Page 21 of Morena
He cleared his throat. “Maybe. I do not know. She chose someone else.”
“14Amor loco, yo por ti y tú por otro,” I said, because the old lines stuck in my mouth.
“15Amor de niño, agua en cestillo,” he chuckled. “We were young and I was stupid.”
That sounded like a motive to me.
I walked toward him. He followed slowly, both of us moving toward the door. In the hallway, something moved, the air snapping cold. My heart pushed against my ribs.
She was here again.Morena.
Carlos turned, searching the dark to see what I had seen, but when he couldn’t, he faced me and asked. “I have been meaning to ask, did you notice strange things around here?”
I raised a brow. “Like what?”
“Voices,” he whispered. “They come from the walls.” He turned, eyes running along the plaster. “Things move on their own. The air gets colder. It feels like the walls have ears.”
I swallowed. “No,” I said, then corrected myself, “No ghosts haunt this place.”
We stepped outside. He reached to lock the door. When I glanced up the staircase, I saw her standing there.
Something inside demanded I run and never return. Something else called me back, and I couldn’t resist.
Some ghosts are scary, some demons are evil, but people are bigger monsters, and I believe, in life, bad things happen toeveryone, and no one knows everyone’s story. Even monsters deserve love. Even demons deserve wings to try to fly. Even ghosts deserve to be seen so they can move on. You will never know what life is if you keep hiding in the dark.
And I kept hiding, unsure whether I was even worthy of the light.
I waved at Carlos and crossed the street, heading for the park. Maybe I would sleep there tonight. For years, I had told myself I deserved the scars and the bruises, that punishment fit the sin. But maybe the truth was different. Maybe I deserved the healing that came after. Scars are what make me a better person, and even if I am not healed, it’s part of who I am. Even if I don’t know who I am.
I am another lost man looking for purpose. For now, that purpose is simple and ugly and beautiful all at once: to find out who she was. Maybe by finding her, I will find myself.
Maybe the map to her is the map back to me.
1. Tell me.
2. Yes?
3. Good.
4. Perfect.
5. Did you hear, mom? Matteo will take care of you.
6. You saw her again, didn't you?
7. Be careful.
8. Think as if she would never leave your mind.
9. Time to eat, bastard!
10. This house has ghosts. So…
11. Isabella has her father's features.
12. Don’t make her too angry.
13. The mind doesn’t choose who to love. The heart does. And hers chose you.
