Ruins of Autumn

56• A Man

    Visara was losing her mind by not asking and wanted to know what was the matter with her. Anila had been smiling all the time since the previous afternoon, when she had returned home, and had a distracted look from hypnotism, as if she had been on drugs.

    For God's sake! She was laughing while washing the dishes! Who expresses happiness in such a stressful work situation? She felt like she was being ordered to cross half of Europe on foot when she was asked to wash the dishes; that was the reason she always left that job to Anila and their mother.

    Something had happened, but what?

    Meeting a man had been the first alternative that had come to her mind, but of course, Visara couldn't ask her sister if that was the reason for her joy because she was afraid that Anila would angrily oppose her, as to why Visara had to think that the only reason a woman can be happy is when meeting a man.

    But it couldn't be that reason. Anila's standards were in the stratosphere, and finding a person of that level seemed impossible. Unless she had lowered her expectations for someone. No, that didn't look like it had happened either. Anila had a sick pride in applying all the rules of ethics, and she had perfection in her blood, like oxygen. She would never compromise for anyone.

    Maybe that was the reason she broke up with her former boyfriend six years ago. Visara hadn't gotten any explanation from Anila when she asked her about him. Anila had only replied bitterly, without looking her in the eye, that they were no longer together and Visara hadn't disturbed her more, so as not to upset her. She had waited for her sister to tell her herself, but the latter hadn't said anything more.

    She couldn't even ask her, in general, why she was so happy because she feared that Anila would be angry and ask her rhetorically why she needed to have a reason to be happy. Couldn't she be like that just because she felt that kind of emotion and nothing more?

    Whatever the reason, Visara just wished Anila wouldn't be disappointed by it. It had been since the death of their brother that she hadn't been so happy.

    "You're giving me the energy of joy, too, which I see in you." She decided to be very nice to her first while approaching her and helping her wash the dishes. "I'll take the glasses."

    A smile as warm as sunshine on a July morning took place on Anila's lips as she accepted her help and placed the fresh plate on the counter.

    "What's going on?" Visara asked as sweetly as she could. She would justify herself by saying that she wanted to be happy for Anila because of the positive event that had happened to her, if anything like that had happened, or even be happy about the fact that her sister was simply feeling jubilant for no particular reason, and she was showing such a feeling with a positive attitude.

    Anila turned to her with a look on her face, as if she had finally found her eternal love.

    "I'm dating someone."

    "Impossible," Visara laughed in disbelief. "Perfection exists? Who is he?" she asked, curious, and tried to think of someone first, but no one came to her mind.

    "Sidorel Nura," Anila replied, and her sister saw her, confused.

    "Your boss?" Visara criticised her. "The tattooist?!" She widened her shocked eyes.

    "Yes," Anila said, feeling guilty about the first truth.

    "You don't hate tattoos anymore?"

    "I do, but I have decided to skip that part."

    "The part where he has all those tattoos for himself?"