James finally has the courage to ask Ellie out. James and Ellie both agreed that they should go to the art museum because there was an Infinity mirror exhibit that Ellie really liked to go to. James was staring at the giant sign. “Infinity mirror,” he looked at Ellie while she was talking to the front desk about their general admission price. She turned back to see James. They looked at each other. Ellie smiled. James smiled back and looked at the museum map. “Okay. We’re here,” he thought to himself. “There’s the regular mirror exhibit. The ground floor has the stage. The Canadian artist section.  The South African section of the art museum. Where’s the Infinity Mirror exhibit? It’s probably on the second floor,” Ellie poked James at his side. He jumped. “Hey!” Ellie held up their tickets. “Come. Let’s go. They went to the entrance and gave the kiosk machine the tickets.

On the first floor, they stumbled into a small hall of mirrors. “This isn’t the exhibit we’re after. But we can check it out if you want,” said Ellie. James walked around the room with all the mirrors. Ellie went the other direction. James walked around the room looking at himself in all the mirrors. One mirror was much taller and curved than all the others. James went to that particular mirror. James saw himself in the mirror, but a more broken, pale, hollow, with devil ears and a massive frown. He fell back, screaming in the process. Ellie quickly came over to James on her knees. “James! Are you alright? She asked.” James shook his head. “Did. Did you see that?” Ellie asked. James quickly got up and went back to the mirror, where he saw his demons. He looked at it. It was just him. It was a mirror that was curved inwards, so it made him much skinnier.  “Well, it was there. Maybe it was just my imagination,” he said, embarrassed. Ellie laughed. “You nearly gave me a heart attack. I was so worried for you for a second.” She patted James on the back. “You’re working too much, James. Come, there’s something I want to show you.” She grabbed James by the hand and led him out of the mirror exhibit. 

Ellie led James to the second floor where the Infinity mirror is. Luckily, it was only a short line today. “Here we are!” said Ellie. “The highlight of our trip!” “I imagine the line being bigger,” James said. “Well, lucky for us, we don’t have to wait that long for the exhibit.” They only waited for 10 minutes before it was their turn. In front of the door to the infinity mirror room was the host. “Hey guys. Just want to let you guys know that it’s 2 minutes for each turn, so make sure you guys take your pictures in while enjoying the experience. “Thanks,” said James. The host opens the door to the room. “Have fun,” he said. Ellie bolted in. James followed, and the host closed the door behind them. Ellie was amazed at how beautiful everything was. She grabbed her phone and took a video of the whole room. James did the same thing, too. “So, James. What do you think?” Ellie asked. “It’s really cool,” he replied. “It’s also really trippy.” Ellie laughed. “Come. Let’s take a selfie.” “Sure. Uh. Which one is the real you?” Ellie laughed and poked him behind. He turned around, and they took a few photos. Ellie even also helped James recreate the Spider-Man meme with a few mirrors. Shortly after the door opened. “Alright, guys. Times up,” said the host. They both exited the exhibit.

“That was a lot of fun,” said Ellie. “Yeah, it is,” he said. “Where to?” Ellie shrugged. “I don’t know if down there has all the sculptures. We can check that place out. They walked around in one of those rooms with the wooden sculptures. Nothing really stands out to James. The only thing that stands out is how quiet the room is. It’s so quiet that you can drop a needle and you can hear it. James sat down at a nearby bench while looking at one of the wooden sculptures. Ellie continues to walk around the room. James looked at her. Ellie smiled and went down to sit beside him shortly after. James stared at one of the wooden sculptures. “So what do you think?” Ellie asked. James didn’t respond. He was thinking about something else. “James,” he still didn’t respond. “James!” James finally responded. “What?” “I said, what do you think of this sculpture?” “Oh. It’s large, wide, and has a very irregular shape to it. Does that make any sense?” She giggled. “Close enough. Is everything alright?” “Everything is fine,” James said while getting up. “Let’s walk around a little bit more.”

James and Ellie went to a dimly lit room where they took a seat and rested. There was a long silence. James stood up and took a walk around the exhibit they’re in. It’s filled with figurines and a timeline of Jesus Christ. James continues to explore the room. He found the complete timeline. From Jesus’s birth, to his first miracle, to being arrested, to being crucified, to being resurrected. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He stood there in silence and prayed. 

“Lord,

Please help me with my problems that are going on right now. Please release me from my demons. I’m scared that someone that I love and care so much will be terrified of what they’ll see of me. I’m worried that she won’t accept me of who I am. I’m terrified of what the future will hold. I’m giving you this and trusting you with my path. Please take the wheel because I can’t take it anymore. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Ellie came over to James and hugged him from behind. “Hey, are you okay?” she asked. James held her hand. “Yeah. I’m alright. There’s just a lot going on in my head. Come, there’s still some stuff to see.” She giggled. “Silly. This is near the end. This hallway connects to the main entrance with the stage. “Then let’s go.”

When they went to the entrance, a small band was setting up their equipment. James and Ellie went up to them. “Hey guys,” said James. “What’s going on here?” One of the band members replied. “We’re just setting up for tonight. It’s jazz night at the art museum. We got chairs already, so feel free to take a seat.” James and Ellie grabbed some chairs and took a seat and watch the band set up. They were moving some keyboards, drums, and an acoustic guitar. James was dozing off. “Hey James,” said Ellie. “Is there something on your mind?” Before James started to speak, one of the band members interrupted him. “Can you two please watch our stuff for like 5 minutes? We’re just getting some food outside.” “Yeah, we can watch it for you,” said Ellie. “Thanks.” “Can I use your guitar?” James asked. The band was hesitant at first. “I guess. Just please don’t break it. It’s a rental.” “Deal.” James went on stage and picked up the guitar. “You’re itching to play the guitar?” Ellie asked. “Well, sort of,” said James. “I heard from someone that said ‘love is when someone else’s heart sings a song that only you can hear’. You know that from someone?” “I think I remembered that quote,” she said while tilting her head to him. “Why?” “A lot is going on in my head, and since I’m not very good at words, this is the best way for me to express what I’m feeling.” Ellie is intrigued. “Okay, James. Let’s hear it”. James took a few minutes to tune the guitar and get comfortable. Shortly after, he started to play the guitar and sing.

“You don’t really want to know what I’ve seen

Wouldn’t want to walk a mile on my feet

It’s cold out there

You wouldn’t want to meet the devil in me

You couldn’t count the sum of all my fears

Tryna be the one voice that you hear when you need healing

What if I’m the most broken out of you

I’m not quite the man I am on the outside

I feel all of the tears, I don’t cry

Oh, I

Though I try

I’m not half the man, I’m not

‘Cause half the time I wanna get high

Just so half the time I don’t wanna die

Oh, I

Though I try

I’m not half the man

Am I?

There was a long silence. Ellie was trying to hold back her tears. She smiled. The band got back and heard some snippets of James’s song. They appalled. He nodded. “Thank you,” he said. Ellie came up to the stage and gave James a big hug. “There you go. Now you know everything,” he said. “You’re the only half man I loved,” Ellie said while crying. “I was so worried for you for so long, but now I know why. I’m here. I got you.” They hear a scream across the room. It’s the band. “Encore. Encore.” James and Ellie laughed. James sat down on his chair. Ellie sat beside him. She put her head on his shoulders. James continues to play

“Do you really want to know what I see?

Because when I look with my eyes, I see someone beautiful, oh yeah

And I love you

Girl, I love you

Sometimes I close my eyes

On those late-night drives

Saying ‘Jesus take the wheel

Jesus, take the wheel one last night.’

I’m not quite the man I am on the outside

I feel all of the tears, I don’t cry

Oh, I

Though I try

I’m not half the man, I’m not

‘Cause half the time I wanna get high

Just so half the time I don’t wanna die

Oh, I

Though I try

I’m not half the man

Heaven”

The band clapped again. James laughed. “Thank you,” he said. He returned the guitar to the band. “That was amazing!” said the lead guitarist in the band. “You should come join our band. We love to have someone who plays some stripped-down, acoustic tunes.” “I’m alright, thanks,” James replied. “I’m happy with what I have right now.” “Alright. If you ever change your mind, let me know.” James nodded. He held Ellie by her hand, and they exited the museum and headed out for the night.