Sylvie Maradona: The Story Of A Monster

Chapter 11: My dear sister

 
{There were once two sisters who were not afraid of the dark because the dark was full of the other’s voice across the room, because even when the night was thick and starless they walked home together from the town seeing who could last the longest without turning on her flashlight, not afraid.}

  

    The next morning, during breakfast, the unexpected happened. Maria asked Sylvie if she wanted to go for a walk with her. The question found Sylvie unprepared and she kept staring for a few seconds before replying.
"Sure" she said and stared back in her coffee. She didn't know what this was about.

  All three adults in the kitchen weren't looking at each other and the entire atmosphere was really uncomfortable. The same blood was running in their veins but they were completely strangers.
Sylvie was thinking if Maria changed her mind and wanted to give a try. Felicia on the other hand was trying to read both of her daughters. The two sisters were really different but had one thing in common. Their intelligence and countless faces. Both of them had an excellent talent on changing personalities. Their poor mother, unfortunately, knew very well who her children were. It did take her a lot of time to learn when they were lying and what they wanted to succeed based on their behaviour. Maria was always blaming Sylvie and calling her a lot of names, but most of her lawyer tricks were learnt by her sister.

 

After they were done with breakfast the two sisters got ready and after they dropped the kids at school they decided to stop at the park close to the city centre.
A lot of things had change in Sylvie but she still didn't enjoy too crowded places. If they started arguing again she wouldn't be able to think clear and control herself under all this noise and people around her.
The two of them started walking passing through a lot of people who were almost running. Sylvie was covering her face with a scarf only letting her eyes uncovered in order to be able to see. She didn't want anyone to recognise her. She was way more recognisable in Argentina than USA.

  A little thought came in Sylvie's mind. Why do we live so fast? We barely have time for ourselves and we spend most of our lives running to catch something. If that was a job, a lover, a friend, even a typical shopping. She once again recalled her favourite book, Faust. What would happen if she could go back and be 20 years old again. She would probably be able to rebuilt her entire life. What if she never joined the military. She looked at her sister who was walking next to her. What if Maria had take her path and she was in her place now and Sylvie in hers. Would they manage to understand even a tiny thing for eachother?
Her train of thoughts was stopped when another sound pass through her ears. It was coming from the public toilet they were passing in front of and it made her stop walking. A female voice was screaming for help.
"Sylvie? What hap-"
"Shhh!"
She wanted to make sure. Yes, a woman was screaming from the toilet.
She didn't have time to listen to her sister and she started running in the public toilet. She opened every single door except one that was locked. But she still could hear that sound. She freaked out and kicked the door, breaking it. Behind it there was a mid-aged man and a girl not older than 16 years old. Her shirt was opened, her breasts slightly exposed and she was crying. She looked desperately in Sylvie's eyes and at this moment an old feeling was unlocked in Sylvie's chest. Range. 
  Her mind was turning off and all her thoughts were stopped. Her body was acting like a robot following a perfect algorithm.
Creatures like him shouldn't be called humans. Society named her a monster when they are letting pigs like this walk free between children.
She grabbed the man and dragged him out of the public toilet. When they passed the door she threw him to the ground and started punching him and she kept doing it until his blood got her hands dirty. Everyone had to seen this animal getting beaten up. She didn't feel sorry even for a second. He had to die.
Her scarf felt from her face and showed her featured to everyone. She was deaf for her sister's voice who was telling her to stop. She wanted to kill him. Violence was in her blood but only for these shits. He deserved to die.
She was so focused on beating him up that she hadn't realise the amount of people around her and some of them had recognise her.
"Isn't this...?"
"It can't be! They must just look alike."
"Maradona died almost three years ago. Don't be ridiculous."
The man underneath her looked at her and frowned.
"Maradona?" he then tried to shout
"It's Sylvie Maradona!"
"Shut the fuck up!" she answered and punched him again, causing him to pass out.
Sylvie didn't care at the moment for the disaster she had created but the siren from the police car woke her up. "Sylvie!" The mistake just happened. In front of all this people Maria called her by her name. She didn't have anything better to do. She got up from the ground and started running shouting behind her.
"Run sister! Run!"
"How you can be joking at a time like this?"
"I'm not joking! Run!"
  They both started running like their lives depended on it. They kept running for ten minutes and didn't care for the people looking at them and the cars that almost hit them. They were running and running. Passing streets, shops, restaurants and red lights. They were running like kids playing. Sylvie was faster than Maria due to her physical strength.
"Slow down!"
"Shut up and run!"
  Their faces had turned red. They were pumping onto people. In an attempt to avoid falling on and hitting an old woman, Sylvie stumbled on a pebble on the sidewalk. As a result, she fell to the ground and lightly hit her knee. It did not hurt but when she raised her head she had lost Maria from her field of vision.
Exactly the second she stand up she felt a hand grabbing her by her arm and dragging her. "Run you dumb ass!!" Maria had ran back to grab her sister and they kept running for a few more blocks.

  At some point they stopped behind an old building and tried to catch their breathe.
"I don't...think...you are...in shape...anymore" Maria said leaving heavy breathes between the words.
"Look who's talking. You can't even breathe."
They looked at each other for a second and they started laughing. They didn't know the reason but they were laughing so hard that Sylvie had to hold her stomach. Or did she remember? Yes she did! It was that one time her and Maria were in a party and she got involved into a fight again and they started running in the cold night so police would catch them and tell their father. They were laughing back then just like now. So many things happen and yet they haven't change at all. They still act like children and fight over stupid things.
When was the last time she laughed and it felt so good? She was seeing things brighter right now. Something was changing.
"Sylvie..." Maria's tone was cold. It did have that feeling of guilt. "Look, you know how I usually react and...anyway get the point...I'm sorry."
"I got the point but I love seeing you being awkward."
"Oh shut your mouth you little freak!"
"Ok, chose the way you wanna die!"
The play-fight ended in a big, warm hug. A hug that both were waiting for 20 years. Sylvie remembered who was the person she used to feel safe with. Her big sister.
Both of them unlocked memories that they had bury deep in their minds. They didn't hate each other since they were kids. There were memories deep down their hearts that were heartwarming for both of them. Felicia was right. They used to be supportive and loving to each other. Until the war knocked on their door and since the day their father died Maria thought it was Sylvie's fault and Sylvie got offended. Maria was saying that Sylvie had to protect him and that she could save him. But Sylvie was telling her that she couldn't do anything because she wasn't close to him and she was in danger too. The arguments were too much to take so she left her family behind and made sure to hate them. She moved abroad and followed a new path.
But now the sky was clean. And they could finally rebuild and talk about what they have been feeling all this time.

The two women walked back home and when they entered their family house they started acting like children. Running up and down the rooms singing and making jokes. At some point they arrived at the kitchen were Felicia was cooking.
"What is madre making, Maria?"
"Madre is making empanadas! But Sylvie doesn't like chicken!"
"Liar! Liar! I do eat chicken!"
"Hey, hey, what are you two talking about?" Their old enough mother turned confused towards them. When she saw her children hugged, laughing she broke into tears. "Thank you. All I ever wanted is to see you two together again. I'm so proud for both of you."

Three more months passed and the family was living finally happily with a peaceful life. They spent a lot of hours talking. They were trying to communicate and put together the puzzle of their memories.
  Sylvie unlocked her childhood pictures from her mind and help Maria remember those years. All the times they were skipping school, going at cinema along with their friends. The hottest days of the summer they were riding their bikes towards the sea. They would always sit on specific rock, I can still show you, and eat ice cream. All these things were making their life unique.
  But there was a huge surprise that Sylvie was preparing.
One day, Maria entered Sylvie's room holding a hot cup of coffee, but Sylvie wasn't in her room and her bed was untouched. Her desk was empty and there was only a letter left. Maria took it in her hands and started reading it.
"My dear sister, I spent a lot of time with you, your amazing kids and our mother. All this time made me realise how amazing people you are. You manage to unlock memories from our childhood that I didn't even know I had. Don't be mad at me. I have to leave. There are some things back in New York that have to be done. I wish you a happy and calm life. I hope we will meet again someday. With love. Your sister. Sylvana."

  She let the paper fall and she threw her body on the chair. Her hands were shaking and she was crying silently. Her little sister, the person she loved and hate the most left again. But why now? What was so important that she had to leave her life and them behind. Sylvie looked happy these last months. She was trying to recall every memory of them and promised to herself that she will never forget what she looked like or how her voice sounded. Sylvie once again did finish her duty and left. They didn't hate each other anymore. She could think about her and smile.
Maria knew she couldn't bring her back. But she was wishing she could see her in the future. After all, she was her sister and she loved her.