𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 [english]

9.

After all that, they couldn't start a small talk.

Sofia tried to ignore the bad feelings to regain her usual good spirits.

On the other hand, Matthew was still processing everything. He was feeling so many things at that moment... We could say, to sum up his state at that moment, that he was really stunned.

The image of Sofia collapsing in front of him was repeated a thousand times in his mind.

Sofia wanted to say something to break with that atmosphere, but she couldn't find the words.

"Since when are you sick?" he asked looking at her.

She sighed. "I've always been like this".

Suddenly Matthew noticed something that had been ignoring all this time. "And your family? Do they know you're here? Do you want me to call them?" He was just trying to find a way to make her feel better, but he didn't know that he was actually stinging painfully at her heart, like an insect with a big stinger.

"I don't have a family… I've always been alone. It's another of the differences that I share with monarchs… Also, did you know that they are poisonous? That helps them defend themselves from predators... For my part, I never couldn't say if my own poison is the one that is killing me, or if it's not strong enough to defend myself against my predators. Regarding the first thing I mentioned, I mean that they are gregarious, they are always in a group, but I… I'm not like that. Although now I have a friend..." she said smiling slightly and he reciprocated. "Although after all, I don't think you want to be friends with a butterfly, do you?" she teased.

"To accompany you, I would…" he blurted out in a low voice.

"Did you say something?" she asked.

"I was just saying that of course not, I wouldn't, they're very…" He made a face. "Although I suppose the monarchs are not as big as the others you told me about!... Oh, how horrible." He said slightly upset and Sofia started to laugh.

"I hope you're not afraid of me now, and no, monarchs aren't that big." She answered as she rested her hand on her stomach, which was already aching from laughing so much.

"Well, it's a relief to know that... If so, I can still be your friend".

They both felt good as the atmosphere had lightened up a bit. Though it was obvious that it wouldn't last long.

"Come on, ask whatever you want, I owe it to you..." Sofía said, giving him a small smile, as she noticed that curiosity and concern were still reflected in Matthew's face. He was silent. He really wanted to know more, but he didn't want to be nosy, or make her feel bad. He felt like he had already ruined it too much by naming her family.

Since he didn't ask, and keeping that little smile on his face, Sofía began to talk about what she thought Matthew wanted to know.

"As I said, monarch butterflies live longer than others. They lay many eggs but die before the larvae hatch. Before that happens the parents try to protect the eggs, it seems that this does not really help, but it becomes very important. For predators and other reasons, not all caterpillars get to be born. But some do, and even if they are alone, they go on with their lives... This is why I said that I'm a monarch butterfly. I'm living much longer than expected, and about parents, that's what happened to me. My parents died when I was very young, and I had no other family, so I grew up in an orphanage. In fact I left there a short time ago, when I reached the age of majority. I couldn't stay there anymore, so I worked and earned some money to be able to rent the pension where I live, buy a used cell phone, and most importantly: my magnifying glass!".

Matthew's eyes had crystallized by that moment.

"I won't say again that I don't like bugs because I think you already know that…" he began to say and Sofía shook her head with amusement. "But despite that…” he continued "Monarchs are very pretty... That's why now I have no doubt that this is as you say".

"What do you mean?" Sofia questioned.

"I mean that you really are a monarch. You are strong and beautiful like them".