In 18 years, Lyra Queen, has yet to:
- Kiss a boy;
- Meet her mother;
- Go through a near-death experience.
In a week, she is going to do all three.
cover by @sereneur
"No sé si es bueno lo que yo siento, temo asustarte con decírtelo, joder lo que tenemos. Es que a tus labios, no los entiendo. Cómo quisiera que tu corazón viniera con subtítulos."
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Lyra
The 'Welcome to Baldwin' sign came closer and now I could distinguish the freshly printed poster glued to it, advertising a ball that would happen just a couple days from today, on the town's birthday. We'd sure be long gone by then.
The heat from Lucas's computer had surpassed my jeans and was now burning directly into my thighs but that struggle took second place on my mind as the only words going through it right now were "Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others."
"You can't force me to write right now."
"There's only a few days left for you to send that." My body recoiled as he sped up the car, "I'm trying to help."
I remembered his words written in Arial 12, in grammar so perfect I was sure I would never achieve, "I can't think."
"I don't wanna say that you're wrong and your statement is false..." He glanced at me as he picked up a KitKat from the cup holder, "But you're wrong and your statement is false."
I took off my glasses in an attempt to focus but after 30 minutes of switching between my almost blank word page and Lucas's perfectly written essay and two small packets of Kit Kats added to Lucas's litter bag - something he, of course, had in his car -, I shut the computer, killing the whir that came from it. Lucas glanced at me but didn't comment.
I knew he was disappointed. I was too. But I was inside of a car going 80 mph car to meet my mother whom I hadn't seen in... Well, ever. I found that reason enough to delay the writing of my essay.
As we came to a part of Baldwin that wasn't deserted but inhabited by trees that seemed to be just a little taller than me but surrounded us from all sides, "The last time I was here, those trees were half a meter tall."
"You've been here?" Was that why he helped me? Because he knew Baldwin. Was it possible that he knew who lived in the address I showed him?
"Quite a few times. My grandma used to live here," I nodded my head slowly. His grandmother had died no more that six months ago. The funeral was held in Blume Bay and the petroleum jelly I had to rub on my thighs for two weeks reminded me clearly of the day and of the black tight dress I wore. My father went to pay his respects and I went with him. Lucas wasn't there. I always wondered why, because I knew he wasn't studying that week. Alicia wasn't either. I wanted to know more then. I still do, but I'm not sure he would feel entirely comfortable with that.
"You look like you're about to explode from overthinking," My neurons agreed with him, "Just say it."
