Chapter 3 Christmas

A month went by and that boy didn't return,I felt relieved,I don't like people who don't want to but keep coming and still treat people who only want to help and work badly.

"Luma?" - Thaís knocks and puts her face to the door "Diogo wants to have an appointment with you."

"Didn't he give up?" - I speak discouraged.

"Apparently he needs to talk.

"Fine, but this will be the last time I make an exception for him!" - I say seriously.

"Yes, ma'am. May I send him in?"

"Yes."

She pulls the door open and then he comes in and sits in the chair facing me.

"Good afternoon." - He says fearfully.

"Good afternoon,hadn't you given up?"

"Yes,but you were right." - He speaks quietly.

"About what?"

"They weren't really my friends,I got arrested for pinching some walls and they fingered me,threw all the blame on me and left."

"Actually I almost never make a mistake." - I speak haughtily and exuding the inner peace of being right once again.

"You're happy, aren't you?" - He says seriously.

"Why?"

"Because I was a jerk to you and you just wanted to help me."

"Yes,but I don't like to see your disappointment...do you want to talk more about all this?"

"Yes."

"Then talk." - I smile sympathetically.

"I'm going to get better,go to college,graduate and give pride to my parents,I was really a little out of it and this beat brought me back to reality. I dedicated myself to friends and forgot about family,who was really on my side always. But I will do my best to change all that.

"I'm happy. And how do you plan all this?"

"I don't have much in mind no,but I want to change,I saw my mother crying because of me many times,for me treating her badly and being irresponsible always."

"That's mother's love,she advised you,gave you the best and showed you the right path,but you didn't follow,if you get better she will be proud of you,she probably already is,she's just a little sad or disappointed with the bad attitudes."

"True. I'm sorry." - He says so low I can hardly even hear his voice.

"What?"

"I'm sorry about that day?"

"Yeah kid, I don't even remember that anymore, be cool."

"Good, I felt bad after the whole episode."

"Yeah, me too."

"But okay, thanks for your strength and I'll come back and tell you all about it."

"Okay, I'll wait."

"See you later."

"See you soon."

He leaves my room all happy and I'm the same way,I've never seen a hardheaded person go back on what he said and I liked it,we've already achieved a small change in him.

My appointments are over and I was packing up everything to leave,but a hurricane named Thaís enters my room.

"Luma, shall we go to a nightclub that is opening?

"I don't think so.

"What do you think? Yes we are, you have to have fun.

"Thata, I'd better not, I'm too exhausted.

"Fine, I won't insist anymore, as usual."

"Okay, you can go have fun."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,I'm fine." - I smiled sullenly.

I went to my house,as soon as I arrived I threw my things on the couch and went to take a nice cold shower and then lay down on the bed in a towel,just like that I blacked out,I was tired.

The rest of the months were just work,the boy came back as promised and told me everything,soon he no longer needed me and so I never saw him again. Aline had the surgery and everything went well, she was already free of cancer and said that she would never forget the lessons that I taught her, nor the opportunity that God gave her to redo everything that was wrong, and then I never saw her again either.

In the end Christmas came and I was getting ready to spend with my parents,Vicente was going to work and only New Year's would I go there.

*____________________________________*

At my parents' house:

"Hi Mom,Hi Dad." - I say as I arrive and already give kisses and hugs to both of them.

"Hi daughter,how are you?" - My father speaks kindly.

"Yes and with you?"

"We are well girl, how is the work?"

"Fine mom, in fact better than ever."

"And the boyfriends daughter?"

"Not for now."

"Luma,you need to date,give us grandchildren,you sound even like Vicente,you said you are too young to be attached to a woman and a child."

"I am waiting for the right time for each of these things."

I say smiling to reassure them,but the truth was that I wasn't thinking about any of that,I wasn't ready to jump headlong into a relationship let alone have a child.

"I think it's good not to delay,your father and I are old,we want to at least meet the grandchildren."

"Yes mom,yes dad,I will do my best."

We made the supper and invited the closest family friends,relatives etc.

Everyone asked me about my love life,children,Vincent,work,but none of that interested me,I wanted this to be over soon,I wanted to leave,I wanted to go to my home,not that I didn't like my parents,the problem is always the pressure that everyone put on me,normally here is a peaceful place,but when relatives and friends of my parents got together,everything was unbearable.

"All right daughter?"

"Yes..."

"What happened?"

"I'm tired of the same conversations mom, of everyone always asking the same things."

"My love, what good is money if you don't have a child, a child to enjoy?"

"Mom,I don't want to,it's not time yet,I haven't met the right person,I don't even know how to take care of someone other than myself."

"I understand,but know that this castle you build without anyone,will always be empty,uninhabited and painful,because we always need someone. We raised you with a lot of cost,you and your brother and we didn't stop being happy or having what to eat,we always had little,but we always had each other,we had you and love,I thank you for helping us and taking care of us,but don't think we are dependent,settled,we don't need money,we need you and see the family growing. I want to die knowing that you have good people by your side."

I hug her and cry on her shoulder,I remember the hardships and everything we went through,I remember my simple gifts,our joys and how they sweated to have a good study,I am truly grateful for everything they did for me.

"I love you mom,I love you,dad and bro,but this is not an obligation and you will never be a burden,you are the people I admire the most."

"We love you too daughter." - Says my dad as he comes closer and hugs us too.

"I love you my princess." - Says my mommy.