I kept sitting there with the same bright look on my face. What then took place?  I didn't understand it at first.

As I peacefully dozed off, a sudden jolt transported me to the bustling City of Delft in the 17th century.

The bulky fireplace didn't give off much heat, and the lamps cast a dim light. The door creaked open, and Johannes's wife, Catharina, entered with another candlelight. 

I felt like she could see right through me as she smiled at her husband. She put the candlelight next to me, added more wood to the hearth, and then started sharing some 

local gossip she'd heard at the butcher shop. Johannes tried to listen but seemed to be thinking about something else. She talked about how food prices were going up this week and how they would have to buy winter clothes for their bigger kids next month.

He irritably cut her off and said, "Oh my God, Catharina! What are you talking about? I can't wait for this oil paint to dry. I need to finish her right away."

"Do you already have a buyer for her?" she asked in surprise. He hadn't said anything because he had already given in to his thoughts. 

As for me, all of a sudden, I saw their sad and challenging future...

But at the same time, the annoying sound woke me up, and therefore,