The barn had always been a place of refuge—a place where they could escape the cabin and the weight of the world. It smelled of hay, wood, and something old but comforting. The space was large enough to hold their dreams, but today it held something else entirely.
Roman led Jas inside, a quiet excitement hanging in the air. The light from the late afternoon sun filtered through cracks in the walls, casting long shadows on the wooden floor.
“Okay,” Roman said, his hands rubbing together in anticipation. “I have an idea. It’s not much, but I think it might be the perfect gift for Ivy Mae.”
Jas looked at him, unsure. “What is it?”
Roman gestured to the back wall of the barn—a large, empty canvas of peeling wood. “We’re going to paint it.”
Jas blinked. “Paint it? What, like a mural?”
Roman grinned. “Yeah. You and me. Together.”
Jas laughed, shaking their head. “I can’t paint, Roman.”
Roman shrugged. “Neither can I. But we’ll figure it out. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be something from the heart.”
Jas stared at the blank wall, still unsure. But there was something in Roman’s eyes—a quiet conviction that made them hesitate, then nod. “Alright. Let’s do it.”
They worked together, side by side, for hours, the world outside forgotten as they lost themselves in the task. Roman, despite not being a painter, was surprisingly skilled. His hands moved with ease, adding delicate details to the scene they were creating. The lavender fields began to take shape—long rows of purple flowers, swaying in a gentle breeze. The garden bloomed beside them, bursting with color. Jas added their own touch, their hand trembling slightly but steadying as they grew more confident.
Together, they painted a world that felt real, one that Ivy Mae could step into and escape to. The mural became a symbol of hope—a reminder that even in the bleakest times, beauty could still be created.
By the time they were finished, the sun had long set, leaving only the faint glow of their work in the barn. It was imperfect—yes, but it was theirs. And that was enough.