They Left Me Out Of The Picture So I Created My Own Chapter 20
I switched my phone to silent, slipped it into my pocket, and went back to adjusting the photographs on the wall.
One of the spotlights was angled a few degrees off. I climbed a ladder and twisted the head to the left until the beam landed dead center on the print.
Half an hour later, Leo and a few other classmates came in carrying labels and toolboxes. We worked until the gallery closed for the night. By the time the last photograph was secured to the wall, we were all so tired we just sank to the floor.
“We have to document this,” Leo said, holding up his phone. “The gloriously disastrous scene right before a solo show opens.”
I pushed myself up with one hand. “I’ll take it for you.”
“Hey. Where do you think the artist herself is going?”
Someone next to me grabbed my arm and laughingly pulled me back down.
“Tonight, you’re not the photographer. You’re the main character.”
Everyone immediately shifted, clearing a space in the middle. Before I could protest, they had squeezed me into the center of the group. Leo propped his phone against a toolbox, set the timer, and scrambled back.
“Everybody look at the camera!”
Everyone in the frame was smiling. My shoulder was pressed against my friend’s, and I couldn’t help but smile too.
The countdown hit zero. The flash illuminated the entire gallery.
This time, I wasn’t holding the camera.
I was in the middle of the photograph, surrounded by friends.
A minute later, the picture arrived on my phone. Leo, looking over my shoulder, suddenly said, “Huh. Avery, you should see this.”
He handed me his screen.
My father had just reposted my WGN interview on his Facebook page.
The caption read: *Avery has loved being behind the camera since she was little. We’ve always supported her in pursuing her dreams, and we’re so proud of everything she’s achieved today.*
Below it was an old photo.
My father had his arm around Lauren, with Sadie and Owen standing between them.
It was the Christmas card photo. The one I had taken.
Only he had cropped out the words *The Brooks Family of Four* at the bottom.
In the comments, someone had asked: *Where’s Avery in this family picture?*
My father had replied: *She’s the one behind the camera. She never liked being in photos.*
I stared at the screen for a few seconds and took a screenshot.
Then I walked over to my studio bag, opened the front pocket, and took out the note from the Wisconsin vacation and the confirmation letter for the 529 beneficiary change.
I spread them out under the light. The edges of the paper were already starting to yellow.
The past hadn’t gone quiet after all.
It was just finally its turn to speak.