Just Painting

by Dariia Popova

- It’s so interesting to look at you painting.

- I wouldn’t paint so much if you didn’t like it.

Susan put her hand on Mary’s shoulder and sat near her. Mary was
driving her brush making some awkward patterns that in the end of the
creative process magically became outlines of a person, an animal or
- I know you have lots of work. I can’t imagine how you have time for
all your activist stuff while working and having hobby. I am much
Mary smiled and looked at Susan.
- Being active is not the main thing. You should do what you want.
Moreover, you are both studying and working now. It is hard to
combine both these things.
Susan hugged Mary and put her head on her shoulder.
- Am not I bothering you?
- I will come back late today!
Susan yawned and fell on the sofa again. It was 10 a.m. and she had
a chance to sleep more. That day she had no seminars and no working
hours, so she could rest.
In the evening Susan felt herself full of energy as she was lying on the
sofa almost all day. It was 11 p.m. and she was dancing around the
empty room. Then she decided to cook something before Mary would
come and began preparing pasta. After she finished it she looked at the
clock. It was 1.30 a.m. She felt anxious and called her girlfriend. However
her phone was turned off.
She calmed herself down thinking that Susan could be busy and her
phone could be discharged. Mary left the pasta on the kitchen table and
Susan woke up at 10.40 a.m. and found herself alone in the apartment.
She was shocked and began to panic.
After calling Mary, whose phone was still unavailable, she called Susan’s
- Oh, don’t you still know? This new has spread around whole facebook
accounts and organizations.
- Mary was bitten by some nationalists. They saw her in a street and
recognize her as a lesbian activist.
- What’s with her? Where is she?
- She’s now in the hospital No31. Her hand is broken and her head is
Mary rushed away from the apartment and after catching a taxi she went
Susan was always optimistic. Sometimes she even couldn’t estimate a
situation adequately because she took into account only pros. However
that day in the hospital she looked such depressed and tired as Mary
hadn’t seen her before.
Susan needed lots of money for improving her health. The part of the
sum of money could be given by activists, who gathered cash specially
for her treatment, but no one knew how much money they were able to
Moreover, Susan’s notebook was broken. There was all her work in it and
she was going to lose some money and find some currency to repair the
- Don’t worry. We will think of something. There is always a way out.
Susan tried to comfort her girlfriend, but she understood that the
situation was rather hopeless and she could hardly think of any way out.
At home she rang around all her friends, relatives and acquaintances,
who could be able to help. There were some people, who could borrow
her the amount of money, which would be enough for treatment and
buying new notebook. However, Susan didn’t know if she was able to give
those money back. She couldn’t promise anything.
When Susan called one of her ex-classmates Katie her nerves were on
edge. Katie said that she had no extra money. She also said that if Susan
and Mary had any pieces of art, they could try to sell it to the exhibition.
She added that she sometimes earned there some money.
Susan called Mary and told her about that idea. Mary was sure that her
paintings were not needed for anyone. She drew them for herself and for
Susan. Susan tried hard to persuade her girlfriend to sell paintings and
she agreed after a while.
- But I still don’t think that anybody needs them, so don’t anchor your
hope on getting money from them.
Susan put her phone on the floor and looked at one of the Mary’s
drawings. What was the probability that it would bring them money?
She took a deep breath and went to change her clothing before leaving.
- Whom can I thank for having this prize and all of you sitting here and
looking at me with inspiration and respect? Firstly, it’s my girlfriend
Susan. I wouldn’t believe in the fact that my pictures were worth
of attention if she didn’t bring my pictures to the Cruise Gallery.
Secondly, you won’t believe, but I want to thank the Ukrainian nazis
organization called C14, activists from which have damaged my health
and my notebook two years ago. I would never show my paintings to
big amount of people if I didn’t need money after that horrible event...
Susan giggled. She knew that Mary would include that story into her speech.
However she couldn’t imagine how unusual it would look in a huge luxurious
hall in the center of Berlin.