FLOWER

CHAPTER 3.5

When I'm almost about to walk past the reception and leave the gym. I notice an old man with wet eyes, a slightly open, moving mouth. His eyes are fixed on an old photo, held in shaking hands. My sister glares at me. He knows how it will end soon.

- Everything's all right? - Sighs in defeat.

And the receptionist blinks a few times to get rid of the tears. He turns towards us with a slight smile.

- Yes, Miss, I was simply overcome with nostalgia. I'm cleaning things out and found some old photo of a friend. - I look into his eyes and he continues. - Today is the anniversary of Istanbul's death. And I won't even go to his grave. - He sighs regretfully. - He has liked Turkish beauty since he was a kid. How much he tried for her Oh, she ignored him. - He smiles with nostalgia in his eyes. - He was a stubborn man. Very nervous but a good guy. Sometimes, when we couldn't calm him down, we called her name. And he transformed into a lamb instantly.

He gives us a very old photo. Tarnished on the side. It shows a man in profile. He has a bandage around his neck. Shirt and shoes covered in mud. There is vegetation with trees in the background, the road is crossed by ruts. The face is unreadable, as the destruction is also on it. And the years have done their work. Only the light blond hair is distinguishable.

- He hated technology. Miraculously, I took this photo of him. - He says with eyes glowing with excitement. - Mhe said that if he wanted to have something as a souvenir, it would be better to have a painting, not a worm like me. I think the librarian has another one? Also done out of his ignorance. Because when he was doing some work, he didn't even think about what was going on around him. - I give the old man the photos. - Thank you, Miss and Madam, for listening. It helped me a lot. - My sister likes classy men, but this time she's burning a hole in the receptionist with her eyes.

- There's nothing to be thankful for.

- Here are leaflets. - He shows us the shelf. - Where's my upbringing? I my name is Tupã Caiuby.

- I'm Róża.

- Nasturcja.- My sister says a bit dryly.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

Before leaving the gym, I take leaflets of various attractions recommended to us by the gentleman. I smile at my sister and she narrows her eyes at me.

- It's worth coming here again. Maybe we'll even like something else, Mom.

- Surely, you've already found some fun. - The sister mocks, getting on the bike.

She's trying to leave me behind. But I don't give up that easily. She will hurt me terribly when the truth about her leggings comes out. There is no humor today.

We are eating dinner when the sisters fork lands against the wall. I have no idea what she's doing with that chicken. But even the cutlery protests. Picking up his fork, he sticks his ass out at us. And I already know that it's over for me.

- Nasturtium, you can see all your underwear. It was impossible to dress more flashily. .

- How?- She involuntarily covers the four letters with hers hands.

- Everything shines through to you.

- You didn't tell me anything? - She looks at me with a raised eyebrow.

- I didn't notice. - I say with my mouth full, staring at the plate. Harsh times have come for me.

- This leggings are like a sieve.

- Such a humiliation before him.

- What HIM? - Dad suddenly asks animatedly. His eyes darted from Nasturtium to me to me and vice versa. -Speak as if in confession!

She's already staring at me, how I'm going to deal with her. And I've prepared a noose for myself. Although maybe it's for the best, there's a chance to regain ownership of the bed and quilts. You still have to survive testifying in front of Dad.

My sister makes a fuss, but not enough to look for another place to sleep. At least I have the entire duvet cover to myself. With a loss of ten percent of the mattress. I don't know if I'm doing well with this change. I move her leg a little further away from me. She sleeps like a rock, wrapped in her own duvet cover. To think that she pretended to be offended as I gave her this.