Destined to shine ( English ) #LookingForAlaskaContest

Chapter 4 - A different childhood.

As time went on, things seemed normal, except Layla keep ignoring me. Even living comfortably some things are irreplaceable. Unfortunately, the essential was missing: the love of my mother; leaving a deep void that no money or gifts could compensate.

My father and I, on the other hand, had an affective bond marked by an invisible bond of friendship. He shared love and affection between the three of us equally, without making distinctions. One of his greatest skills was to make us smile to tell a story, even if it was good he could improvise and make it special. As a child did not sleep unless he would give me good night, followed by a kiss and a brief reading. The sound of his voice echoed like a sweet melody and I quickly fell asleep.

I would not say my childhood was a shame, at least once a year we left on vacation and it was amazing. We were going to fantastic places where there was always a beautiful landscape. On one occasion, we went to the French Alps, at the time I was six. Our destination was Annecy, a small town and privileged to be situated on the edge of a lake of clear water.

I still remember vaguely the beautiful sight: a white backdrop and gigantic trees amid cozy cottages, that was certainly our best Christmas together. The three of us had fun with snowball wars, making dolls, skiing and drinking hot chocolate by the fire; while Dad kept us entertained with their stories. Not even the coldness of Layla desmotivou me, perhaps because the winter has always been my favorite season and somehow felt connected to this climate.

That year won a collection of books whose subject involved the secret world of fairies, my paternal grandmother Sarah, who were fabulous. Even my eight years as every child had my fantasies and liked to imagine myself being a fairy snow granting wishes. I was obsessed, after all the fairies were formidable creatures that help people realize dreams, taking curses and have a happy life.

I put a blue dress, wings Pauline sewed my nanny and exit skipping the house or the park. This has become my hobby, perhaps because the world created helped me devise a more joyful life. That made me feel invincible as a heroine with superpowers.

Another who continued transmitting happiness to everyone was Phillip, since Marcus became overprotective and loved this role. Being older brother meant to see that we do not machucássemos (basically I) or not we involved ourselves in some kind of trouble (if Phillip). Dad knew how much he was in charge and it made him extremely happy, as Marcus showed so much maturity.

Amelia, my maternal grandmother, said regularly that I looked into pieces with both. As Phillip, I could captivate people and how Marcus was determined and observant. Without the love of my mother, she has just become an important female figure during my growth. Amelia and my grandfather, Erick, commanded a large law firm and although it is a business woman, I knew that if necessary, could count on their support. Even with all this love, the absence of Layla made my heart getting tight.

Then I began to develop skills to impress her, since from small learned quite easily. Around five years, besides speaking three languages (French, English and German), could read and practiced ballet. As I grew, even as a child, he tried to be the perfect daughter and let my parents proud. However, nothing seemed to satisfy Layla; however much I tried was never good enough for her.

Christopher bother with this, after all, and understand the contempt of a mother for her own daughter? My father felt bad for the way she treated me and his expression made it clear, but I thought the right to make any charge, because if there was an argument between the two, I was the reason. It hurt not to have her love, I felt like it was more of the objects that was there only to decorate the house.

In ballet, park or school, I saw other mothers with their children kissing, hugging and smiling. In these moments I wondered what I had done wrong. My luck was able to count on the love of my brothers, my father and my grandparents, it gave me the strength to move on. Phillip and Marcus helped me greatly with their great advice, a decisive factor in the construction of my character.

Phillip really had a big heart, and did not like the way you treated me Layla, once received so much love and attention. It was clear that he was the favorite son of her, the boy from his eyes. Marcus did not mind not being the favorite, however, she was loving him, which left extremely hurt and angry was the way Layla despised me.

Both tried to overcome this lack of affection that I did not receive. Most of the time they accompanied Pauline and sought me at the end of the ballet. We lived two blocks from the studio and loved ice cream in the park was in the way. Although seem insignificant, those moments were for that we relaxed. We played, talked and had fun. We felt us free to run, jump and laugh. They were the best brother in the world and did what they could to not feel sad, but loved.

Sarah, my maternal grandmother, shared the same opinion as Layla in relation to Phillip. They were certain that one day he would be a great architect and succeed in an exceptional way the family business. As if there were certain fascination for him, showing to have a talent for drawing and an incredible ability to persuasion; features that would help you be successful professionally.

For this to materialize, Layla decided to enroll in in a college with very rigid rules and teachers, one of them was called Simon. Phillip hated and loved her classes to question him, leaving him extremely angry. Although charming, if there was one thing my brother was an expert, it was ready for a good treat, I surrendered to Marcus and me a good laugh.

Simon was very serious wore a wig that was all the time pie, had a hoarse voice and went in endless amounts of math exercises. We did not belong to the same class, they were one year ahead of me, but we had many common teachers, including Simon.

He constantly called Phillip's attention for their lack of concentration. This constant charge was justified by the fact that my brother disobey him was an adversarial relationship of distinct personalities. Maybe Simon was the only person I met who thought my naughty brother. When Phillip did not question an answer, it was meaningless questions or pretended not to understand the answer, just to get him mad.

After school drove me to the ballet. This was another time when I tried to relate to kids my age, apart from my brothers, because in high school everyone was so focused on getting results I felt lonely. But do not think there was different in the studio, the girls acted superficially. They seemed to be concerned only with material things like clothes, shoes and hairstyles. As I did not care about such trivialities, they did not talk to me, just walked away and laughed at the way I dressed. However, that was nothing compared to the spring feast.

Every year, in this period, they organized in the studio a small internal presentation in which we montávamos one piece and fantasized with elements of nature. The teacher liked to give us the freedom to choose between the characters and the choices were fairies, which facilitated my decision. I just did not expect to be treated disrespectfully. The moment they saw me coming, some girls made fun of my costume and wings. That would be the last time I would use, I did not dare put them back or join another party as well. I was so embarrassed I left and threw out the wings in a trash can. Blankly Pauline asked me:

_ Sophia's okay? What is the problem? Why you threw away?

And at the same time I said:

_ Let's get out of here! I'm not feeling well, and do not need them. I do not have six years!

Believe me, give up my wings like that was painful, but I would not feel comfortable using them again. This situation occurred around my nine years, when the girls began to feel adult enough to exclude me. Their leader was Viviane, always vain and snobbish. Earlier blamed me in this situation for my shyness, which hindered communication with other people. Then I started to not care and ignored me, thanks to wise counsel of Marcus, which sought to constantly remember. He stated categorically:

_ "Do not let you oppress. Feel privileged, you have unique qualities that no one can take, unless permission!"