CAP 9
Even though I am terribly sad, at the same time I feel relief in my chest.
No longer having to hide my feelings towards Emma makes me feel lighter. Who would have said that Zelena would be helpful?
- "Now there will be no way to get rid of you?" - I say pretending to be annoying, but I can`t hide the smile that appears on my lips when I open the door and see who is on the other side.
- "Do you realize that this is not the right way to receive the person who brings the wine, right?" –
She is smiling too. At least there is something salvageable from all this. Finally Zelena and I have created the sisters` bond we`ve always long for.
- "And that is the reason why you can come in." - I say allowing her with my hand to enter.
- "Where is Robin?" - I ask upon not seeing my niece.
- "How long will it take you to understand that I am a good mother? Do you really think it's a good idea to bring a baby to a night of wine and cheese? "-
I stare at her to continue because she has not answered my question yet.
-"Don`t look at me like that. Your niece is with Abigail. That woman hasn`t stopped having children and it seems that one more child in her house doesn`t makes a difference; she practically has a daycare. "-
She answers while leaving things on the kitchen table.
- "More acceptable than leaving my nephew with the charming couple and their two offspring." –
She says while making a disgust face. I know it's a joke, but I would have rather not to think about Emma.
- "You'll have to do something." –
She realized that my head is thinking about her.
-"I'm doing something; I'm looking for the corkscrew."-I say turning around to look her in the eyes trying to intimidate her.
-"Don`t be an idiot. As I see it you have two options in my opinion. "-
The intimidation didn`t work.
- "And would you be so kind to share them with me?" - I answer sarcastically.
- "As if you could stop me." –
She starts to open the packages while talking.
- "You do something to get the girl." –
She remains silent witch got my attention. She stares at me, making me understand that the second option is not an option at all.
- "Or you get used to hearing her name; to cross paths with her and to hear your son talk about his other mother without hurting."-
By the time she finishes talking, she has already taken everything out of the bags and finally I pass her the damn corkscrew. It surprises me.
- "How many bottles did you bring?" –
-"What? You don`t know how to count? One; two; three."-
She answers by pointing to the bottles while she counts them.
- "And you obviously don`t know how a week works. Tomorrow is Monday. I, unlike others, have to work; someone has to govern this city. "-
- "You are the Mayor of a town where, while there is no magical danger, the worst thing that happens is that Pongo escapes or that Leroy gets drunk. So you should be done with the habit of making excuses. Look how good that went. "-
Sometimes I forget my sister doesn`t have a filter.
- "Have you eaten anything since yesterday?" –
She asks for courtesy because she already knows the answer.
-"Sister. Apart from your magic, one of your best qualities are your curves. You don`t want to present yourself to Emma like a bag of bones "-
- "I think it's more than clear that Emma doesn`t want anything to do with me. A week has gone by and I still don`t have news know about her "-
I tell her while I put up on the ridiculous amount and variety of cheeses that she has brought and looking for 2 glasses.
- "Shall we go to the dining room?" –
I ask trying to change the subject.
- "Naaa. I already got comfortable. "-
She answer while effectively getting more comfortable taking off her shoes.
- "I cannot help thinking what our mother would say if she saw us now." –
I comment.
-"And who cares?"-
In spite of everything, I am surprised by her response.
She doesn`t hate me anymore; but our mother was the reason why she did it at some point. She notices it immediately.
- "You must know that for a long time I envied the fact that she chose to keep you and not me. But after this all time and by getting to know you I realized that I'm really relieved that she did that. Look at you; still today; after even she could leave everything behind and move on to a better life, it is impossible for you to stop thinking about her opinion about what you do or don`t. As well as what you feel. "-
The honesty that I see in her eyes is overwhelming.
-"It is true. Mother left in my very deep wounds. "-
- "But everything can be healed. Look at us for example. "-
She answer as if it had been easy for us to heal everything we heal.
- "It's not that easy and you know it." - I say bringing the glass to my lips.
-"I know. But I have seen you overcome every single one obstacles that life and our mother put in your way. That's why I know you're stronger than you think. "-
It is a feeling that I am not used to, for the first time I don`t confuse this type of comments with pity.
- "It`s a shame that at the same time you are a chicken with feathers and all." –
The surprise of that last comment makes me choke on the wine.
- "You have no idea the kind of dangers I have had to face." –
I say indignantly.
- "Nor do I care about the dangers you have faced. If you really had the courage you say you have, you would face YOUR fears, not those of others. "-
It makes me so angry that she's right.
- "And here I thought we were going to have a talk that we could enjoy." –
- "Speak for you; I'm enjoying a good selection of wines; cheeses and conversation topics."-
- "So if you want to talk about fears, let's talk about yours." –
I say defensively.
She starts to laugh as if she had heard the funniest joke.
- "But if you were there when I faced my biggest fear, little sister." –
She says wiping her tears with her hands.
- "My biggest fear was not to have my magic to defend myself and my daughter and I gave it up anyway. Even today it bothers me, but it doesn`t scare me anymore. I realized that all I need is me. "-
- "Maybe it helped a little to have the car when you faced the Black Fairy to defend me" –
I answer as I remember that witch flying over Zelena's car.
- "This is how I like to see you little sister." - She tells me with a tenderness that I did not think she was capable of.
-"This how?"-
- "With a smile that is real. Yes, that witch flew! ".
Again I choke on the wine but this time it's because of the laughter.
At some point in the night we ended up on the sofa under a blanket by the heat of the fireplace, perhaps a little drunk than we thought.
But the feeling that Zelena was there with me, that she had made the decision to lift my spirits and made of that decision her goal for the weekend made me feel like a part of a family again.
- "What did you keep thinking about?" –
She asks me because I was obviously not paying attention to her.
- "I don`t know how to thank you." –
I look into her eyes and she looks back at me with a tenderness that only a sister can have.
- "You could start by listening to while I speak." -
She answers as she leaves the cup on the table and gets up. Once standing she extends her hand towards me. I remove the blanket that was left on my legs and I take her hand to get up too.
Just as I got up, she wraps me in an embrace so different from all those other hugs that she has given me. I have received hugs of gratitude and passion.
But I never received one like this. I have given them; to Henry.
This hug tells me that I can take my rest.
This hug tells me that now I also have someone to take care of me.