sábado, 30 de maio de 2015

Broken Hearts

I had just closed my eyes when I heard my phone vibrate. It was a message from Helena.

"I just wanna explode into a million pieces"

I felt my heart sink. Helena was my best friend. She had been battling depression for years. Started when she was a kid. I didn't know the whole story, I just knew she heard those words for the first time by the mouth  of a therapist when she was only fourteen.

"What happened?"
"Since when something need to happen?"

I met Helena at our senior year at high school. When the seating chart was set up by the teacher, I was assigned to the desk behind hers. At first sight, I thought we didn't had much in common. She liked rock music, I've always been more into pop (which she found lame). We both liked movies, but she was lot more cult, while I was a fan of silly romantic comedies. She valued sense, me: sensibility. She was an open book and I'd learn to hid my true self - if ever there was one - since an early age. Somehow, though, we bonded.

"Usually there's a treager"
"Yeah... but, I don't know. I can do anything "

Over time, we became close. In some way, she was able to crack the walls I'd built around myself. There was no romantic inclination whatsoever, but I felt like she could understand me better than myself. I had always been afraid of other people's judgments about me, so I got used to wear masks. I felt miserable. But in front of her, I felt naked. When I was expecting my damaged self to scare her away, she stayed. She accepted me.

"But you had a plan remember? Stick to that plan."
"But what's the point?"

Turns out that even though we were different, we were also very similar. There were little coincidences. Our moms had known each other for years, they worked together, and even so we had never met; we lived closed by; we were both introverted people. But the most important thing is that we saw the world in the same way. We felt the world in the same way. We both felt broken. So we became each other's rock. She was there for me. I tried to be there for her. I felt more connected to her than to anyone on my own family. I loved her. We didn't share blood, but she became my family.

"The point is... living? Making at least what depends on you to be OK. It's everything going to be OK, Helena.".

It hurt so much not being able to make her feel better. Being more rational, she would always come up with some practical solution to my problems when I was felling down. I wasn't able to do that. What I could do, was offering emotional support and even that I couldn't do. I felt worthless, powerless. What was the right thing to say? She was drowning and I felt I wasn't strong enough to pull her out. I barely had strength to keep my own head above the water. I just wanted to take the pain from her. I was terrified of losing her.

"I'm tired of waiting things to be OK."

I got up and tuned the lights on. I put on a coat, grabbed my phone and left home. There was no moon in the sky. I ran as fast as I could to her house and rang the bell. She didn't answer, so I kept pressing the button.  The neighbors could wake up, but who cares? Suddenly, a faint light appeared inside the house. She opened the door. Her eyes were red and she was sniffing.

"Why are you here?"
"You're my family. You're my person."

Crying, I held her tightly in my arms. I hoped she could feel how deeply I loved her. I hope it was enough to warm her heart, just a little bit. I wished I was able to give her as much strength as she gave me. I wasn't ready to give up. I wasn't ready to let her give up. Life had constantly been knocking her down, but she was the strongest person I knew. She was still here. I had to believe that the sun would come out soon. I had to believe we were meant for more than this. In my heart, I knew she was special. I knew she had more to give. I couldn't do much, but I could be here, holding her until the world stopped spinning.

"You never let go of your person."



Pessoas Quebradas (versão em pt)

Eu tinha acabado de fechar meus olhos quando eu ouvi o celular vibrar. Era uma mensagem de Helena.

“Eu só quero explodir em um milhão de pedaços”

Eu senti meu coração afundar. Helena era minha melhor amiga. Ela vinha lutando contra a depressão por anos. Havia começado quando ela era criança. Eu nãos sabia a história toda, mas eu sabia que ela havia ouvido tais palavras da boca de um terapeuta pela primeira vez na idade dos catorzes anos de idade. Jovem demais.

“O que aconteceu?”

“Desde quando algo precise acontecer?”

Eu conheci Helena no último ano escolar. Quando o professor marcou lugares, eu acabei ficando na carteira atrás da dela. À primeira vista, eu pensei que não tínhamos muito em comum. Ela gostava de rock e eu gostei mais de pop (o que ela achava ridículo). Nós gostávamos de filmes, mas ela muito mais cult, enquanto eu era fã de comédias românticas bobas. Ela valorizava razão, eu: sensibilidade. Ela era um livro aberto e eu havia aprendido a esconder o meu eu verdadeiro, se é que ele existia. Contudo, de alguma forma nós nos aproximamos.

“Geralmente tem um gatilho”

“Sim, mas... sei lá. Eu não consigo fazer nada”

Com o tempo, nós nos tornamos bons amigos. De alguma forma, ela havia sido capaz de penetrar os muros que eu tinha construído em volta de mim mesmo. Não havia nenhuma inclinação romântica, mas e sentia que ela me conhecia mais do que eu conhecia a mim mesmo. Eu sempre havia tido medo do julgamento de outros sobre mi, então eu acostumei a usar máscaras. Eu me sentia miserável. Mas com ela, eu me sentia despido. Quando eu estava esperando que meus defeitos a assustassem, ela ficou. Ela me aceitou.

“Mas você tinha um plano, lembra? Continue focada nesse plano”

“Mas qual o sentido?”

No fim das contas, acabou que éramos bem parecidos. Havia algumas incríveis coincidências. Nossas mães se conheciam, elas trabalhavam juntas e mesmo assim nós demoramos a nos conhecer; nós vivíamos quase do lado um do outro;

Nós éramos ambos pessoas introvertidas. Mas a coisa mais importante é que víamos o mundo da mesma maneira. Sentíamos o mundo dá mesma maneira. Nós dois nos sentíamos quebrados, então nos tornamos a fortaleza um do outro. Ela estava lá por mim e eu tentava estar lá por ela. Eu sentia mais conectado a ela do que a qualquer pessoa da minha família. Eu a amava. Não tínhamos o mesmo sangue, mas ela se tornou minha família.

“O sentido é… viver? Fazer pelo menos o que depende de você ficar Ok. Vai tudo ficar bem, Helena”

Me machucava muito não ser capaz de faze-la se sentir melhor. Por ser mais racional, ela sempre vinha com soluções práticas para meus problemas quando estava triste. Eu não conseguia fazer isso. O que eu podia fazer era oferecer apoio emocional, mas até isso eu não conseguia fazer direito. Eu me sentia inútil, impotente. Qual era a coisa certa a dizer? Ela estava afundando e eu não forte o suficiente para puxa-la. Eu mal conseguia manter minha própria cabeça fora da água. Eu só queria arrancar a dor dela. Eu morria de medo de perde-la.

“Estou cansada de esperar as coisas melhorarem”

Levantei e liguei as luzes. Coloquei um casaco, peguei meu telefone e sai de casa. Não havia luar. Eu corri o mais rápido possível para a casa dela e toquei a campainha. Ela não respondeu, então continuei pressionando o botão. Os vizinhos poderiam acordar, mas quem liga? De repente, uma luz fraca apareceu dentro da casa. Ela abriu a porta. Seus olhos estavam vermelhos e ela estava fungando.

“O que você tá fazendo aqui?”

“Você é minha família. Você é a minha pessoa”

Chorando, a segurei em meus braços. Eu esperava que ela podia senti o quanto eu a amava. Eu esperava que fosse o suficiente para aquecer seu coração, só um pouquinho. Eu desejava poder dar para ela tanta força quando ela dava a mim. E não estava pronto para desistir. Eu não estava pronto para deixa-la desistir. A vida vinha constantemente a deixando pra baixo, mas ela era a pessoa mais forte que eu conhecia. Ela ainda estava aqui. Eu tinha que acreditar que o sol iria nascer em breve. Eu tinha que acreditar que éramos capazes de mais que do que isso. Em meu coração, eu sabia que ela era especial. Eu sabia que ela havia mais a oferecer par ao mundo. Eu não podia fazer muito, mas eu podia estar aqui por ela, até que o mundo parasse de girar.

“Você nunca desiste da sua pessoa”
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domingo, 24 de maio de 2015

Girls and Boys

Andre (online)
Dalila (online)
Dalila (09:00): Hey, De. Are you watching Scooby doo?
Andre (09:02): yup
Dalila (09:03): Why’s shaggy so stupid?
Andre (09:04): he’s funny. I like him
Dalila (09:05): he’s not funny at all. He’s a moron
Andre (09:06): You can’t call people moron! Mom says is a very offensive word o_O
Dalila (09:07): But it’s true though }:)
Andre (09:08): ー_ー
Dalila (09:18): you decided what you’ll gonna do yet?
Andre (09:19): yup… I guess so
Dalila (09:20): you say yup too much
Andre (09:21): so what? I say what I wanna say
Dalila (09:22): you such a jerke sometimes
Andre (09:23): Shut up
Dalila (09:24): :@
Andre (offline)
Dalila (offline)


Andre(online)
Dalila (online)
Dalila (18:13): sorry I called you a jerke
Andre (18:14): it’s fine. ^^ Sorry I said shut up
Dalila (18:14): mom read our talk. She scold me for saying jerke. She says is not “proper language for a lady”, whatever that means. Dad says it all the time to his friends
Andre (18:15): but your dad is a guy
Dalila (18:16): so guys can say it and girls can’t?
Andre (18:17): dunno. I know I can’t. Mom would let me without dessert for it
Dalila (18:18): that’s what mine did. Sucks ><
Andre (18:23): So… you decided what activity you gonna do?
Dalila (18:25): Karate :)
Andre (18:26): there will only be boys there
Dalila (18:27): IDC. I’ll kick ass
Andre (18:28): Bet you will! I’m sorry for the other boys lol
Dalila (18:29): hahaha
And you. What you gonna do?
Andre (18:31): Ballet…
Dalila (18:32): Why?
Andre (18:33): I saw in a movie last week and I thought it was beautiful… And I like dancing
Dalila (18:34): I prefer sports but dancing is nice too, I guess
Andre (18:35): :)
Andre (offline)
Dalila (offline)


Andre (online)
Dalila (online)
Andre (21:48): Dad won’t let me do ballet :’(
Dalila (21:50): WTH. But why?
Andre (21:51): he got very angry when I asked him. VBD. Dunno why. He said only fags do ballet
Dalila (21:52): what’s a fag?
Andre (21:53): IDK
Dalila (21:54): googling it
Dalila (21:57): hm… it means... boys who like to kiss other boys
Andre (21:58): but I don’t want to kiss anybody. I’m 10
Dalila (21:59): Yeah. Kissing. Ew.
Andre (22:00): I don’t get the adults
Dalila (22:01): Me neither
Dalila (22:13): what you gonna do then?
Andre (22:14): guess Karate with you. Or maybe swimming
Dalila (22:15): but you don’t like sports
Andre (22:16): I know…
Andre (22:18): Actually, I like swimming a little. Yeah, it’ll be swimming
Dalila (22:19): I like it too. I’ll do it with you
Andre (22:20): You sure? What about karate?
Dalila (22:21): Nah. I’m much better than those boys anyway. It would be very boring. I like challenges haha
Andre (22:22): haha :D Thanks, D
Andre (22:25): mom is making me go to bed now. She says she will take my phone if I don’t turn it off
Dalila (22:26) It’s ok. I’m going to bed too. See you tomorrow. :*
Andre (22:27): See you. Night :)
Dalila 22:28): night ;)
Andre (offline)
Dalila (offline)

Meninos e Meninas (versão em pt)

Andre (online) 
Dalila (online) 
Dalila (09:00): Oi De vc tá vendo scooby doo?
Andre (09:02): aham
Dalila (09:03): Pq que o salsicha é tão bobo?
Andre (09:04): gosto dele. acho ele engraçado
Dalila (09:05): ele não é engraçado. é retardado
Andre (09:06): vc não pode chamar os outros de retardado! Minha mãe disse que é uma palava muito ofensiva
Dalila (09:07): mas é verdade }:)
Andre (09:08): ー_ー
Dalila (09:18): já decidiu o que vai fazer?
Andre (09:19): aham…acho que sim
Dalila (09:20): vc fala aham demais
Andre (09:21): e daí? eu falo o que eu quero
Dalila (09:22): vc é tão babaca as vezes
Andre (09:23): cala boca
Dalila (09:24): :@
Andre (offline) 
Dalila (offline) •


Andre(online) 
Dalila (online) 
Dalila (18:13): desculpa te chamar de babaca
Andre (18:14): tudo bem. ^^ desculpa te mandar calar a boca
Dalila (18:14): minha mãe leu nossa conversa. Me deu a maior bronca por ter te chamado de babaca. Ela disse que não é coisa que uma "dama" fala. sei lá o que ela quer dizer. papai fala toda hora pros amigos dele
Andre (18:15): mas seu pai é menino
Dalila (18:16): então meninos podem dizer e meninas não?
Andre (18:17): não sei. sei que eu não posso. Minha mãe ia me deixar sem sobremesa se eu falasse
Dalila (18:18): minha fez isso ><
Andre (18:23): então… você decidiu o que vai fazer?
Dalila (18:25): Karate :)
Andre (18:26): só vai ter meninos lá
Dalila (18:27): tô nem aí. Vou arrebentar!
Andre (18:28): aposto que vai! Coitado deles...
Dalila (18:29): hahaha
E vc. o que vai fazer
Andre (18:31): Ballet…
Dalila (18:32): Pq?
Andre (18:33): Vi num filme semana passada e achei tão bonito... e  eu gosto de dançar
Dalila (18:34): eu prefiro esportes, mas dançar é legal tb
Andre (18:35): :)
Andre (offline) 
Dalila (offline) 


Andre (online) 
Dalila (online) 
Andre (21:48): papai n vai deixar eu fazer ballet :’(
Dalila (21:50): :o pq n?
Andre (21:51): ele ficou bem bravo qndo eu perguntei pra ele. n sei pq. Disse que só bichas fazem ballet
Dalila (21:52): o que é uma bicha?
Andre (21:53): n sei
Dalila (21:54): deixa eu ver no google
Dalila (21:57): hm… é... garotos que beijam garotos
Andre (21:58):  mas eu n quero beijar ngm
Dalila (21:59): aham. beijos. Eca!
Andre (22:00): n entendo os adultos
Dalila (22:01): nem eu
Dalila (22:13): oq vai fazer então
Andre (22:14): acho que karate com vc. ou natação
Dalila (22:15): mas vc n gosta de esporte
Andre (22:16): eu sei…
Andre (22:18): se bem que eu gosto de nadar um pouco. é, vai ser natação
Dalila (22:19): tb gosto. vou fazer com vc!
Andre (22:20): tem certeza? mas e o karate?
Dalila (22:21): Nah. sou muito melhor que aqueles meninos bobos mesmo. gosto de desafios! haha
Andre (22:22): haha :D vlw, D
Andre (22:25):  minha mãe tá me mandando ir dormir. ela disse que vai pegar meu celular se eu n desligar
Dalila (22:26) td bem. tb vou dormir. te vejo amanhã. :*
Andre (22:27): até! boa noite :)
Dalila 22:28): boa noite;)
Andre (offline) 
Dalila (offline) 
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Avenger

I’d never thought of myself as a vindictive person until I met those despicable little creatures. They came into my house and made a fool of me. Argh! They thought they had defeated me. They thought fire would destroy me, but they were wrong. I survived, although severely burned and weak. I spend months laying in a hospital bed. I didn’t had the energy to go after those nasty children right away. But I knew good things come to those who wait. For many years, I laid low, carefully planning the day to put my sweet revenge in practice.

The boy was a grown man now. He had a farm and was the father of two beautiful little children. I watched him and his family carefully for months. How he loved his beautiful children and his lovely wife. I’ve never met a father so dedicated, so caring like he was. So I thought… what a shame would it be if they just... vanished from his life, hun? How heartbroken he would be if something happened with those he loved the most. I knew he could handle physical pain, but this? It would forever 
damage his soul! I must admit, such thought pleased me very much.

On a sunny morning, I went to the farm pretending to be selling apples. I hid my scars so the children would not be afraid. Caring for their health, the boy had taught them to dislike candy, but big bright red apples I knew they would not resist. I knocked on the front door when their mom was gone to town to run some errands and their dad was working on the fields. They were so delightful children. So polite! They wanted the apples to make a pie for their parents, but I convinced them to taste them first. Yes, the apples were beautiful, but sometimes appearances are deceiving. One small bite and they were dead. The wife gave me a little more trouble. I had to hire a very strong man, the kind that does everything for money, to help me kidnap her. She resisted, but he was able to knock her unconscious. Then, he helped me transport her to where she would spend the rest of her days: confined in a tower with no one around to listen her screaming.

Now was the time to deal with the girl. I hated her the most! She had grown to become a beautiful and independent woman and now she owned a candy store. Ironic, right? How proud she was of her business. It had not been easy for her to become such a successful
businessperson. It took her many years of hard work and sacrifices. However, it had been worth it. Kids from the whole city would come to the store to buy her delicious treats. She had all kinds. She loved how the children smiled and how their eyes shined when they entered her place. She was so happy… it’s a shame her happiness didn’t last longer. For her, it would be eye for an eye. In a moonless night, I waited until she closed the store and went to bed at the second floor. Then, I broke the lock of the door and quietly spread oil in the entire place. A match was all that it took to bring her precious candy store to the ground. From a distance, I watched as the fire took away the life of the girl who tried to end mine.

You may say that I was a little harsh on them, but they deserved. They humiliated me. Worse! They thought they were better than I was. Me! The greatest which of all time! Silly little kids. It took long enough, but at last, they paid. Revenge… ah, revenge is a dish best served cold.


A Vingadora (versão em pt)

Eu nunca tinha pensado em mim mesma como uma pessoa vingativa até que eu conheci aquelas criaturas desprezíveis. Eles vieram para minha casa e me fizeram de boba! Argh. Ele acharam que tinham me derrotado. Eles acharam que eu seria destruída pelo fogo, mas eles se enganaram. Eu sobrevivi, mesmo que queimada e fraca. Eu passei vários meses prostrada em uma cama de hospital. Eu não tinha energia para ir atrás daqueles pestinhas, mas eu sabia que coisas boas estão reservadas para aqueles que são pacientes. Por muitos anos, eu me escondi e planejei cuidadosamente o dia em que eu poria minha vingança em prática.

O garoto era um homem agora. Ele tinha um fazenda e era o pai de duas crianças maravilhosas. Eu observei a ele e sua família durante meses. Como ele amava suas belas crianças e sua amável esposa. Eu nunca conheci um pai tão dedicado, tão afetivo como ele era. Então eu pensei comigo mesma... quão triste seria se eles simplesmente... desaparecem de sua vida? Não acha que seria uma verdadeira tragédia? Quão partido iria ficar seu coração se algo acontece com aqueles que ele mais amava. Eu sabia que ele podia aguentar dor física, mas isso? Iria destruir sua alma! Eu devo admitir que tal pensamente me deixava bem contente.

Em uma manhã de sol, eu fui até a fazendo disfarçada de vendedora de maçãs. Eu escondi minhas cicatrizes para não assustar as crianças. Sempre atento à saúde, o garoto havia ensinado seus filhos a não gostarem de doces, mas maçã grandes e brilhantes eu sabia que eles não iriam resistir. Eu bati na porta quando a mãe e o pai deles estavam fora. Eles eram crianças tão boazinhas. Tão educadas! Eles queriam usar as maçãs para fazer uma torta para seus pais, mas eu os convenci a prová-las primeiro. Afinal, eram sim belas maçãs, mas as aparências enganam. Uma pequena mordida e eles estavam mortos! A esposa me deu mais trabalho. Eu tive que contratar um homem forte, daquele tipo que faz tudo por dinheiro, para me ajudar a sequestrá-la. Ela resistiu, mas ele conseguiu deixá-la inconsciente. Então, ele me ajudou a levá-la para o lugar onde ele passaria o resto dos seus dias: confinada em uma torre no meio do nada, onde ninguém poderia ouvir seus gritos desesperados. 

Agora era a vez de lidar com a garota. Ela era quem eu mais odiava! Ela tinha crescido e se transformado em uma linda e independente mulher. Ela agora era dona de uma loja de doces. Irônico, não? Ela tinha tanto orgulho do seu negócio. Não tinha sido fácil para ela virar uma empresária tão bem sucedida. Foram necessários vários anos de trabalho duro e sacrifícios. Entretanto, tinha valido a pena.  Crianças de todo o vilarejo iram até sua loja para provar dos seus deliciosos quitutes. Ela tinha de todo tipo! Ela amava como as crianças sorriam  e como seus olhos brilhavam quando elas entravam em sua loja.  Ela estava tão feliz... que pena que essa felicidade não durou muito tempo. Com ela, teria que ser olho por olho. Em uma noite sem luar eu esperei até que fechasse a loja e fosse dormir, no segundo andar do estabelecimento. Então, eu arrombei o cadeado e silenciosamente espalhei óleo no lugar todo. Um simples fósforo foi o que precisou para colocar sua preciosa loja de doces em chamas! De uma distância segura, eu assisti o fogo tomar a vida da garota que tentou acabar com a minha.

Você pode dizer que eu fui muito severa com eles, mas eles mereceram! Eles me humilharam. Pior! Eles pensaram que eram melhores do que eu. Eu! A maior bruxa de todos os tempos! Crianças tolas... Demorou, mas afinal eles pagaram. Sabe o que dizem: a vingança é um prato que se come frio.
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The Course of True Love

When she arrived, I was doing the dishes.

“Honey, I was going to do that! You didn’t have to...,” she said with a big smile in her face. I admired how she was still able to produce such a genuine smile, even with everything that was going on. That’s one of the things I love most about my wife: nothing can drag her spirit down.

“It’s Ok, babe. I’m almost finished”.

She walked to me and gave me a hug.

“Hey, do you wanna watch a movie?” she asked.

“Yeah, go pick one and I’ll be with you in a minute”.

She nodded, gave me a kiss and left the room. I finished the dishes and went to the living room, but Amelia wasn’t there. I decided to wait for her, so I just laid on the sofa and closed my eyes. It had been a very intense day. For both of us.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

I opened my eyes slowly. Ms. Lucia was staring at me and – obviously - she was not happy. She was a very grumpy old lady, Ms Lucia. Great… that’s all I needed.

“I just...” I began but she swiftly interrupted me.

“I don’t care. There’s plenty to be done in the house. Move your lazy ass, for God’s sake”

I took a deep breath and counted to ten. There was no point arguing with Ms. Lucia.

“Fine, I’ll hang out the clothes”, I murmured and left the room. I wondered what had happened. I sighed. It was not easy to live with three women in the house. Especially when they were so different from one another…

My thoughts were interrupted when I stumbled on something left in the middle of the corridor and fell. Millie… always leaving her toys around the house. I felt pain and rubbed my feet. It had sprained. Damn…

I limped to the bedroom, looking for the first aid kit. I never found things in this house. Amelia was always changing the place of things and later never remembered where she had put them. Yeah, she moved the first aid too. Or maybe it was... I thought about calling one of the girls to ask them where the damn thing was, but I didn’t know who to call. I just went to the bathroom. It was the most logical place for something like this to be. Amelia was there, washing her hands. Seeing me limping, her eyes were instantly filled with care.

“What happened?”, she asked me, sounding a little concerned. I married a very lovely woman.

“What. This? Nothing. It’s just a sprain”

“You’re so clumsy, honey!” she said, with a very affectionate tone, “Come here. Let me take care of it”. She gave me her hand and helped me to sit on the toilet. She then found the first aid kit and began to work on my foot.

“There.”, she said, smiling tenderly at me.

“Thank you, babe”. I kissed her. “Do you want to watch that movie now?”

We went to the living room. I took her in my arms and stretched my legs, trying to relax. Some minutes later, she fell sleep. Her breath was heavy, but her face didn’t show any signs of distress. She looked very peaceful. I caressed her hair. I love this woman. I love her so much. I began to wonder what happened in her mind when she was gone. Where does she go while sleeping? I wondered who was here now, this dreaming head on my chest. Is this my Amelia? Or is this Ms. Lucia or even little Millie, stealing her dreams as occasionally they steal her life? I wondered where Amelia went when the others took over her body. The doctors said she was unable to remember the actions of her other selves. They also said that stress is what triggers the episodes, so they have been happening a lot. There’s nothing I can do about it, with her brother’s situation and everything.

I always try to do my best to cope with this situation. I try to surround her with all the love I can give. They said I had to be patient, show empathy. It is hard, so hard, but I guess Shakespeare was right…

“The course of true love never did run smooth”
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Stardust

I found her in the desert lying on the hood of her dark green pickup truck. I knew where to find her. She always went to the same place when she wanted to be alone. I usually tried to give her some space, but tonight I figured she could use someone to talk to. She felt my presence as I came closer to her.
I knew youd find me. You know me well, dont you Kelly?, she said, giving me a crooked smile. She cleared space and I lay beside her. It was the beginning of the spring, but tonight was chilly. The sky, though, was clear.
Do you know why I love to come here?, she asked. I shook my head. Because its the only place in town where you can actually see the stars.
Mom and dad are still pretty upset, I said, changing the subject abruptly. She looked at me silently. She had very enigmatic eyes. They say eyes are the windows to ones soul, but I had the impression that anyone who tried to penetrate her mind though her eyes would get lost in the wildness of her dark-brown irises.
She bit her lower lip and sighed. I could tell that she was feeling guilty. I knew she didnt want to disappoint mom and dad. What I did not understand was why she was choosing to leave. We had a place in our family business secured since we were born.  It was good enough for me. It was a promise that we would never struggle financially. Ive always thought it was good enough for her too. 
 Remember when we were kids and we visited dad at work?, she asked.
Yeah. We pretended we were the bosses!, I replied.
Do you remember what I said when Martha asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up?
You looked at her, like very serious and said...
Dad, of course. We said simultaneously and burst out laughing.  It felt good to be laughing with her. It slightly broke the tension of the situation. Even the air felt warmer for a while. However, the brief light moment was shortly gone and we went back to that awkward silence. The wind blew cold.
I wonder when I gave up trying to be like dad, she uttered, almost in a whisper, I guess I realized I just wanted to be... me
She sat, involved her legs in an embrace and began to cry. I didnt know what to do so I just put my arm around her. 
I dont want you to leave, I finally confessed. I thought I had upset her, but the look she gave me was very endearing.
Look around, Kelly. Theres only dust. This whole city... is just dust. I dont want to become one more grain on the ground. she said, Now look at the stars. They seem so far away and still... so close. I know so many people fail. I know its hard to make it, but I need to try. I wanna reach the sky and shine like the stars. If I stay Ill just... fade away.
She had stopped crying. I felt like she was telling me a secret, something she hadnt confessed to anyone else. It felt good. It felt like I could finally see her. I understood and I respected her for this decision. I involved her in a hug and felt the warmness of her body. 
Im gonna miss you, sis.

We, then, turned our sight back to the stars. 
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