Long ago, every time I did something bad, my father would lock me inside my room, for some type of reflection, of course, after some hours, I admitted all the wrong things in the world.

Since the beginning, I was guilty from toe to soul...

My father is long gone, but his ghost is like a premium stick glue, always there "Work harder, be a good wife, don't eat so much! Be the best version I now you can be!"

What a controlling shadow...

Shadows're supposed to be behind following my steps, but they're always lurking and scaring me to walk paths I clearly do not like!

But I'm a coward and I love the idea of having someone to blame, someone to guide me with harsh words.

One the best guides was "What is this about? A poem? Go study math instead, don't waste your time in this useless hobby!"

Well, that's how I became an engeneer and made the world a series of numbers and geometric forms, which makes me remember the old lady inside the square portrait.

~~~

THE PORTRAIT

Lady Alva was like a premium clock, everything was neat and precise. She'd wake up the same hour, do things cronologically and sleep with no problems, insomnia was never there. I guess when you get used to a routine, problems just don't exist.

Her hair was short and her clothes were always bright with a white t-shirt and black long skirt, her nails had this beautiful red and her lips some cracks, that she couldn't hide with make up.

She lived in a small house in the beggining of the street, where also lived a dog, always barking at the wind and in some dreams her neighbor, Jacqueline would go and kill that annoying beast.

Of course, Jaqueline was a good person, she would behave like an adorable woman, productive to the society with her 32 years of life unlike that old hag.

It was a nice evening, both women were walking home, Jaqueline knew Lady Alva schedule, so she could avoid crossing paths, but somehow, at the same time, they enter the street. Each one was walking on opposite sides.

"What a luck!" Thought Jaqueline as the Lady said:

- What a nice surprise see you here, my dear Jaqueline! You can come over sometime, more precisely, tomorrow at 19 o'clock I would be delighted to have dinner together.

Jaqueline was stunned, first that old lady was 35 minutes early and secondly, they're distant neighbors, the type that only say "Hi, the weather is nice today!" and now she wanted to have dinner, so she responded:

- I have plans tomorrow, but maybe next time.

The Lady felt distant with her goodbye.

Jaqueline was kind of curious about that dinner, maybe she invited more people and at 18h she started getting anxious, her room was pitch black and she would look through the little crack in the window.

Alva's house seemed quiet and there was a bright light coming from a square window, what Jaqueline guessed was the kitchen.

That square looked like a frame for a portrait that soon became a silent movie screen.

First she saw a shadow coming and going like a pendulum and then a dog came, together they danced for some time. After a while more shadows were present, not human like, more like monsters that lurke below your bed.

A tiny part of Jaqueline was so envious of that scene "How can that square lady have so much fun?"

The next days, Jaqueline kept thinking about the old lady, years passed, but she was never bothered to see her again.

THE PORTRAIT - THE END

~~~

The necessity of control is always with me, but I don't want to control every detail like Lady Alva, some things in life should just be enjoyed as the unpredictible wind fly away with your dreams.

As always, with love, Erica of the Dawn.

~~~

Author's note:

I hope you've enjoyed this short story, I'm no professional writer and my mother language is not english, so feel comfortable to give advice and feedback.

More about me > https://linktr.ee/patriciamiyazima

Thanks for reading!