# A Painter's View (Otherwise Untitled)

Author: Moriar
Tags: Grief, Raccoon, Sci-Fi

#122 of Short Stories

A painter considers what's missing from the view below.

~&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The old raccoon gazed out over the world below, standing alone in the room of his apartment aboard the orbital station. Letting out a sigh as he turned his attentions to the digital easel, palette-pad in one hand and stylus brush in his other. The sky below was a vibrant mix of hues, and he was only just beginning to manage to ensnare a few of them into his paintings.  
~&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The vid-phone on the wall gave a soft chime, "Answer.", he replied with a stark voice command.  
~&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hey, Nathan.. Just calling to see how you were doing.", tentatively inquired.  
~&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His tone a calm rumble, "I'm fine, Barbra. Thank you for asking."  
~&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The woodpecker on the vid-phone's screen continued her cautious tone, "I didn't see you at the harvest festival."  
~&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "...", the raccoon spinning the stylus around in a puddle of light blue with the tip occasionally glancing the deeper blue blotch to pull in and mix.  
~&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I miss her, too.", the bird's tone finding a stance of patient certainty.  
~&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The racoon looked to the vid-phone with a slow nod.  
~&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Is she there, in your paintings?", Barbra retreating to her tentative tone.  
~&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Nathan set down the stylus and palette-pad, standing to drink in a long look over the planet below before his reply, "Not yet. Not again.", pained yet patient.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/nZ77bXb1
Part of the series Short Stories
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