𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 [english]

Epilogue

Live each day to the fullest. Even when you do absolutely nothing that is very productive, and you just want to be lying down watching TV. No need to stress, no need to get angry. We must be thankful that we are alive. It was hard, but I learned to be thankful every day despite everything...

Matthew had remembered that phrase that the girl had told him not long ago. He was already getting over her departure.

...Now that I'm leaving, I know you'll cry a lot, and even though I don't want you to, I understand that you need to do it. But don't do it for a long time, I wouldn't want you to feel bad for me. I'm going to take the best of this, because I always tried to see the best of each situation. I want you to do the same now. I know this makes you sad, and believe me when I say I wish I could stay, but I can't. I have to go, but I know that I will be fine, and you know that it will be like that... And when my departure makes you feel sad, think of a beautiful monarch spreading its wings to fly high, very high.

It could be said that Matthew had managed to fulfill Sofia's request. Her memory no longer made him cry.

Soon after, he left Argentina behind to continue his journey. It had never been so hard for him to leave somewhere, he couldn't help feeling that he was leaving Sofia behind. But he thought about the new tattoo that adorned his skin. He realized that, somehow, Sofia would always be with him. He could never forget that time he met a girl, who was actually a monarch butterfly.

So he got his strength, and decided to continue with his trip, he decided to continue living, to continue accumulating experiences. That's what she wanted, and I'm sure she's doing the same, wherever she is.

Before letting go of the girl completely, he felt he had to do something else. Many of the things that she could never experience firsthand she had lived through Matthew's stories, but there was something that he couldn't give her with his stories, and that he felt it was now his responsibility to fulfill.

The TV in the hospital room was on. It was very late at night and Matthew had fallen asleep on a small sofa there.

The screen showed images of the previous year's monarch migration. Matthew couldn't help but wake up completely because the volume on the TV was a little high. He remembered how Sofia hastily turned the volume down, grabbing the remote quickly and awkwardly, causing it to drop on the floor and consequently, causing even more noise. She had looked at him to see if she had woken him up, and once she confirmed that she hadn't, or so she thought, she was able to lower the volume and continue watching that program calmly. Matthew had actually pretended to be asleep, and he stared at the sparkle in Sofia's eyes as she watched those images of the butterflies.

That night Matthew wished so hard that Sofía had more time... He imagined traveling with her to see the migration in person. But unfortunately that was not possible, and that night the only thing Matthew could do was cry in silence, so as not to distract Sofía, who continued to believe that he was sleeping.

From all the information that Sofia had told him about those insects, Matthew knew that it was the migration season. And that's how he chose his next destination: Mexico.

At first he thought he was crazy. He was on his way to see a huge number of insects together, no matter how much they scared him. But those butterflies were now related to his friend, he couldn't be afraid of them. Or so he expected...

When he was there seeing the migration, despite his great phobia that any small insect would disturb him, he felt very happy. I'm here. And I have to say, I wish you were here too. You would have loved to see this. And make fun of me, even though you couldn't, because I don't feel afraid. They remind me of you, so I feel calm.

That day, he ran his hand over the tattoo that adorned his wrist. And when he looked up, he saw that a butterfly was fluttering very close to him. That lasted a few seconds, it was the only butterfly that had moved away from the groups that occupied the trees.

Maybe you are seeing it, and living it. Maybe closer than I think...

Then he saw that butterfly move away from him and flutter, flying high, very high, getting further and further away from the others.

...And when my departure makes you feel sad, think of a beautiful monarch spreading its wings to fly high, very high.