The Statue - Part V

The Statue

Part V

Written by Cassia Sherrill

Chelsea grabbed some napkins...a lot of them. This guy is a pig...he is going to need them! she thought as she made her way back over to the table. “Here you go!”

Both Zoe and Henry smiled a thank you to her as they continued to devour their food.

“Okay, now,” she cleared her throat as she tried to think up ways to interact with this guy. “Henry, where are you from?”

“Uh…” he wiped his mouth with a napkin as he thought about this, “Well, I don’t exactly remember where I was created. But the artist that created me was from Paris although I do not think I was created there.”

Psychopath! Chelsea tried with everything in her not to roll her eyes at him. “Okay...um...how old are you?”

“I was created in the early 1930s, but I think I was placed in New York City in the late 80s. My creator was very fond of her work, and even though she needed the money, she wasn’t willing to part with most of her pieces. After she died in the 70s...I think, all of her pieces were auctioned off, and that’s when I was brought here.” His eyes grew a bit sad for a moment. “I really miss her, my creator. She was a wonderful person.”

Zoe patted his shoulder, clearly touched at his story, but all Chelsea wanted to do was yell at him. How the heck does a statue miss his artist?! How does a statue remember his artist? Oh, exactly STATUES CAN’T REMEMBER MUCH LESS BE HUMAN. How do I reason with a psychopath? She huffed before she sarcastically said, “Touching...truly. Listen, I am going to be honest. I do not believe a word you are saying. I don’t know what you want or who you are, but I truly think you need help.”

“Help with what?” he questioned as he raised his eyebrows.

“Help with your ment-”

Zoe interrupted her fiery retort with, “Help with finding your true soulmate, of course.”

“What?!” Chelsea practically shouted at her friend. “What are you saying? I said that he had to leave us alone after this meal!”

Zoe gave her stern eyes as she reached for her phone, and within a moment, Chelsea received a text from her. It read, “Chelsea, come on. Clearly this guy isn’t okay. We can’t just leave him alone. Let’s help him find the help he needs.”

Zoe began explaining a plan to Henry and Chelsea that might help find his soulmate. She was suggesting that perhaps taking Henry back to where the statue was located, and he could touch the hand of the woman in the piece since hypothetically the creator had designed that woman as his soulmate. However, as she was explaining this, Chelsea was texting her back. “Finding his ‘soulmate’ is not getting him the help he needs. He needs to be in a mental hospital if he truly thinks he is this statue. Or maybe he is a STALKER, in which case you are being so naive. I don’t think or want to hang around him anymore!”

Henry was intrigued by the idea, but he still seemed hesitant. He kept looking at Chelsea who was aggressively typing on her phone, and once Zoe had concluded her plan, he said, “Well, I guess it could be worth a shot...that is if Chelsea truly doesn’t think she is it?”

Chelsea laughed and set her phone down as she met his longing gaze. “No, I know I am not it.”

He sighed and fell quiet for a few minutes. However, he quickly perked up and mentioned, “Well, I guess it is entirely possible that Georgina, who is the woman in the piece, could be my soulmate. I guess I never really thought of that before.” He chuckled, “How silly of me to never consider her even though I have stared into her eyes for so long.”

“See exactly!” Zoe smiled. Clearly she was very pleased with her plan. “Are you finished with your food?”

“I am, and I must say that it was a delicious meal, just as you said!” He smiled at her as he mentioned, “I trust you since you were so very right about the food then I bet you will be right about my soulmate too!”

Chelsea just stared at them. Unbelievable. He is comparing her plan for food to her plan for finding his soulmate. And I thought she was naive…

Zoe cleared the trays, and she responded to Chelsea’s text before returning to the table. “Chelsea, you’ve got to trust me. I have a plan, and I am not stupid. I promise! Now just tag along on this weird adventure that we have found ourselves on. :)”

Great! Two extremely naive people roaming around the streets of New York...what could go wrong? She thought as she reluctantly followed them back up the stairs to catch another subway back to the statue’s location.