Marco did not paint for three years. He was a famous mural artist, but a bad comment hurt him very much. Now he sat in his small apartment. Old brushes were everywhere. Marco knew he had to bite the bullet and try again.
His sister Elena visited him that evening. Elena took after him—she was creative too. "You waste your gift," she said. "The city council wants murals for the new community center. Why not try?"
Marco was not sure. "I cannot keep up with young artists. They are faster and better."
"Hold on," Elena said. "That is not true. You have something they do not—experience and soul."
Marco sketched designs every night that week. His hands moved fast and easy. He looked forward to sending his work to the council. But he was still nervous.
The council chose his design! Marco felt happy and scared. The project was very big—a wall with the neighborhood's history. Some days were very hard.
One afternoon, a young artist talked to Marco. "Your work made me paint again," she said. Marco understood—his struggle helped other people too.
Elena came to see the finished mural. They stood together and looked at the beautiful colors. "You did not look the other way from your gift," Elena said. "You came back."
Marco smiled. He had his brush in his hand. He was ready to paint again.