Who's the Murderer

There is a party game where each player is assigned a character and given a script to learn. Some characters are simply part of the background, while others play more significant roles in the story. For example, a detective, a victim, and, of course, a murderer.

This painting was inspired by one of those games. A friend chose it for his birthday celebration, and we all happily joined in. He played the victim. I was Penny Loafer, one of the background characters, while my husband played Bobbie Bright, the valedictorian, whose role helped move the story forward.

I won't share too much about the game because I don't want to spoil the experience for anyone who hasn't played it. What I will say is that it was an unforgettable evening filled with laughter, suspense, and surprisingly convincing acting. It reminded me of one of my favorite television shows: Who's the Murderer on Mango TV. I've loved the show ever since I was in college.

The show found me through friends. My "roommates," who actually weren't my roommates, lived downstairs and were some of the kindest people I knew. They would knock on my door without warning because they knew I was probably buried in school/work, completely oblivious to how hungry, tired, or isolated I had become. They would bring me food, keep me company, or simply put on Who's the Murderer in the background while they hung out in my room, hoping I'd eventually look up from my books. Before long, I was hooked.

I recently returned to China and had the chance to see them again. Time has flown, but their warmth hasn't changed. I introduced them to my husband, and we spent a wonderful day catching up. The three girls who once gathered in that little apartment building have all grown up and taken different paths, yet being together again felt comfortingly familiar.

This painting is about more than a murder mystery game. It is about friendship, shared memories, and the unexpected ways small moments become lasting ones. Every time I think of Who's the Murderer, I'm reminded not only of a fun game night with friends, but also of those sunny college afternoons, when laughter, food, and a television show brought us together and quietly became part of the story of growing up.