Silent Fog

Chapter 8 - Skills

"Why did you wake up so early? Bad dreams?"

Mirela gazed at Clara while the other wore a white T-shirt with a faded print of a green and yellow flag.

"On the contrary." she returned, in a good mood for the first time since she'd woken up days earlier in that Cell.

Mirela only raised her eyebrows and Clara told her about the memory she had had that night. She was excited and tried to hide her smile, but she involuntarily took over her semblance. She was hopeful that gradually her memory would return. That recollection had been only the first step, but although all the euphoria she felt, she noticed Mirela's clouded face.

"What's wrong?" she asked, sitting on the bed and staring at the girl. She tried to figure out what was going on, but Mirela insisted on staring somewhere in the room. Was she avoiding Clara? "I thought you'd be glad to know I'm starting to remember things... I know it's not much. In fact, it's almost nothing, but it's a start." and after a brief pause, she added, barely disguising her relief: "At least Daniel didn't lie about it."

"I see..." Mirela agreed sarcastically.

"How long has he been dating Marisol?" that came out loud unexpected. What would it help to retrieve her memories knowing about Daniel's relationship?

"A few months," Mirela's tone was sharp.

"Why don't you like him? What did he do to you?" Clara held the girl's arm and made Mirela face her. The girl cast a wounded look. "Are you in love with him?" she asked, wide-eyed.

"Excuse me?!" exclaimed the blonde girl shaking her head. "This is insane! Of course I'm not!!"

And then Clara understood. She loosened Mirela's arm as she brought her hand to her mouth surprised.

"It's not Daniel..." and frowning, she continued: "You're in love with Marisol..."

Mirela said nothing shifting her eyes to the floor. That revelation had surprised Clara and now she was seated on the bed. Mirela had never hidden she did not like Daniel, but Clara had not considered Marisol was the reason. She imagined that they had gone off on some mission or something, but Clara would never suspect that her behavior was due to a broken heart. Mirela was the type who never show her feelings. Despite the piercings and frowning face, she was very beautiful. She could have anyone she wanted, and her suffering had really taken Clara by surprise.

"Marisol and I dated when Daniel arrived here." she sighed. "We were experiencing hard times by then and we were trying to overcome that. They took part on several missions together, and when I got sick, I couldn't get out of bed for a long time." she rubbed her hands and stared through the window with tears in her eyes. "When I finally got back to fighting, Marisol broke up with me. She said she was in love with Daniel..." now the tears were rolling down her face and Mirela tried to dry them with the back of her hands.

"They started seeing each other when she was with you?" Clara asked, taking the girl's arm to comfort her.

"No, no..." Mirella shook her head. "It was a little later, but anyway, if he hadn't come here, we'd still be together." She concluded in an angry tone, pressing her lips into a thin line.

"But you said your relationship was a kind strained when he got here. Maybe it was only a matter of time to get over even if Daniel hadn't come to the Cell." Mirela stared at her angrily, withdrew her arm and stood up.

"You too, Clara?!"

"Me? What?" Clara also stood up, facing the other girl.

"In love with him?! What the hell does this guy have?" exclaimed Mirela, waving her arms as she left Clara embarrassed.