SINGLE PAGE STORY SUNDAY - fanciful microfiction…

SINGLE PAGE STORY SUNDAY - fanciful microfiction of less than 300 words

LEGACY by rustypuppy - The fifth reincarnation of her dear Othenio loved to play hide-and-seek as much as the original. Thus, the countess found herself at the Upper Belvedere at 3 pm, studying each painting for a puppy who should not be there.

She found him hiding in the flowers of Klimt's "The Kiss."

Othenio whined and wagged his tail.

Thousands of works of art in the city, over sixty years since their first walk together, and still the dog knew Hans' favorite piece.

Though she had seen this painting many times when touring, today the black squares of the man's coat became voids that seduced memories from her heart.

She rubbed her fingers with her thumb, the pain of hand-stitching long gone. As was Hans’ jacket of patches. As was he.

The inheritance provided could have elevated her lifestyle to match her title had she not needed their Othenio beside her, always.

She reached into the painting and pulled the little hound to her chest as the security guard pretended not to notice.

"I miss him, too," she whispered, fondling the dog's floppy ears, "but not as much as I would."

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