3

Taking a stroll in the garden, Isabel was running around, Sora watched him in amusement.

Taking the violin out of its case, Sora

Sora began to tune it, stroking the strings of the instrument. Slowly the notes began to spread all over the place, floating among the flowers.

For a second, she felt embarrassed by her reaction, however, she didn't know that it was jealousy that had answered for her.

- You don't seem to be in a good mood today- said Sora, giving her a smile.

smile.

Isabel tried to say something in her defense, but embarrassment was taking hold of her, and her blushing cheeks made things more difficult.

She knew she didn't have much time before the day was over and they had to say goodbye, so she decided to make the most of it.

- And what would you like to do now?- asked Sora as he sat on the grass.

- Well, I could be the one to read you poetry this time for a change.

Sora looked at her and gave her a smile, Isabel took a small book out of her bag and started flipping through the pages until she found the one she was looking for.

Isabel stopped in awe as she listened to him, picked up a red camellia and approached Sora, while he played with his eyes closed.

As he finished playing, a tear slid down Sora's cheek. Just like the

the first time she saw him play, Isabel thought.

- It was very beautiful- said Isabel, placing the red camellia inside the case. ¿Are you all right?

- Yes, it's just the habit... when I play, it's as if my soul could be free... for a few minutes, it's not much, but it's like I'm free for no forget what it feels like.

Those words moved Isabel, it was not fair for him to have to remain confined forever in the forest. She had to find a way to help him way to help him, even if he had lost hope, she did not.

Since that day, things had returned to normal, the days passed and the hours that Isabel spent in the forest with Sora vanished Without realizing it, the last day arrived. When she woke up, Isabel got out of bed, through the window she could see the clear sky with its intense blue color typical of spring dazzled. Seeing the calendar on her wall, Isabel knew that it was the last day, Sora would have to leave and she would have to wait another year. The thought of it discouraged her.

After breakfast, she hurried to the gear forest. At arrived, she went in search of Sora.

On the shore of the lake, Sora dozed with her head resting on Genova's lap, as she gently stroked his hair.

Watching that scene caused she the same feeling of jealousy, as the time what Sora said "it's always been her and me"for the first time in his life experiencedthe sensation of jealousy. Genova, upon noticing her presence

called Sora's attention, while she stood up, and left. For Isabel was glad she was leaving, even though she knew it was wrong.

- I see you got here early- said Sora.

- You could say that- said Isabel, in a harsh, dry tone.

- "Turn out my eyes and I can see you, close my ears and I can hear you, and even without a mouth I can conjure you.

Cut off my arms and I will embrace you with my heart as with my hands, stop my heart, my brain will beat, and if my brain you would throw fire, I would still carry you in my blood".

- Not bad Who is it?

- Rilke, ¿shall I continue?

- Yes, please.

Isabel continued reciting verses and Sora listened to her with her eyes closed

losing herself in each line.

The day was coming to an end, Isabel would soon have to leave, but first they played their usual game of chess.

As always the game was close, Isabel still had her queen and two knights, while Sora, had one bishop and her two rooks left. For Isabel, was at a disadvantage, but at the last moment, Sora, made a mistake and Isabel managed to beat him. Even though he pretended not to have that mistake on purpose, Isabel realized that he had let himself win. And that displeased her.

- You won, I guess I should reward you for it- Sora thought for a moment-. As a reward, I'll let you ask me whatever you want to ask me and I will answer you.

Isabel, hesitated for a moment; she thought that maybe she was joking, she didn't She didn't understand Sora's way of being. Even if he refused to talk about himself Suddenly he was willing to do it.

- Is it a joke?- Isabel asked in an ironic tone.Sora looked at her, and after smiling he answered:

- No. it's not, so go ahead before I change my mind.

I couldn't believed the opportunity that she had been waiting for to present itself, a thousand questions were questions crowded in her head, preventing her from deciding. But in the end he knew which one.

- Are you human? If so, how is it that you are alive after so many years?

years?

Sora got up from his chair and walked to the window, his expression serious.

He kept silent while Isabel waited impatiently and nervously for him to answer.

- That's two questions, but I guess they're the same, so I'll answer you.

Sora removed her suspenders and then began to unbutton her shirt button by button. Isabel observes that scene intrigued and at the same time embarrassed. When she finished taking off her shirt, a purple stain was marked on her chest, right on the side of her heart, with roots that seemed to be understood by her body. Isabel watched in astonishment at those marks on Sora's body, as he brought a hand to his chest and dug his fingers into it. Suddenly it opened like a lid and a purple light came out right where his heart was. Isabel watched wordlessly, it was hard to believe, she slowly approached and looked. Instead of a heart, there was only that strange purple light. Isabel was speechless, she didn't know what to say. Sora closed her

her chest, as if it was something normal, and put on her shirt again.

- At one time I was human, but that was a long time ago, now I'm... like a

machine, which cannot grow old, remaining always static... in time.

Isabel could notice the expression of suffering on Sora's face, not only was he locked up, but he was also suffering and would continue to do so unless she could free him, Isabel could not understand the sudden reason for Sora to share that great secret with her, however, her instinct told her that from the beginning he wanted to share it, she just did not know how to do it.

Sora looked at Isabel, trying to decipher her expression what she thought of him, knowing that he was not human. However, she saved silently, as if she was still assimilating what she had just seen. Sora, shrugged her shoulders, she felt she had made a mistake in showing him the truth about him.

- Come on, it's time for you to come back- said Sora breaking the silence and setting off.

Sora accompanied Isabel to the abandoned church and along the way, she remained silent. the way, she still didn't say anything. I wanted to tell her many things, but I didn't know how to say them.

- Well, I guess it's time to say goodbye- said Sora, putting her on Isabel's

hand on Isabel's head, and brushing a few strands of golden hair away from her face.

Sora walked away silently, but before he reached the hatch, he felt Isabel's small arms around him wrapped around his waist.

- Sora I...- the words stuck in her throat.

Sora bent down to be at the same height as her and hugged her.

- I will be here next year, yes.

That hug gave Isabel enough courage to say those words:

- I don't care that you're not human and you may have given up, but I'm not.

I will find a way to set you free. Even if it takes me all my life, I will do it, so you will never you will never you have to go leave again.

Those words full of innocence and tenderness had a great impact on Sora.

Sora, he looked at her without knowing what to say, but before he could say anything,

Isabel said goodbye and ran away, not because she was in a hurry,

she felt that if she didn't get away quickly, she would die of embarrassment.

- So you will do it he- said Sora while a smile was drawn on her face.

face.