Months before, in a small town to the north.
When Azeneth was awake, when she was sleeping, and in moments like this of semi-unconsciousness. She never had peace.
"You hadn't been to the hospital for a while. I had even lost the habit.
Ha, do you remember last Christmas? You passed it on the stretcher. Those were terrible days. And look, you've had bad days.
For me they were worse, if you ask me.
Do you remember it?
I do.
How long has it been? 6 months? 7?
It was hard to breathe, my back turned into a concrete slab. I remember.
The bed was uncomfortable, a handful of wires and probes all over my body. I remember.
The lights that filtered through the door did not let sleep, that noisy family that accompanied the patient next door, the nurses who came and went without consideration and destroyed any attempt of modesty. I remember.
Surely it was not the first time you wanted to die.
Or was it I who wanted it?
Look, as if God had heard it.
Your mom wasn't content to wait for someone up there to hear her, right?
Ah, how noble, doing the impossible to save your life. And she didn't stop reproaching you for her sacrifice.
Hopefully we will never see her again.
Ha, and you complain about me. Of the things I say. It's nothing compared to her.
You complain about me and want me to shut up. When what you need is to listen to me. In the end you will end up agreeing with me.
Hey! Are you there?
Listen!
Listen!
Listen!"
As she regains consciousness, the screams recede until there is finally silence [https://img.wattpad.com/fbfb0597f51975335525d5595e335510f97eeb72/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f643231452d744d35457542336b413d3d2d313438393739383735312e313830333961643634616135313234653132383234383538393132302e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
As she regains consciousness, the screams recede until there is finally silence.
It has given her a break.
Then she sees her mother, sitting next to the stretcher. She hadn't seen her for weeks. She didn't even answer her occasional messages or calls.
But she is here. She traveled to the town to see her. As if, in her delusions she had invoked the image of the two of them in a hospital room. Such a common image in the past when illness was the daily issue...
However, unlike previous occasions, she is not on the verge of death and her mother is not complaining.
―You finally wake up ―she looks at her surreptitiously and then turns to the hallway. She wiggles her right foot impatiently; Azeneth is sure she's dying to go out and smoke a cigarette. ―Just look how you look like... the doctor said you're fine. You have a blow to the head but it's nothing serious. In a little while they let you out.
―You didn't have to come.
―And who was going to look after you? Ha? You are sixteen, you are a minor. And your grandfather is in worse situation than you. You have no more family in this town. I had to come. Six hours on the bus in the early morning ―there she was, the woman she knows―. You two will be happy. You only have a few weeks here and look at yourself.
Azeneth had run away from home, and the only relative she had was her paternal grandfather, who received her at his home immediately. Now the two are in the hospital after a long night.
―How is he?
―Worse, I told you. They took him to a hospital in a city near here, because this Clinic is very small. Maybe he'll die. Do you have your dad's number yet? I'm not, and I don't plan to go looking for him. Now I have to take care of my ex-father-in-law, great. As soon as you are discharged, I have to go there, to the hospital, so don't give any more problems.
―I didn't do anything.
―What?
―I said I didn't do anything. I don't know what happened.
Her mother looks at her, not believing, because she knows her.
―Are you going to tell that to the doctors, the policemen? With that cute face you have, they surely believe you.
―I'm serious. He went mad, or I don't know, it's just that... I swear I don't know. Everything was fine, we were fine, everything happened from one moment to the next and he... he began to behave strangely...
The expression on her mother's face goes from disbelief to doubt.
―Did he do this to you?
Azeneth remains silent.
―Answer.
―Yes.
Now it's her mother who is speechless. Azeneth continues:
―And he did things to himself... I saw...
A nurse enters and approaches the next stretcher, where a person lies asleep. But it's close enough that neither Azeneth nor her mother want to continue the same conversation, so they remain silent until the mother says, changing the subject:
―I didn't think I'd see you on a stretcher again so soon, not after your transplant. I got here, I saw you and... ―she makes a vague sign with her hand, without finishing the sentence.
Azeneth doesn't answer. She doesn't know what to say.
―How's your heart?
―Fine. ―She adds after a pause, feeling like he had to say something else―: Beating.
―Are you still taking the medication?
―Yes.
―You need someone to follow up, you can't-
―A friend's uncle is a doctor. He saw my medical file and has checked me almost since I got here.
Her mother looks at her in surprise. Azeneth doesn't know if she's surprised that she's a girl who can fend for herself or if she's surprised that she finally has friends.
―Vacation days are coming to an end. What are you going to do when you have to go back to school? You are still registered there.
Suddenly, the girl is bothered by the concern her mother is showing. And she responds as she usually responds when she is uncomfortable.
―That's none of your business.
The nurse turns to look at them, surreptitiously.
The mother pauses, as if refraining from answering in the same way.
―And don't you ask me about your siblings? What? Don't remember that you have a family anymore?
Your siblings. You don't want to think about it.
―You won't be able to stay here forever. And even less if your grandfather dies.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
She feels that woman has no right to ask anything, and she has no answer. Both know it. So, even though they're together in that room of the Clinic, each one is alone. The mother is alone, throwing questions into the air just to reproach, without waiting for an answer, and Azeneth is also alone, sunk in her thoughts, ignoring questions that are not for her.
After a few hours they let her out. She has to return home alone, as her mother goes straight to the bus station to travel to the city where her grandfather is, which is just over an hour away.
She walks quietly and slowly; she doesn't want to get there. Actually, she doesn't want to come and remember what happened the night before, which left her in that state and the man who took her in for several weeks on the verge of death. To her bad luck, the town is small and the distance is short. At least she doesn't have to cross paths with many people, but the few she has encountered look at her with surprise and displeasure. She really must look very bad.
When she arrives, the door is open. She doesn't want to go in. From outside she can see a mess in the living room.
They told her the police would ask her some questions.
What are you going to answer? That an elderly man suddenly began to throw things and break objects and attack everything in his path, including himself?
Is he really about to die?
She wants to be the one to ask the questions.
You'll have to go visit him in the hospital soon, right?
She is terrified just thinking about it.
Are you going to stay here? In this house? In this place that reminds you that no matter where you flee, the nightmare continues?
Worse still, her mother is there, in the town. She will come in the evening, perhaps. That woman. She doesn't know who she's most afraid of.
Would it be very cowardly if you ran away again?
Maybe some advice could be good.
Then she remembers she is not alone.
For most of her life, a severe malformation in her heart kept her at home. After a couple of bad experiences that ended with a new visit to the hospital, she preferred not to go out too much, which meant not spending much time with others, until she ended up isolating herself. Constant absences from school and her introverted personality made it difficult for her to make friends between classes. She had no cousins her age and her siblings were very young. With her mother she got along worse and worse and now they couldn't even see each other. She herself ended up chasing people away thinking they were coming to mock or out of pity. She didn't trust anyone and when she did, things like last night happened.
But since she arrived in the town a girl approached her. She met her one day when her grandfather took her to the house of a friend of his, Mr. Evans, a foreign doctor who had a small medical office. Carlota (that's her name) is the doctor's niece and lives with him, and since she saw Azeneth for the first time, she gave her a warm smile and sought her friendship.
She didn't know making friends was so easy, or maybe Carlota is really good at interacting with people.
Thinking about it gave her the courage to run inside, straight to her room. Her phone is on the floor, hopefully it has enough battery for a call.
At first, she hesitates to call her. She had already bothered her the night before when her grandfather went mad and she didn't know what to do. But finally, she looks for her contact and presses the button.
―Hello! Azeneth! How are you? I went to see you in the morning, but they didn't let me see you at the Clinic!
―Hello. Sorry, I didn't know. I'm fine, nothing happened to me, I'm already at home.
―Haaa, that's great! And what about Don Gustavo? ―she's asking for her grandfather.
―They say he's really sick, I don't know.
―Ohhh. I understand.
―My mom is here, well, there. She came because she was called from the hospital.
―Ahhhh, well, you know. Someone had to take charge... Hey! Stay at my house! We have a room for you.
―No, no. I just wanted to talk to someone.... I don't want to be alone here.
―Ah, come on. If you stay here, we can talk all night if you want. You can stay as long as you want, until your mom leaves or until your grandfather recovers or whatever.
She wants to say yes, but she fears that she will be a nuisance and that Carlota is offering her her house out of commitment.
―Doesn't your uncle mind?
―No! Not at all! For Victor better. He likes to have his patients close to him haha. I would ask him to come for you, but he is not here, he went out to attend to someone in a commonland around here. But I'm coming for you so you don't walk alone!
―Oh no, I can go alone. Thank you.
―Good. Hurry up, before your mom arrives. You don't want to see her, do you?
―I can't stand her.
―Hahaha. I'll be waiting for you here then! Byeee!
Wow.
So that's how it feels to have friends, huh?
*
It's already dusk when Azael comes home from work. This week, luckily, he hasn't had to share a shift in the mine with his brother, so he rides his bike alone along the path that leads to the town.
For a few days now, instead of going straight home, he has taken a detour with the intention of passing through a specific street. There is a house he usually visits, but for now he cannot approach, so he limits himself to prowling around the block.
This house is south of the village, where the streets lead to the main road that communicates with the other communities in the region. To the east, there is a small stream. To the west, the hill that crowns the town and separates it from a couple of mines that provide sustenance to its inhabitants. Traveling south, several hours away, the large cities of the northern area, and further south, the rest of the vast country. And to the north, a desert that seems eternal and finally the border.
Azael feels so silly snooping around that house that he gets as close as he can to the opposite sidewalk to avoid being seen, and stealthily turns the corner promising himself that it's the last fucking time he's...
Then he sees her leaving the corner store.
―Carlota! Hey!
She turns to look at him with an annoyed face and continues walking, ignoring him, until Azael catches up with her.
―What are you doing?
―What are YOU doing here, Azael? Are you following me? You're following me!
―I'm not following you! I was going home from-
―Yes, aha, aha ―she replies with disgust, but walks slow so he can get closer.
―Are you coming from the store? What did you buy? He asks, trying to make conversation.
―Things... and leave me alone or walk quickly, Azeneth will soon arrive and I must be at home to receive her.
―What happened to your friend? Today at work they were saying things about her and her grandfather and I don'tknowwhatelse.
Carlota hesitates for a moment to answer, but Azael knows that, even if she's upset with him, she's never going to refuse a good talk.
―You remember Azeneth came to live here because she had a hard argument with her mother and Don Gustavo received her.
―Ahhh, I thought she was just on vacation here.
―Well, let's say something like that, but the story is... last night...
―Last night what?
―... Last night I received a call, in the early morning. It was Azeneth, she was very scared and she told me Don Gustavo had gone crazy. And she doesn't joke about that stuff, so I got worried and woke Victor up... I mean, that's how worried I was because you know Victor hates being woken up. And he took me to Azeneth's house, and he had to force the door because no one would open for us. And you would have seen, Aza... Like a hurricane passed by. We found her half-unconscious hiding in her room, with scratches and a very ugly blow to the head. And the worst was Don Gustavo. We don't know what happened to him, yet, but it was he who made all that mess... and he hurt himself a lot, a lot... I don't want to give you details, but we found him babbling weird things and... and he gouged out his eyes... He still had them in his hands.
―Oh fuck...
―And obviously the last thing Azeneth wants is to go back to her grandfather's house after what happened there last night. And she is not going to return to her mother because they are still mad at each other. By the way, here is the woman, in town... I think Azeneth is not going to ask her permission to stay with me, then-
―Ahhh, I got it ―Azael interrupts her unintentionally, remembering something.
―What?
―In the morning, I heard people saying Dr. Evans was making mischief again. You see he's a friend of Don Gustavo's, maybe-
―Oh no... they are already blaming us... Ha, let them say what they want —they were both used to rumors about the doctor— so they leave the other gossip alone.
―The one who says he isn't a foreigner?
―That one is already old; the new one is I'm not his niece but his lover.
Azael laughs and jokes.
―That explains why you don't look alike, huh?
Carlota laughs back, and he is relieved because if she laughs it means she is not so angry anymore.
But then he has doubts, because he knows the Evans well and is curious.
―Hey, and seriously, he didn't have anything to do with Don Gustavo?
Carlota's smile fades and she turns to see him for the first time.
―Why do you think Victor would do something like that?!
They had unconsciously stood near the store, so she turns around towards her house.
―Hey, no. I just asked... Ohhhh where are you going? We were having a nice conversation.
―Of course not. Goodbye!
Azael walks behind her, so Carlota turns and looks at him menacingly.
―Don't follow me to my house. Remember Victor has already told us he doesn't want scenes there.
―Aren't you going to want to talk about the other thing then?
He's been looking for her all week, trying to solve a problem between them.
―The other? What are you talking about?
―Don't pretend you don't know... Come with me home, there's the evidence. I swear to you ―but Carlota doesn't listen to him―. Don't leave! I told you it was a misunderstanding! I have proof!
―You liar, go home and leave me alone.
Azael finally gets fed up.
―Oh, yes! Well, fuck it! I'm tired of being your pet.
―Great! Fuck it! Bye! ―she shouts from the gate.
He watches her come in, and then he gets on his bike and leaves.
He's furious.
But he knows he'll eventually make him listen.
I wish you weren't so in love with her. That way you could be serious when you send everything to hell.
*
Carlota enters her house, also furious, announcing her arrival with a slamming door.
―Don't slam the door.
She hadn't noticed Victor is in the living room.
I hope he haven't heard your shouting with Aza.
―Viiictor... Sorry hahaha ―she laughs nervously―. I didn't know you were here already. I mean, it's not like I slam the door when you're not there haha, you understand me. How did it go with your patient?
―Fine.
She's used to her uncle's dry answers. It does not really bother her; it compensates her own habit of talking a lot and doing so animatedly.
―Listen, listen: Azeneth is coming here. She agreed to spend the night here and I hope to convince her to stay a few more days. What do you think? ―she sits in the living room with him, carelessly dropping her bag on the couch. She had bought snacks and a few things that were missing to prepare dinner, anticipating a long night with Azeneth.
―Very good.
She leans back, looking at Victor out of the corner of her eye.
―Well, I was able to get her to come. Now it'll be easier for me to keep an eye on her. Soon you'll have to do your own thing, huh?
He doesn't answer, he just settles into the armchair to continue with the reading he had just resumed when Carlota arrived. She takes his silence as an affirmative.
―She says Don Gustavo is very bad, have you heard anything about him?
―Not yet.
―Mmmm... Too bad, so good person he was. If he dies, I'm going to miss him giving me milk sweets... where did he buy them?
Carlota asks herself this, not paying much attention to Victor.
The air of the fan that cools the room and hits her in the face makes her drowsy, a relief after having faced the summer heat on his short trip to the store. Or, probably, the argument she had before entering was what made her feel suffocated. The house is quiet, as usual. She idly turns in his head about his conversation with Azael, her problem with him, and what he said about the rumors involving his uncle. The rumors...
The almost imperceptible noise Victor produces when turning the page makes her wake up from her drowsiness.
―Victor... I didn't want anything to happen to him.
―To Gustavo?
―Yes. I know I'm in charge, but... ―before finishing the sentence, she decides to switch to a less awkward topic―. Hey! Have you heard... that they are blaming you for what happened?
―Yes.
Carlota giggles.
―People are so-
The noise of the doorbell interrupts her.
She jumps up.
―Ha! It must be Azeneth! She's here!
*
"The ominous is this. Not the unknown terrain, but the threshold that leads to it. The limbo where the familiar suddenly becomes strange or vive versa".
Alaide Ventura