Karen Yuliet Chaustre

ME OR YOUR PATTERN

Bright and sunny was that afternoon at my eternal summer hometown. The smell of humidity and the noise of a city that doesn’t stop talking, made me regret nothing. It took me one breath to realize that I was at the place where I belong, the place that taught me how to grind and love every moment at his side. That specific look that was disappeared for long time while I was scaping from a reality that I feel brave enough to face now.  

My hands started melting whilst every step on the road was approaching me to the scene where I could finally be the protagonist of my dreams. One wave and the symbol of our love fell down. Oh no, have I lost it? Then, I looked up to a neighbor’s hand, he had it and gave it to me. I carefully cleaned it and rolled it on my finger.

After talked with Sam, my neighbor, about the news in the city, which I didn’t care that much; I push myself into the restaurant near by our last house where he took a “Kapsalon” every Saturday. It was about 16:00 and I had two hours to get ready for the greatest moment in my personal life. Oh, I just remembered his fake grumpy face, which I made the effort to deny every time with our story about his first warped heart “arepa” (typical breakfast in my region). It always gives him a delighted smile and a repetitive response: That’s what I’ll do always for you! Certainly, he wasn’t a person of words, he was and is a man of actions.

One step in, and the place entrance me as it always did every Saturday I came with him. I chose the same table, ordered a Colombiana, my favorite sparkling drink, and wait while my soul wandered all over the place.

Time passed me by and it was 17:50, ten minutes before the world stops in one second at my face, the second when he’ll step at the entrance door. Now, I am here, recollecting memories of our adventurous life we had until two years ago, also not forgetting about what I would like to say if he gave me the chance. Does he miss me? Should I say something? Should I just hide and watch him? My anxiety is killing me in parts. I need he appear soon. I had two glasses of my drink and need to go to the bathroom, and if he comes when I’m there? If he leaves before I can see him. No way! I’ll wait, wait for the moment.

The bell rang, he entranced. It’s him, he looks different, happy, elegant, decided, what’s changed? He sat down in the same line but 5 tables before mine. He hasn’t noticed about my presence and I can’t stop watching him, I would run to him, but I can’t, I need to be sure he wants me to come in. I had one sip, another, the bottle and he didn’t have a look at me. And then, his brown eyes penetrate mine as a baby looks her mother for the first time. Time stopped, and he just raised his arm, with a smug smile. It was there, in his arm, as it always will be. The mark of a decision made by nonsense criteria.

I couldn’t stop thinking and blaming myself after discovering how far I went allowing the invention of human being touched my child before he was born. While, I was trying to solve a genome problem, to go against of nature, I enable doctors alter his DNA and it became in three different mutations.

Looking at him again, he started making a welcome signal with his face, and I ran to him with open arms, just to cuddle my baby as I did before leaving our city for the pressure of my guilty. Now, it’s his time. We order two Colombianas and start talking about our lives during those long days far away one from the other. As I said, it’s his time, his chance of choosing either the latest discovery for erase mutations, which there is not guarantee of living after it, or acceptation of himself as he is and try to find happiness in every moment of his life.

Comments by Angie Katherine Sánchez

Dear E-mate Karen,

Good evening

     Through this message, I want to comment you that I have been checking your story; in where I can note your wide range of knowledge around the issue and the excellent structure of the information exposed, because your file is organized and according with the maximum number of words required in the activities guide.

     Moreover, I want to underline of your work the way in which you expose the components of the narrative; in view of you present us a very interesting content with particular information in relation to the theme and the process that you, as a writter, want to develop for each stage of the meeting with that special person.

     In that sense, I only suggest you be careful with the plot at the end of the story, because, honestly, I got lost the succession of the facts in the last two paragraphs, e.g. where you underline: I couldn’t stop blaming myself after discovering how far I went allowing the invention of human being touched my child before he was born...

Likewise, I suggest you be careful with the punctuation marks and the capital letter, for example:

That’s what I’ll do always for you! Certainly...

     Finally, I want to congratulate you for your excellent work; really your story is very interesting, because of the romantic style, the articulation of the concepts and the scheme in general attract the reader's attention.

Thank you for sharing your value contribution with us!

Have a good night,

Angie Sánchez