Portrait Perfect Memories

20260312

Prompt from DailyPrompt.com

While I didn’t know Aldreda, I knew of her; our, ahem, social circle was small enough that we were aware of all other members by name. She’d always been spoken of very highly, and was ‘in the money’, both factors in my agreeing to take a business call in the middle of the night. As was the tremor and tension in her voice.
A pipe had burst, but this hadn’t been realised until water pooled and brought down the ceiling - soaking her personal portrait collection. They were of immense sentimental value, and if I could save them, I was to name my price.
So here I was, being ushered where the portraits had been moved. Aldreda assured me that nothing else had been done. Good; my experience is that the worst damage happens when people panic and try to repair the initial damage without knowing what they’re doing.
I appraise the situation as I unpack my tools. Eight paintings, from the styles (and what signatures I recognised) stretching back over five centuries. Such a collection had far more than just sentimental value, though I didn’t doubt that’s what motivated her. Each was of a man, dressed in fine clothing for the era, smiling warmly.
“Yes, my husbands.” Aldreda wound a lock of hair tightly around one finger, a nervous tic which I suspected she’d been indulging heavily since the accident, going by how the hair either side of her face was remarkably curly compared to the rest. “If, if the paintings can’t be saved, please do your best to preserve the faces.”
“I think I can keep the damage minimal.” I assure her. “You were right to call me quickly.”
She relaxes somewhat. “I hope you’re right. While I do have other mementos of them, these are the most precious. I… I find it upsetting, realising that I’ve forgotten faces which were so dear to me. But time takes it all.”
“I know exactly what you mean.” We exchange soft, sympathetic smiles. “That’s what drew me to painting, actually. Trying to preserve the mortals around me. It’s much easier, these days, of course, with so many devices that can take videos for you.”
“Yes, Henry thought it silly that I wanted a proper portrait of him.” She cast a fond, faintly pained glance at the newest portrait. “But he humoured me. Bless him. I am glad to have the photos and everything too. I just… I wanted him properly amongst the others. You know? Perhaps I’m just old-fashioned.”
“Well, there’s only so many decades you can live before you stop bothering to change for each.”
She laughs, and, my appraisal done, I turn to my work.
Thankfully she clearly understands the challenges of using magic, and does not disturb my focus. Far too many people assume that you simply summon mystic energies and it does whatever you want, a fallacy akin to expecting that pouring a bucket of paint onto a canvas will produce the portrait you envision.
Knowing how to do something without magic is nine-tenths of doing it with magic. And I have studied both paintings and magic for several mortal lifetimes. A task like this, paintings which had been properly preserved and cared for, where the damage hadn’t been given time to sink past the surface… putting things right was relatively simple.
Simple and exhausting. Far more so than any mere physical exertion, for magic is drawn from the soul. But any mundane process would be slow, too slow I feared.
I was shaking when I stepped back from the final portrait and surveyed my work, giving a satisfied nod to find all the paintings looking as they should. As they remembered being, only a few hours before.
“Thank you, thank you!” Aldreda gushed, catching my arm and helping me to a comfy chair which must have been brought in while I was busy. “Please, don’t strain yourself further. Let me ring for refreshments. Tea? Coffee?”
“A coffee would be wonderful.”
After all, I still need to drive home.
“What about a slice of cake? Or some cookies? Get your sugar back up. We have delightful macaroons, or carrot cake. There’s fruit cake in the pantry, too.”
“Good old-fashioned fruit cake?”
“Like I would allow any other in the house!” She gave a merry laugh, and I managed an approving chuckle.
“Coffee and a solid slice of fruit cake would do wonders for me right now.”
“Let me tell the staff.” Aldreda turned to the door, then spun back to earnestly add “And then we shall discuss your proper compensation!”
I smile and nod. Admiring the beautiful, grateful art surrounding me as she vanishes into the hall. A job well done. I hope they continue to be a comfort for her for centuries to come.

Prompt was “Mementos”