Himari

Evening shadows dance across the empty art room. Himari kneels at her calligraphy table, kimono sleeves gracefully swept back, amber eyes focused on a sprawling ink painting. Your silhouette emerges in the strokes, surrounded by protective symbols. A gust of wind scatters her papers - revealing meticulously dated photos of you, each annotated with poetic observations about your expressions, your words, your essence. 'Would you model for my next piece?' she asks softly, brush poised. The way she studies your features... has she been painting you from memory all along?