Boneca [Doll]

Chapter 36: Graveyard Love

Jona arrived in Lisbon, the place where his world had unraveled. Now, he walked through the graveyard towards the tombs where it all began.

Inside the family mausoleum, the air bore the scent of wet lichens and earth. Inhaling the cold air near his mother's tomb triggered something intrinsic-the powdery scent of lavender, rosemary, and simply a mother.

Passing his brother's tombstone, he headed to his mother's. As every year, he climbed onto her tomb, embracing the snow-white gardenia. The feminine, heartburn-inducing scent, once despised, was his mother's favorite. He wondered if his stepmother tended to the cape jasmine garden they once shared.

"Konbanwa, mama," he whispered, kissing her copper nameplate.

Jitsuko da Graça.

A flinch of chest pain made him roll on his back. A small, dusty chandelier hung from the glass dome, one candle extinguished, the other five casting a weak light. Beyond the dusty glass, distant stars adorned the winter sky, free from light pollution.

"Kotoshi wa osoku natte gomen'nasai. Watashi ni wa takusan'no koto ga okotteimasu. Sono koto ni tsuite hanashitemo īdesuka?" [Sorry I'm late this year. There're too many things happening to me. Can I tell you about it?]

He took a deep breath, recounting his Amazon adventures, the accident, Karma's pregnancy, the broken hips, and Aarón's care. Luuk, the new chapter in his life, entered the narrative, though Jona doubted his mother's approval.

"You'd probably not like him at first. Luuk can be a bit conceited, but he's a remarkable man, a true language genius. Eleven languages, and now twelve after his Amazon research," he chuckled, resting his head on his forearm. "Speaking of conceited... he gifted me a million-dollar watch for Christmas. I had to coax the price out of him just yesterday." His fingers traced the diamonds on the watch's gold case. "We've only been together for two months, and he gives me something this extravagant. What if I walked away? Is he crazy, or just plain foolish?

"But you see... The point is, I'm dating a man. Can you believe it, mama? You told me that one day, a miracle would happen, and I would meet a guy who loves me just the way I am. It turns out, you're right. He loves me. But he doesn't know about me. Can I still consider it a miracle?"

His shin spasmed from the cold. Covered in layers, he hugged himself, seeking warmth from both the icy night and the longing in his heart.

Ever since Luuk's kiss in the village, Jona knew what he wanted. Despite denying the change clawing in his stomach, he yearned to hear his real name, Junko, in Luuk's voice.

"I've missed you, mama. Let me share your grave tonight."

And like every year, he slept atop his mother's tombstone, hoping to be with her and his brother in heaven when he woke.

But God had never heard my prayers.