Chapter eleven

The first time Luz heard them fighting was because her mother had spanked her for spilling the glass of milk she gave him on the sheet that served as a bedspread. The father was supposed to buy the bedspread so the three of them wouldn't have to sleep on the mattress anymore but, according to him, it had been a day full of stingy passengers.

Little Luz; at that time, saw her father as her only hero and her mother as the wicked witch. Even though she never saw her father for more than half an hour a day, it was a consolation for her to feel protected, at least for a few seconds.

Although Luz always had her basic needs covered; she always wondered how she could meet the need to stay awake and see her father before he left for work. When you are a child you spend all your energy on games, fun and imagination and that makes you wake up late when you are very tired. It was too frustrating for her when she couldn't wake up in time too hug her father and give him a blessing.

And if you can't in the daytime, why not at night?

At midnight her father, almost always, would arrive and Luz would throw herself on top of him. He would carry her and she would imagine being on a flying cloud. Her mother watched them happily or maybe not... maybe it was all a big lie but not from her mind... a lie of reality, one of the worst ones.

She can't help but have all the memories crowd her mind every time there is a dispute at home. When it's been so many years of the same thing, it's as if it all sticks to your brain cells like dirt on unwashed skin. Then, one starts to get used to everything toxic and if we add to this the role of women in the drawings that children see... how did the hero become the villain?

Luz prefers to think that this will all be over when she goes to college. At least, it will end to some extent for her.

Behind the door, Luz "listens without listening", laughs crying; while happy memories atrophy her will and kiss her heart like toxic love.

As the lady protagonist of this diary does not want to cooperate with me. I don't know, maybe being a little bit more conscious, right?

The fact is that I will have to describe this unfortunate situation in my own way:

Luz's father is one of those men who, for a flu, goes to the hospital at midnight or, if he lazy, self-medicates and sends his wife to buy the pills. This time he had a fever and some pimples on his back. I am not a doctor, I am not the one to give a reliable diagnosis, but I have a hypothesis that complies with the rules of your reality... Maybe someone forgot that eating late, not washing his hands well before eating or not drinking enough water expose his health to the maximum?

Upon seeing him, the doctors suspected the onset of a serious illness. The father sensed it; when the doctors told him that he would remain in the ICU bed indefinitely. He asked to be discharged and the doctors made him sign a voluntary release form. The father had the belief; since he had seen the same thing in many of his relatives, that if his mind knew the seriousness of his condition; it would be the depression rather than the illness that was going to kill him. So; before his mind would be suggested by the word of some doctor, he was going to try to heal himself with the effective home remedies of Luz's mother. The father believed more in science; but, given the circumstance, he has no choice but to trust in natural medicine.

And yes, for a couple of months now, he senses that someone is watching him. One day he told Luz's mother that it seemed to him that a red car had been following him. Just now that he got out of the hospital, he saw in the parking lot the same red car that makes him feel paranoid.

Neither Luz nor her mother believe such a story; rather, they think that, if the father is so afraid, it is because there is something not so good that he hides and will deny until the end of his days.

- I'm going to bring her back- said the father with wild eyes and deep raccoon circles under his eyes- tomorrow morning.

These last words brought her back to reality all at once. Luz is not going to allow a scandal in front of all her colleagues.

She tries to open the door to talk to her father but it is locked. She tries to scream but can't make a sound. Only she can hear herself and, now that she remembers; one of the park instructors indicated that no one could see them, neither Luz nor her classmates.

Neither should they be touched by anyone, since that could generate some unpredictable variant in the teleportation. Although i am not so sure that she remembers that small detail. Many times she thinks she has done her homework and when it is time to present, she is surprised that she has not even written the title.

"No need to ask for pears from the elm"

So much so that the girl said she was invisible to herself; now, really, not even her mother will be able to see her kiss the boy of her dreams.

"Where did Alexis go?"

Would it be considered irresponsible if a daughter doesn't give a damn about the problems at home because her mind is traveling to where the boy of her dreams might be?

You should also consider that if you have nothing to gain by becoming the rebellious daughter because the causes that burden you are not tragic enough for anyone to pay attention to...

Why expose your heart anymore?

The father orders that everyone will sleep in the same room for safety. Yes, all 5 are going to sleep in the same bed again or that is the father's plan.

-You're crazy if you think you're going to keep me in a fucking mousetrap again- Flavia wasn't going to accept having to go back to her rotten early teens. This year she would be 15; the peak of adolescence, according to her, and she wants to live it to the fullest- I am not a deranged girl, I have friends and maybe even a hidden boyfriend- Flavia tries to look intimidating with her unfocused look at times and a malevolent smile- I am not Luz, a stupid puppet who only knows how to say yes to all your nonsense. As far as I'm concerned, go to hell!

As I told you before, Luz only listens as far as she can. Hearing the two slaps of her father to her sister Flavia; were enough motivation to think like the protagonist of a typical teenage romance:

Where are you Alexis, my sweet prince?

The only thing that can make her will survive in this world is a fantasy love.