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…" 140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8ilDgNjPB
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.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfFLx3LX31
“Of course, dear.." 140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDw6T4qzNkC
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." 140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfB85rspmo
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?" 140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVU8il9Nah
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." 140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hY6FhcNv5
"Do you remember MoMA?" Birdie said with a light chuckle. 140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgeS5toIio
"How could I forget! That’s where you lost your wedding rings."140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHtws33FmH
She shrugs, "Too bad, I do believe that self portrait would’ve looked rather good in the sitting room.." 140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB7Ln3NCl5
"You’ve always been a fan of Picasso, my dear.." 140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaM0uhqdwO
The two sigh in unison as they remember that balmy, summer evening in 1980...140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXF09adGAy
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.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwVOZYulE5
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?" 140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4egYsaZli1
"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.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrqBnm3uW9
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."140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AnqDEPbjs
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."140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWh4czLLDG3
"Then I’ll take my ring back, thank you very much," He said as he stretched out a gloved hand.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9CVvOqLK8
"You aren’t serious," she mused as she reached for her wedding rings. Upon feeling nothing, she let out a hitched breath. 140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbo8FzWFKpI
"What? What is it?"140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zKVFxYfXn
"My rings! My wedding rings! They’re gone!" She exclaimed in a hushed whisper.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXjJeMvt8X
"Surely, you didn’t bring them." 140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RrxYb1w5K
Her face flushed with anger as she hissed, "I never take them off! You should know that!" 140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf537D2Q03F
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."140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrzy59rvD8
"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?"140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqE8kAAOPB
"Mr. Picasso?! My wedding rings, Archie, they’re missing!"140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wDbQcnJq1
Rubbing the back of his neck, he asks, "So…no more…Mr. Picasso?"140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUamjjQpkCP
"ARCHIE!"140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1X9E2jW7SN
"Archie.."140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPZ5K94py1
"Archie, darling? Are you alright?"140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlscUwxAit
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." 140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsN5r8ljFnx
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. 140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuWGzKoC4F
"Oh Archie, she's beautiful.."
Archie clears his throat, before giving his wife a cunning side-eye.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzxCQPIRLv
"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.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYD1XtsJwd
"How?"
ns 172.70.126.125da2
and then Add to home screen.