by Alejandra Mendoza Rais<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Father at his home<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Robert suddenly opened the door dazed and confused because it was around 23h30 and his daughter rarely insisted to visit them directly from home so late in the evening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHi dad, how are you?\u201d, I said to him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHello sweetheart, I am a bit shaken but good to see you, what happened that couldn\u2019t be said through the phone?\u201d said dad, relaxed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know that you sometimes tell me to be careful and not to go alone to some places after a certain hour. I know that maybe I should be more careful in general,\u201d I said shyly while looking at the floor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat happened? Did you forget your keys hanging on the lock of your apartment again?\u201d he said laughing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo dad, unfortunately I went to the movies with Jason and well\u2026 he insisted to drive me home and well\u2026I refused because I wanted to take a small walk home.\u201d I said while still looking down at the floor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDid you drink while in the movies?\u201d said dad now in a severe tone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo dad I did not, it was not a big deal to be honest, I wanted to avoid problems when the thief asked for my purse and my watch, so I gave them without a thought\u201d I said now looking up at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat? He? How\u2019s he? <\/em>You trying to tell me that you got mugged? How? Were you alone? What <\/em>have I told you about going to public places alone after 20h00? Did<\/em> you call the police? I am calling the police right now<\/em> if you didn\u2019t! I\u2019m just giving you a heads up, well, did you?\u201d said her dad without pausing for air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes dad, they came by when one of the employees saw it. Dad I just really took the train after this happened and came to your apartment. I haven\u2019t even had the time to talk to anyone but the police and now you. I came to hug you because we take life for granted and I just wanted to tell you how much I love you. I wonder if I can sleep in my old room?\u201d she said in a worn-out voice as she tried to get inside of her dad\u2019s apartment, as they were both still standing in the hallway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh sweetheart, of course you can stay as long as you want, I can call the insurance company tomorrow so they can replace your belongings, ok? Are you sure that you don\u2019t want to talk with me about this?\u201d, said dad in a worried but grateful tone that his daughter came to him for protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo dad, you know me, please I just need some time and space. And please <\/em>don\u2019t call mum. Let me call her.\u201d, I said annoyed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes sweetie, but promise me that you will indeed call her\u201d, said dad worried. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUh-huh\u201d I said dryly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHoney\u2026. She\u2019s still your mum, please.\u201d Said her dad in a matter-of-fact way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDad, stop defending her please, I will when I have time, ok? Promise\u201d she finally said rolling her eyes while taking her coat off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay honey, come here and give me a hug and then if you want you can take a bath and you go straight to bed, ok?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I continued to take my boots off and I tried to take away the absence of a watch that was stolen earlier. She knew that the insurance company could never replace it as it was a gift from her deceased grandfather. Her dad followed her as she moved around the hallway and the apartment like a duckling follows its mother. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThanks dad,\u201d I finally said closing the door of her old room filled with her old memories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Friend in a restaurant<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFinally, we go to eat something together after some weeks of not being able to talk\u201d said Brenda as she opened the menu of that cr\u00eape restaurant, they both loved to visit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, I also wanted to talk to you about some things that happened last week,\u201d I said as I also opened the menu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYep, tell me\u201d, said Brenda in her sweet tone, still looking at the menu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, I got my uni report back and I got a good grade which made me feel less stressed, I actually got to see my dad, when I hadn\u2019t seen in a very long time and that was nice. And yes, one last thing, I went to the movies and got mugged and I was actually knocked down to the floor. Did you decide on the cr\u00eape?\u201d I said using the same tone of voice during the entire explanation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWait\u2026 what? What? You got knocked down on the floor? Mugged? Stop minimizing things again! What happened?\u201d, said Brenda while she threw the menu onto the table in an upset manner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, I just told you, I am not minimizing anything, I am just telling you that I went to the movies and got mugged and knocked down, which is what actually<\/em> happened.\u201d I said while putting the menu down in a very calm and relaxed way. I was still speaking calmly. I tried to stay calm and collected because I knew that from the moment I truly acknowledged what happened to me then I had to work on the trauma that this left in my mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAren\u2019t you a martial arts black belt?\u201d asked Brenda as her blue eyes turned a bit red as she got more and more irritated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, but I do not see how that would\u2019ve helped in this case, it would be ridiculous to expose myself over something so banal\u201d I insisted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI understand, I\u2019m so sorry, come here you. You can always call me; I hope you know this?\u201d said Brenda in an agitated tone as she saw her friend grabbing the menu again and pretending that the news, she was delivering were not even that important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They hugged for 30 seconds as Brenda took her friend\u2019s menu away. Then they both saw the waitress coming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI guess it\u2019s true what you tell me, I do minimize it a bit because I am indeed shaken by the situation.\u201d She finally said after she waited for the waitress to leave. \u201cI cannot believe this happened. I can\u2019t believe that everything happened so fast and that it could\u2019ve gone incredibly south if I would\u2019ve listened to my first instincts, fight or flight.\u201d I finally said seriously. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, you wanted to Karate chop him or something?\u201d asked Brenda humorously to try to light the mood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUhm, yeah sure, something like that. But it would\u2019ve been incredibly stupid of me\u201d I said while drinking some of the homemade lemonade. \u201cThe important thing is that I am here and my priorities are clearer than ever\u201d I said smiling. \u201cFriends and family are what matters the most in life, spending good moments with them. Everything else remains secondary\u201d I said smiling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI love you and please take some days off for yourself, ok?\u201d insisted Brenda, although she knew that her friend wouldn\u2019t take any time for herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI will think about it, now let\u2019s eat.\u201d I said while devouring the cr\u00eape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Police officer at the place of the incident<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAgain, I am very sorry to have to ask you some questions again but you need to be a bit more precise with the information you are giving me,\u201d said the police officer somewhat annoyed after he asked her several times for more details and she refused to say more than was necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI already told you, I said goodbye to my friend and then I turned around and there he was, with a gun in his hand asking me to give him my purse and watch.\u201d I said frustrated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI understand, but did you get to see him? Was he tall or short? Could you see his skin colour?\u201d Asked the annoyed police officer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh right, yes okay. He was tall, around 1,85m and he was Caucasian. He seemed to be very nervous, therefore I gave my things as quickly as I could because I did not want him to make him even more anxious. He was wearing sun glasses and a hat with an oversized hoodie. He was slim and like I said, because of his sunglasses I couldn\u2019t see his eyes. After that, he knocked me onto the floor and told me that if I moved then he would shoot.\u201d I said finally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen did you realize he was gone?\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen the cinema employee came to ask me if I was okay,\u201d I said while rolling my eyes at the tall police officer with tired green eyes and blonde hair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUh-huh. I think we will not be getting anywhere for now. Thank you so much miss, I think it\u2019s okay for now. I gather we have your personal information and if we need any possible identification or any other information then we will give you a call, alright? Do you need a ride home?\u201d asked the police officer as he still wrote some notes on his black note pad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo thanks. I will walk to the train station\u201d I finally answered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sister at her house<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey! Dad called me and told me to check up on you, but I don\u2019t understand why you asked me to come to my house? I could\u2019ve perfectly come to your apartment. What happened? Is it true what he said? Is it true that you did not want to leave the house for the entire week-end?\u201d said Andy as she moved her arms frantically around her living room like a crazy cockatoo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBreathe\u2026 I\u2019m not going anywhere so, allow me to elaborate the very exaggerated story dad told you\u201d, I said in an undisturbed manner as I sat down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cC\u2019mon, it\u2019s me, I won\u2019t lecture you like dad, what really <\/em>happened?\u201d insisted Andy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUgh, fine, yes it was hardcore. I thought I was going to die. Yes, I went to the movies with Jason, and yes,<\/em> he insisted to drop me off but because I ate too much in the movies, I wanted to go for a walk to burn off the calories. Yes, <\/em>I\u2019m counting them again and yes, <\/em>I know I have to call my therapist again. I haven\u2019t been really eating the way I should and I was feeling weak and then at the movies Jason insisted to eat something and I was so<\/em> hungry that I ate so much. And…\u201d I said as I stopped talking as my sister moved frantically towards me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026What the hell? You have to stop this crap. Sorry I interrupted you but, do you realize that you are not alone anymore? Are you still angry at mum? Are you doing this to get back at her again? We know you<\/em> and we<\/em> are here for you. I\u2019m happy that you went to dad\u2019s but still, why didn\u2019t you call me?\u201d said Andy finally in a condescending voice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou promised\u2026\u201d I said in a displeased tone as I looked at my much taller sister go to the kitchen and pour herself yet another glass of that red wine, she couldn\u2019t finish the night before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah ok, not lecturing\u2026 go on,\u201d said Andy while sipping her wine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd then he came out of nowhere and I was too shocked to even think about anything at the moment, I gave him what he asked but I considered for a moment to try to defend myself, but I was so weak I would\u2019ve been injured. I felt so bad, I thought he was going to do something else to me, and then he knocked me down\u201d I said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh God, I\u2019m so sorry, do you want some tea? Never mind, I\u2019m going to put the kettle on, continue, I\u2019m here,\u201d said Andy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI just think I need to talk to someone because I haven\u2019t been able to sleep since it happened and it\u2019s not fair for you guys to carry my weight. I thought if I maybe pretended that it was nothing, then it would eventually disappear from my head,\u201d I said biting my nails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd?\u201d asked Andy staring directly at my eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, didn\u2019t work,\u201d I confessed <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI will be here for you, anything you need. In fact, I\u2019m driving you to your therapist the day you feel ready. No walking please? It\u2019s winter and you never wear the right coat. Ok?\u201d said Andy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOk,\u201d I said as I tried to smile kindly at my sister so she could know how much this meant to me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mother on the phone<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am very disappointed that I heard this from your sister and not directly from you. Do you really think that little of me?\u201d said Isabella with a very displeased tone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMum, please. I just don\u2019t have the time for a lecture. I\u2019m in the middle of something now so let me call you later, ok?\u201d said her daughter already bothered by the phone call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, tough, I\u2019m your mum and you will always get lectures from your mother because that\u2019s how we show how worried we get. Please, at least tell me a bit of how it happened. Let me just listen to you, please?\u201d implored Isabella as she was talking from her phone in her white Audi while driving back home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFine. I think it\u2019s pointless to explain the beginning of the story because I assume you heard it from my sister and dad- even though you cover for him- so let me save us some time and tell you that I went to the movies and I got mugged. I didn\u2019t fight and I didn\u2019t resist. For the first time in years your advice actually helped me this time and I did what you told me in this type of situation, I just gave my things and did what they asked, \u201cI admitted irritated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDid he do<\/em> something else? Did he knock you down?\u201d as she already knew the answer to her question. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMum, you already <\/em>know the answer to this. Yes, he did, please, its embarrassing. Can I call you later?\u201d I said as I was counting the seconds to end the call with my mother that was absent for five years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She remembered it as if it was yesterday, she left the house five years ago and went with her new, younger and mister-I-am-too-good-to-be-true boyfriend. That\u2019s what she thought because he spent so many hours at the gym and just talking about himself. Isabella pretended that she cared but she was more focused on her new life. She only included people that agreed with anything and everything she had to say; which in this case, Andy was the only one who did <\/em>accept her new boyfriend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay honey, I don\u2019t want to push. Call me when you\u2019re ready, and if you don\u2019t want to talk about it then just know that I\u2019m here. And can you please do something for me?\u201d asked Isabella in a gloomy voice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMhm?\u201d I said coldly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCan you please take the taser I bought for you out of the box and have it with you?\u201d asked Isabella. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMum, please!\u201d I said loudly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt will help me to sleep knowing that you have at least something with you.\u201d Insisted Isabella.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll think \u2018bout it. Gotta go mum.\u201d Said her daughter abruptly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWould you come to eat this Sunday with me?\u201d I insisted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDepends, are you still with that douche of a boyfriend?\u201d but I already knew the answer to this. This was my perfect excuse to avoid my mother\u2019s self-absorbed boyfriend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHoney, we\u2019ve talked about this, please. He\u2019s important to me and we want to spend time with you. Why can\u2019t you come like your sister does?\u201d said Isabella raising her voice desperately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBye mum\u201d I finally said as I hung up while looking out the window of the train. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" insisted to visit them directly from home so late in the evening.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[8,7],"class_list":["post-258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fiction","tag-8","tag-fiction"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web1.unine.ch\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web1.unine.ch\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web1.unine.ch\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web1.unine.ch\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web1.unine.ch\/new\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=258"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/web1.unine.ch\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":284,"href":"https:\/\/web1.unine.ch\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258\/revisions\/284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web1.unine.ch\/new\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web1.unine.ch\/new\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web1.unine.ch\/new\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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