Some time has passed and this relationship has been going for awhile. Perhaps a year or two maybe more. perhaps even less. The man is at the point where he is strongly considering asking the woman to marry her. But before he does, he starts to notice little things. He feels that she may not be acting like herself. She starts calling the shots for the man, and even tho he isn't comfortable, he'll do anything to make her happy.
"The Painting" tells the tale of the relationship changing, and not for the good.