thought provoking question.” I looked up at him with what I intended to be a gaze of admiration. “Have you ever thought about what treasures you hid in your closet?”

There now, that was not a lie.

“I didn’t play much as a child. My mother was a widow and I tended to her most of the time.”

I felt simply awful.

“That must have been difficult for you.”

“It was God’s plan for my life. It forced me to grow up quicker than other boys but it has served me well as an adult.”

“Do you think I am childish for painting?” I was on the verge of tears.

He grabbed my arm and swung me around, planting me in front of him, so I could not escape him. “I think you are brave to abandon what people want you to do and walk into the fullness that God has gifted you to do.”

Once again I was struggling to breathe and words were beyond my grasp to speak. It seemed as if the only organ within my body that was still working was my heart which was pounding fiercely within my chest.