Katie

[nola_maddie]

There was a big mural outside the Phoenix Effect coffeehouse that caught Xara's eye. If someone asked her, she'd say it was the colors, or the shapes, or the general energy of the piece, or the novelty of seeing public art that hadn't been immediately tagged (this was a very different world than L.A.).

But it wasn't any of that.

Xara understood it on a deep, inborn sort of level. The imagery, the references, the intent, she knew them. Knew these people.

She hated it.

None of that was on her face as she stood looking at the mural, though, looking calm and thoughtful as she sipped an iced latte, and waited.

Comments

[nola_jeangrey]

Katie had finished work for the day, and she didn't have any important plans for the evening, so with the rare gift of free time, what else should she do but enjoy it?

She set out on a walk just to walk -- like Andy would suggest -- and of course ended up at Phoenix Effect, the place that had become part of her daily routine, had given her work, and had given her, in an indirect way, a new life.

So of course Katie was going to pass by her own mural on her way to sweet sweet coffee. Every time she looked at it, she saw more of Jean, and people Jean had known, in it.

It made her feel bigger than herself.

She passed a critical, loving eye over it, and when she saw another woman looking at the mural, she offered her a smile, just acknowledgement of presence from one stranger to another.