Extraordinary Mistakes

28. That day

Diego sits by himself on the living room. His back faces the wall, but he still flinches whenever a noise disturbs the quietness of the room. No one can show up behind him and see what he's typing, but still, he quickly changes the screen of his laptop to show the deviant forum instead.

He's used to hiding what he's really up to, so now, even when he's alone, he still can't trust that no one will catch him.

Most times, when he pretends to be posting on the forums and talking to people interested in joining the movement, he's he's actually only messaging the survivors of the Ariston community.

He's writing a new message in Spanish, trusting that the automatic translator will honor his words.

"Whenever I look back to that day, it puzzles me how it started as the best day of my life, the one that nothing could ruin and how quickly it turned into a nightmare-"

A soft blow of wind opens the window next to him. He quickly changes the screen while holding his breath. Diego looks around one more time and changes the screen back.

"One that I find myself trapped in since. I know, brothers and sisters, that you want revenge. But I urge you to change your target. Some of you have criticized me for being part of the movement because of the Angel of Death. I haven't found yet who was responsible for the massacre, but I guarantee you, please trust me on this, it wasn't her."

He pauses and deletes it wasn't her.

"She killed our family, but do we care about the executioner more than the mind behind it? Do we not want to find out who planned it? Who ordered our death? Do we not want justice? I admit this, I also-"

The door opens wide, and Megan faces him. He nods and smiles even. She takes her time to grab a glass and pour water in it. Drinks it slowly while looking at the white wall, ignoring him. She washes and dries the cup and goes away.

"I also wish she was never born."

***

January 2010

On the poorest part of New York city, Diego, his sister, mother, and father gather on their one-bedroom house. His father has some news to share.

"I met with the leader. He told me that we could stay with them and only asked in return that I'd join the fight and Diego too when he turns 16," he says in Spanish.

"What about me and Camila? Do we have to stay behind?" Diego's mother asks.

"No. You are coming too."

"We're not deviants."

"That's ok, they accept everyone."

"Sebastian, I'm not sure about this. You'd have to fight..."

"We can't keep running from the authorities. If they catch us, what will happen to Diego and Camila?"

"I'm afraid, Sebastian."

"I know, they have no problems with defectors. If we get there and think that it isn't our place, we'll leave. I promise."

They moved to the Capital and never left. Camila and Diego made friends, and Sebastian healed the injured deviants and the ones in charge of keeping the illusion that protected the community from the outside world.

Their life was almost perfect, and for a moment they forgot what was like before, when they were afraid of their own shadow.

On his first day there, during the welcoming party that the community organized, Diego exchanged a look with Jasilyn, the daughter of Xiuhtezcatl, their new leader. The girl waved and he looked away, blushing. He wanted to, but for the next few days ignored her instead of talking whenever he saw her passing by. Which happened more and more often, not a coincidence at all, she was actively trying to catch his attention.