FRIDA' S LIST

Chapter 21 THE FALL

The following day, I didn't remember when I fell asleep, but when I woke up I checked my phone. No missed calls, no messages. Nothing. It was just as if I didn't exist anymore. So, that was it. It was over. All was over. At least, I made up my mind. I was going to ditch the interview at the APS. I had to focus on what was important now, what was left in my life. I had to succeed at my final exams, the first part of my diploma. That was the least I could do for my mother, for my Grandma and for my family. But before, I had to process what happened to me with Tony.

I dragged myself to the living-room. Outside, I heard the birds singing, and people talking. I closed the curtains, and the darkness filled my room. Thankfully, nobody was home. I sat down on the couch and tried to repress my tears thinking about the last time I saw Antony on my couch. I was staring at the TV screen. Unfortunately, Louise stopped by.

"Hey, Crow, how you doin'?" she said, taking off her jacket.

I didn't reply.

"Are you a vampire or something?" she said.

I grunted. I hated her humor. She walked toward me.

"You look dead," she said.

"I'm fine."

I kept watching TV. I didn't wanna make eye contact with her.

"How was your last exam?" she went on.

"We'll see."

"You don't look so good," she said.

I felt her eyes on me. She sat down beside me.

"I didn't sleep well, last night," I murmured.

I took the TV remote.

"Did you have garlic for breakfast?" she asked.

"Get out," I snapped.

"Calm down, I was kidding, half-kidding. I talked to Mom," she went on. "So, you wanna be an actress, huh?" she said.

"Don't worry. I changed my mind," I muttered.

"Changed your mind? So Mom's really convincing."

"Grandma's hands are more convincing than her," I sneered.

"Grandma's hands," she repeated thoughtfully.

"I'm gonna see what I can do about my application to Louis X. I'm gonna beg them to make an exception."

"So, no career as an actress?"

"Yeah."

"It's strange. I've never pictured you as a Law student," she said.

"Really?" I muttered.

"Yeah. And just out of curiosity, why Law studies?" she went on.

"C'mon, Louise. You know why."

"I know why Mom wants you to get a Law degree, but you never told me why you wanna get a Law degree."

"Because Mom wants it, of course. Because Grandma worked hard to get us a better life, like Mom, so I have to. You know what I'm talking about. I'm sure she did the same to you, and sorry, I'm the last option."

"Thank you, genius. But maybe you don't really get it. Grandma worked hard to give us a better life and don't you think part of it is to be able to choose what you wanna do with your life."

I watched her silently.

"You should think it through, genius," she said.

I didn't know what to say, so I remained silent. She made a point. I couldn't ignore it.