, I dreamed of a thousand new paths. I woke and walked my old one"
***
The next stop: Gun Hill Rd
I was trying to stay awake. It was almost impossible. I think I misheard something. My goal was to go home and get off at the Portal l'Angel stop.
Gun Hill Rd
I was thinking. Where is it? I reached for the phone and googled.
According to Wikipedia, it was, a New York City Subway station at Seymour Avenue in the Bronx"
I heard it wrong for sure.
I got out of the subway. A few more steps and I'll be home. Even though I had some time I started looking for the keys. You can't find anything in that bag.
"How can a person so organized be so disorganized at the same time'' I remembered my mother's words and smiled involuntarily.
Keyring from Paris souvenir from my best friend, khinkali dumpling key ring souvenir from Georgia. Why do I need so many key rings? I need keys.
After a few minutes, I finally found my keys.
Wait, these aren't my keys. Where am I?
In the background, I heard a voice: You are finally home.
Bronx
***
I looked at my watch: 3:34 am.
It was a dream. Very bad but still a dream.
Do you wonder why I hate Bronx days?
Bronx- even though it was the first place I lived, a place where I rode a bike for the first time, where I met Lucy I associate it with constant fighting between my parents, being alone with my mom, crying because my father was in Spain and other things I don't want to mention. So every dream about this place is not a dream, it is a nightmare.
I decided to go downstairs. In the morning La Rambla street was full of life. You can watch a lot of different people. Tourists who have just landed and are looking for an apartment, kids returning from parties, people hidden among the crowds, and morning runners? What is wrong with people running so early?
I went out on the balcony to cool off a bit. I didn't expect to have company.
"Can I?" I asked, pointing to the box of ice cream. Dad turned around, unlike me, he wasn't surprised by my presence.
Without a word, he handed me a box of ice cream.
When I was a kid and I couldn't sleep, we used to go out on the balcony, ate ice cream, and my dad would tell stories. He has always been my greatest support. He was the only one who attended school events with me and was proud to receive congratulatory letters.
"Couldn't you sleep?" He asked, distracting me from my thoughts
"Yes. A strange dream woke me up"
"What was it about?"
"It was night, I was coming home. I couldn't find my keys, something was wrong. The keys to our apartment were gone and the old Bronx apartment keys appeared in their place"
There was sadness on my dad's face
In 16 years of my life, I have never seen him sad.
"But it's nothing, I added we're not going back there anymore, are we?" I laughed hoping for an answer but we were silent instead. I felt that even La Rambla stopped for a moment and all around was silence, silence...
"Lilianne? Are you even listening to me?" exclaimed Valentina
"Actually, no," I said after a while
Don't get me wrong, I love Valentine. This is the first person I met when I moved to Barcelona.
*flashback*
-¿Eres nuevo aquí?
-Hmm? I can't understand you! I'm new here.
-As I was thinking. My name is Valentine and you are going to be my best friend- she laughed
I was so scared. I was still learning Spanish and I was so scared when my mom told me it was time to go to school.
I nodded.
-Do you like Hannah Montana?- I asked
It was the most important question for me back then.
-Are you kidding? I love it
-So we can be best friends forever- I laughed
*end of the flashback*
"And why is that? You were with Jose last night?"
"No, I wasn't. And stop talking about him. It was one time! One time!
-And I finally have your attention" she said
I decided to tell her about my dream and my father.
"It's strange, but you are living here I don't know about 7 years, so you don't have to worry. You are staying here, girl. Don't panic and stop overthinking everything"
"You are right"
She wasn't
This is the last day before vacation. I worked so hard and I need rest. Later I'm going to a party and after that to the next party and the next party. Spanish people are crazy sometimes, but I love them.
"Mom? Dad? Andrew?" I called out
"Kitchen" my mother replied
"You were thinking that you have a house for yourself?"
"No! It was one time! One time. You are like Valentine" I sighed
"IT WAS HILLARIOUS, LIL" she laughed
"Who are you?"I asked
"Apparently,your maid" she laughed again
"One time! One time" I said
"Okay, okay. What are your plans for today, honey?"
"Actually, I'm going to the party and the next party and the next party..."
"Spanish people" she sighed
"You don't tell me"
"Before you go. We have something to tell you and since your dad will come home late, I have to tell you"
"What is it?" I asked
"Honey, you know I'm not good when it comes to difficult topics"
"Yes?"
"Wearecomingback!Bronxisyournewoldhome!Wearemovingoutnextweek!Dontkillme"
"We are coming back? The Bronx is your new/old home? We are moving out next week? I will, mom, I will" I said
"No, no. We can't!- I screamed. I have a life there. I have friends and school. Did you promise me? Remember? I can't go. And I won't. I must process this information. Don't call me"
I left home and I called Valentine
"Lilianne? What now?" she asked
"You told me I was paranoid and you are right. Do you know what? You aren't. I'm coming to you. I will be there in 10 minutes"
Without waiting for an answer, I hung up.
You can't be fucking serious.
YOU ARE READING
Return to the roots
Romance"They called him dangerous, but he was her safe" After a few years, Lilianne has to go back to her roots and start all over again in a city that she vaguely remembers. What if one day her paths cross with the ruthless criminal?
