The Luna: Braver Than We Are

Chapter 13

“Hi,” a woman approached Viola when she was sitting at the table in the common room, preparing some new games for kids. The table was situated in a corner, separated by some shelves that Viola annexed, it was almost like a small office. “I’m Chloe, Dianas’ mother. I wanted to thank you. Di couldn’t stop talking about you since yesterday.”

“Hi, nice to meet you. But there is no reason to thank me. It’s mutual, I mean I benefit from the classes at least as much as the children.”

“No, there are all the reasons to thank you. You know, they, the kids, know exactly how we are feeling and mimic it. Most of us are burdened. Heavily. Di can sense all of my burdens. I wasn’t a good mom.” Chloe added suddenly. Viola thought that she looks so young and fragile, too young to be a mother of 6 yo.

“Don’t say such things. Di is a wonderful girl and I strongly believe that it’s because of you.”

“I don’t know why but you make me want to confess. Will you listen?”

“I will,” Viola said.

“When we are young, they tell us about the princess and the frog. Well, I took it too literally. I kissed so many frogs. Far too many. And the funniest thing was that none of the frogs changed into a prince. Moreover, the more I kissed them, the more they all became ugly and selfish toads. Yet I tried and tried. I believed in my fairy tale.”

“You weren’t the only one,” Viola smiled slightly.

“But I wasn’t the only one that got hurt in the process. It was this close to a tragedy until I came to my right mind and understood that Di is the most important person in my life.”

“You don’t have to tell me,” Volia said quickly seeing how Chloe hesitated.

“I want to but I’m ashamed. You see, Di wasn’t planned. It was the first time I believed that a frog can be a prince. I was so young and naive. After I found out I was pregnant, my perfectly planned life just fell apart. My parents chased me from my home saying I disgraced the family. I was supposed to study, I wanted to be a writer, instead, I had to find a job and support myself. I was so angry and I channeled this anger toward Di. I mean I took care of her diligently, but there was no love in my actions.”

“And her father?”

“My so-called boyfriend left for college in another city and stopped answering my calls. His parents paid the child support but weren’t interested in us. So I strived. I probably had depression and when another man took an interest in me, I just fell for him. And then for another and another. Just like I wasn’t able to live on my own. In fact, I believed I wasn’t. So I tried to make them stay by mimicking them. When my man overused alcohol, I did the same. When he was a gambler, I worked to make the end meet without complaining. I was lucky I haven’t met a junkie. You must think…”

“No, I don’t. My story is similar in many ways. Only I had one man.”

Chloe smiled vaguely and combed her short dark hair with her fingers. She had small silvery scars on her forearms.

“Yes, I used to cut myself,” she said noticing that Viola is looking at the scars. “When life was too much to bear, the pain was liberating. Only for a short time but still. You are a good listener. Do you want me to listen to you?”

“Maybe another time. This all is still so fresh.”

“I know, we are here since March, over three months and it’s the first time I can speak so openly. Anyway, it was my last boyfriend. There was something shady about him. I didn’t bother to think what it was, he was there for me, or so I thought he was. You know, some stories should happen only in books. I was Charlotta, Di was Lolita and he was…” her voice broke and she sobbed. “I felt sick at work and got home earlier. If not for a mere accident, he would hurt her. I’m so hopeless.”

“It wasn’t your fault. You acted properly.”

“You are talking like a therapist.” Chloe laughed bitterly, whipping off tears from her cheeks.

“I wish I believed what I’m saying when it comes to me. It would make things so much easier.”

“You are a sarcastic one, good, there is hope for you.” This time Chole’s laugh was genuine. “It was nice to talk with you. Do you think we could repeat it?”

“I think we should, on a regular basis.”

“So… what do you think? Friends? Hey, don’t look at me like this, I told you my darkest secrets and you are already Di’s favorite aunt.”

“Oh, it’s not like that, no one has ever asked me if I want to be friends. And I never had a chance to be an aunt.” Viola silenced.

“So… you want to be friends.”

“Very much indeed.”

“That’s good, I heard there will be a self-defense class with some really hot studs. I would explode if I wouldn’t have someone to talk to about them.” Viola looked at Chloe in horror. Was she planning to poach on the next guy? With her experience? “I’m just joking, no men allowed, but I still can watch and rate.” Viola started laughing uncontrollably.

***

Later this afternoon, a group of women gathered in the dining room, where all the tables were set aside to make space for the training.

“This is my long-time friend, Adam Longclaw and Marius Fur, they will show you some basic techniques”, Jonathan introduced two tall and strong-looking men. They mocked a few encounters to show different ways to dodge the punches. Then they invited the volunteers to try the techniques.

Viola wasn’t present to see it, she felt weak and dizzy and decided to take some rest. She knew that it was normal in her state, so she just set the alert to make it to see this Adam guy and dozed off.

When she woke up, it was dark outside and when she checked the time on her smartphone, it was evident that she had either missed or ignored the alert. Viola decided that she still could try to find out if the training was finished. She smoothed her hair and went out of the room. She directed to the dining room. The corridor was dark and silent. Was it that late? No, it definitely wasn’t, so Viola felt awkward.

Viola saw a glow of light under one of the doors, not thinking much, she strode quickly and opened it.

It was an old-fashioned bathroom, like those in old, not renovated high schools. Shower cubicles had shortened doors, so you could see the upper body of the person inside. Viola noticed it all, but in the first place, she noticed a man that was standing under the shower. He was tall and had white hair although his body indicated that he definitely wasn’t old.

He must have heard her opening the door because he turned to her and Viola felt she was blushing.

“S-sorry” she muttered and tried to turn around but for some reason, she couldn’t move.

“Maria?” The man asked reaching for a towel.