Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 16

She fixed her gaze on the spot where Ines was standing.

At that moment, Timothy stepped forward, bringing Sheila and Henry with him.

He wanted to see for himself what exactly this "talent and spark" Ines claimed to see in someone's eyes looked like.

Sheila had been into animation since grade school. All these years at Aetherion, she'd even worked on a major project with the renowned director Mr. Smith-so how could she possibly lack talent or spark?

Ines cast a long, searching look at the covered frame, then turned to face the crowd.

She spoke slowly, her voice calm and clear. "I hadn't originally planned to exhibit

this piece. But honestly, I couldn't find a single flaw in it. Today marks the first stop on my national tour, and this is one of the country's landmark animation conventions. After a lot of thought, I decided to bring it out for everyone to appreciate and learn from."

With that, Ines stepped aside and pulled the deep red cloth away from the large frame.

For a moment, it was as if someone had pressed mute on the entire gallery.

The silence was so profound, you could have heard a pin drop.

It was a painting of The Grand Canal, Venice.

somber palette, the scene burst

their classic forms, yet everything had been reimagined with the stylized flair of

leap from the canvas,

astonishingly alive-each figure seemed ready to move

watching an animation frozen in

seconds, nobody moved

understood what Ines

that hinted at motion, motion that

something about the piece felt

Of course-paper cutwork.

relief technique made the

exploded like

began to fade, Ines raised

explain the piece's unique

yet tranquil,

and new blended together, and how the relief-cut technique

was not her own design. Instead, it had been a fortieth birthday gift from one

out, "Which student, Ms. Ines? Will we get to see

smiled and replied, "Probably not. She found her own happiness-got married and moved on. Talents like hers don't come around often, but all of you who love animation should keep learning. Who knows?

as she smiled, a deep note

eyes shining with tears as she slipped out of