Our Reflection

8• Keep Calm

Marjorie Blossom POV

The grandfather clock in my home office said three in the morning. 

Since I left the château, I haven't been able to sleep. 

It was the third night in a row that my sleep was interrupted by the memory of the conversation I had with Toni and the sudden urge to do something unthinkable. 

It was not common for me to feel things outside my standard of living, but since I was fifteen I have not been in a similar situation. 

"How can you be so different from her?  It is fascinating." 

The simple phrase that Toni said that afternoon came and went as unwanted thoughts that did not allow me to sleep as easily as before. 

My gaze went to a photograph on the table where me, Melissa and Tyler, were smiling. 

That season in Prague was really profitable for us.

"How can you be so different from her?  It is fascinating."

Once again, Toni's voice echoed through my head, preventing memories of the trip from arriving so that I could relax a little. 

What an unpleasant situation. 

"Mom?"

Melissa's voice made me look at the door and I was surprised to see the girl with a glass of water in her hand while rubbing her sleepy eyes. 

"Why are you in your office?  Why didn't you turn on the light?  It's so late."

"I ask you that question, right?  What are you doing awake at this hour?"

"I thought that because it was Saturday, there would be no problem playing online with Theo until now."

"But of course there is a problem, Melissa.  You are twelve, you need to rest."

"Mom, can I ask you a question?"

"Come in and close the door, my love, I don't want to wake your father."

The girl turned on the ambient light and locked the door, isolating any possibility of Tyler waking up and listening to us. 

Melissa walked calmly to the chair in front of my table, put the glass on the rest and crossed her legs. 

I smiled involuntarily when I saw her failed attempt to look more mature than her age allowed. 

"May I ask you something ?"

"Sure, miss, what do you want to know?"

"Why did I never know about Aunt Cheryl or Theo?"

That question caught me off guard. 

Nor did I know how to answer the reason clearly, in fact, I did, but it was unnecessary to let Melissa find out. 

"Mom?"

"Things happen in life that force us to keep certain people away, which is my case and that of your aunt."

"Cheryl went to live in Berlin and never contacted me, so I didn't know about Theo, nor did she know about you."

"I cannot tell you many things, it is still too young to understand. One day, when you're older, I can sit in that same office and tell you everything, but it won't be today.  Are we agreed?"

"So .. was it a fight?"

"Understand it that way, Melissa, it's the best explanation I can give you."