Title: "Don't Leave Me Vulnerable"
Date started: 8 May 2012
Date finished: 16 May 2012
Time spent (total): 12+ hours (numerous breaks)
Media used: Mechanical pencil on 8 1/2 by 11-inch sketch paper
Music while drawing:
- "A Thousand Years" - Christina Perri
- "Saeglopur" - Sigur Ros
- "Vulnerable" - Secondhand Serenade
- "Moonchild" - M-83 and Hubble

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Evo and I sat in the back of my SUV, while Kai had parked his sedan next to us. He and his girlfriend, Kamei, hopped out of the silver tuner, and the four of us watched the sun setting behind the Manhattan Skyline from across the Brooklyn Bridge. The long shadows of the skyscrapers stretched across the water, reaching out to us as the sun disappeared. I brought out my guitar and began singing one of my favorite songs, an acoustic song by Secondhand Serenade.

". . .Please don't tell me that I'm the only one that's vulnerable. . .impossible. . ." I sang, as Evo leaned against my shoulder. I played a beautiful melody on my guitar, an acoustic I've taken great care of since my high school days, while I was living in Japan eight years ago. I went on, Evo slowly running her gentle fingers along my upper arm, as she looked up at me, her big, innocent eyes gazing up at me admirably, expressing how she felt about my singing. Or was it me she loved and admired, the man who has been dating her for nearly a year, the man who expressed his feelings for her through elegant song, and who won over her heart in a proposal of an everlasting marriage?

Our friends Kai and Kamei were leaning against the trunk of Kai's car, holding each other as they rocked slowly to the rhythm of the song I sang. I heard Kamei giggle delightfully, as Kai planted a kiss on her cheek, pulling her close to him in a hug as she leaned against his chest, heart to heart.

Evo wrapped her arms around me neck, making me pause my singing as she planted a kiss on my cheek, filling me with a warmth that I knew then the answer to my question: it was that she loved me.

". . .and it's true I can't go on without you. . .your smile makes me see clearer. . .if you could only see in the mirror,what I see. . ."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Atsushi, Evo, Kai and Kamei go for a double date

The original intent for this drawing was that I was gonna have it be a scene where all six of my New Yorker OCs (Atsushi, Evo, Yosha, Elisa, Kai, and Kamei) are having a street meeting in a parking lot early in the night, having a good time and singing along to Atsushi's guitar playing and singing.

I never did notice the mistake I made while I was drawing this until I was finished with the lineart. . .but Atsushi is holding his guitar left-handed.

From now on, he'll be a leftie. . .oy. . .but no matter. I still love this drawing.

The lyrics Atsushi is singing in the description are from the Secondhand Serenade song "Vulnerable," from his 2008 album "Awake." Here is a link to the song Vulnerable. I like this song =u=

OC Atsushi Sukhara belongs to me, ~Kai-Taks.
OC Evolet Kitabayashi belongs to me, ~Kai-Taks.
OC Kai Takashi belongs to me, ~Kai-Taks.
OC Kamei Nakamura belongs to me, ~Kai-Taks.
Song "Vulnerable" by Secondhand Serenade (John Vesely) from album "Awake."