Thirteen

The Outside

   This is amazing. We are finally happy again.
Lyvia 'It's a very beautiful town.'
Kevin 'We assumed that you would like it.'
Maison 'Alright. Now that we are all together, I'm going to explain where you will live, what you should expect from the others and how you    ought to take care of yourself.'
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Maison 'People know that twenty humans, us, are coming here. We don't want to disturb or destroy anything they have built so far. You will be asked about your past, where you are coming from, your adventures you've been through or memories until now.'
Lyvia 'So, they don't know the truth about us?'
Maison 'Let me finish, please! They are aware you have been in our hospital for a few years. We don't want them to treat you any differently or to reveal more for your own safe. If they had known, other questions would have come and it is not our desire to make them feel in danger.'
Kevin 'What Maison is trying to say is that they won't feel comfortable knowing that you will be able to do, to create something new, something they are not used to.'
January 'These are our houses.' (showing to four beautiful, medium, decoreted houses)
Jo 'What about high school?'
Maison 'We couldn't enroll you in a high school because some of you are eighteen, others are older and should be in college. A split has never been a choice.'
Jo 'So, we are not supposed to study how to read or write?!' (she seems irritated; so are we)
Maison 'No, no. Of course, you will! Some of us will gladly teach you. Don't worry!'

   I feel the need to interfere.

Lore 'So, firstly you choose the place instead of us. Secondly, you invite yourselves here to be with us. After that, you make us live in your houses. And now, you are saying we are not allowed to go to high school or college; that you will teach us. Where is the freedom you were telling me about the other days, Kevin? Because I can't see any freedom in either of these situations.'

   Maison wants to start speaking, but Kevin drags him back with the intention of taking up with.

Kevin 'OK. You want to go to school. To study with "real teachers". How would you feel to be with all those teenagers who started school at the times that you got sick? How do you think they will accept someone who can't even read or write his own name?'

   I am surprised of the way he has chosen to answer me, so I decided not to reply.

Kevin 'Lore, can you stop with this attitude? If you continue acting like this, it won't bring any help from both sides.'

   Silence. Right now, I am not surprised anymore, I am shocked. He could said that in private, but he decided to make me feel inferior in public. To make the others believe that I am not strong enough to fight back. Because they are the leaders. They are not the leaders. Not ours. At least, not mine.

Maison 'Go back on what I was saying..I am sure you want to see your house from the inside, who you will live with, so we are not wasting your time anymore. There is a list with your names, room mates, your house number on that noticeboard. And last, but not least, a welcome bonfire is waiting for you tonight. There you could ask every doubtfulness you have inside of your mind.'

House Number Three : Kevin-January-Lore-Stephanie-Jo.

   We are walking a few steps to our place. It is a nice small decorated building. Inside there are calm colours, the rooms aren't very big, but it's enough space for five people to live in. The doctors have the bedroom downstairs and the girls and I have it upstairs. Ours are painted white and blue, exactly our favourite colours. There are two bathrooms and one kitchen (we don't know how to cook anyway).

Jo 'This is sooo great! It feels like home!'
January 'I am glad you enjoy our new home. But be careful with some objects; they could break and you could hurt yourselves.'
Kevin 'Here are your phones.'
Lore 'Our what?'
Kevin 'The techonology has evolved these years. There are internet, phones, smart TVs, computers etc. You will see in time. We'll teach you everything about it.'
January 'Are you hungry?'
Lore ' I'm good, thanks. I'm just going upstairs to unpack my things.'
Jo ' Stephanie and I are starving, actually.'

   It is funny that I moved in other place and I have only a backpack as a baggage. I put my only one pair of jeans, two sweaters and my three T-shirts in my closet and the boots beside it.
   I need to take a long bath to get rid of every bad emotions which pass thorugh my head or heart. After that, I feel the need of lying down a little bit; to have finally the chance to relax in my own bed; watching the window; smelling a fresh autumn air.
   Someone is touching my leg. It is a little brunette girl with a plank. I got scared and I stood up very fast.

Stephanie 'Lore, are you ok? You're sweating.'
Lore 'Ahm, ahm...yes..yes. Don't worry. I thought I can see someone.'
Stephanie 'I am sorry if I woke you up, but it's late and we need to go to the bonfire.'
Lore 'Late? Already?' But it was three o'clock just a few minutes ago...'
Stephanie (smiles) 'Well, it's 7:29 p.m. right now. You've been sleeping all the afternoon.'

   My illusion, dream, whatever it was made me so confused; it was so real.

Lore 'O.K., give me ten minutes and I will go downstairs.'

   At the Bonfire.

Lyvia 'Hi, guys! I've missed you! (she is hugging the three of us)
Jo 'We missed you too, Lyvia!'
Lyvia 'What happened, Lore? You look far away from here.'
Lore 'Nothing. I am just nervous for all these.'
January 'Let's gather around the fire, people! If someone wants to eat a mashmallow, there are plenty of them in the bowls behind you.'
Maison 'I see you got your phones. Maybe you don't know how to use them properly, but this is why we are here with you : to answer all your questions; to help you in any difficulty.'
Nick 'Why are we still taking the medicine you gave us in the hospital?'
Maison 'It is vital. If you stop taking it, you'll probably die. We don't know the full process exactly, but the end is known for sure.'
Lyvia 'I can go wherever I want to without asking permission or to be supervised, right?'
Maison 'Of course. You are free. Live your life as you can imagine it. We'll only interfere when you are in danger.'
Lore 'We are free?'
Maison 'Yes, Lore.'
Lore 'If we decide to leave the town..?'
Maison 'After a while, surely. At the moment, I'm afraid it is not possible.'
Lore 'Then we have different meaning of "free".'

   Kevin is giving me a serious look.

Lore 'I mean..Thank you for answering.'
Maison 'To prove you that we are not holding you back, tomorrow you should walk through town. To see the sightseeings. Don't go to the forest, please. There are animals and dangerous spots.'

   Suddenly, a strong wind blew and gave the fire off and destroyed our mashmollows.

Maison 'Stay calm! It seems it is going to rain, so this is everything for tonight. One last thing. I'm telling you this again: think as a group, not as an individual.'

   We are coming to our house and I am going to bed. It is raining with cats and dogs and the noise wakes soothing feelings inside my head.       I'm lying down and I am trying to fall asleep when suddenly that little girl comes up near my bed again.