Chapter 13
Maria:
• You know? I don't know why, but I feel like I know Max.
Julie:
• How is that possible?
Maria:
• I don't know... Every time I see him, someone comes to mind, but I just can't figure it out.
Julia:
• Have you two met before?
Maria:
• I don't know...
.
.
Max:
• What should we do now? I'm so bored!
Matthew:
• I'm hungry.
Leo:
• You're always hungry!
Matthew:
• Please...
Leo:
• Fine, let's go.
Max:
• Wait, my dad's calling.
John:
• Hey boys!
The guys:
• Hey!
John:
• How's the trip?
Matthew:
• Amazing!
John:
• From the way you said that, sounds like there's a girl involved?
Matthew (laughing):
• What? No!
Max:
• Dad, she really looks like Aunt Eliana... just like the photo you showed me.
John (confused):
• Who?
Max:
• The girl I told you about.
John:
• Could it be... that she's Eliana's daughter?
Max:
• I don't know, Dad.
John:
• Maybe you should get closer to her... find out.
Max:
• What?!
John:
• I'm joking!
.
.
Julia:
• Maria, Julie, my sisters are on the phone! Come say hi!
Bella:
• I know Julie, but Maria?
Julie:
• She's our new friend!
Belle:
• Where is she?
Maria:
• Hi, I'm Maria.
Bella & Belle:
• Maria!
Maria:
• Bella, Bill! How are you?
Julia looked confused and said:
• How do you know my sisters?
Maria:
• They live near my house!
Julia:
• Wait... if I were still in Mexico, we'd be neighbors?!
Maria:
• Exactly.
Julia:
• Wow, what a small world!
Julie:
• What's with all the yelling?
Maria:
• Julia and I are actually neighbors, and we didn't even know!
Julie (laughing):
• Ohhh, nice. Hi Bella, hi Bill!
Bella & Belle:
• Hello!
Julia:
• I miss you both so much!
Bella:
• You said you were coming to Mexico, why didn't you?
Julia:
• We accidentally boarded the wrong flight!
Belle:
• Can't you book another one?
Julia:
• We're actually having fun here.
Bella:
• Hmm...
Julia:
• Where's mom?
A woman, neither young nor old, appeared and said:
• Hello, my daughter, how are you?
Julia:
• Mom! I miss you!
Lionela:
• Sweetheart. Is this Maria?
Maria:
• Hi, Auntie. Yes, it's me.
Lionela:
• How are you, dear?
Maria:
• I'm good.
Lionela:
• How's your family? I thought you all would be back by now.
Suddenly, Maria ran to her room crying.
Julie:
• Maria... I'll go check on her.
Julia:
• Yes, you should.
Lionela:
• What's wrong with her?
And Julia told her mother everything.
Lionela:
• What?! Why didn't I know any of this?
Julia (sadly):
• Mom... the plane crash story was everywhere.
Lionela:
• Oh my God... my heart breaks for her.
Julia:
• Tell me more about her family, Mom. I don't remember them being our neighbors.
Lionela:
• They were a simple family. She had one brother, no sisters. Her family meant everything to her. They moved near us right after you left for college. But now, go, she needs you.
.
.
Julie:
• Maria, please stop crying. It hurts me to see you like this.
Maria:
• Why did they leave me behind?
Julie:
• We're still here with you.
Maria:
• You know what? I miss them so much. I miss when Mom used to cook my favorite meals... and Dad telling me bedtime stories even though I was too old... and my brother, who hated to see me sad.
Julie:
• But they're in a much better place now.
Julia entered and said:
• I'm sorry, Maria.
Maria:
• It's okay... but now, I just want to sleep.
Julie:
• Come eat first, then you can rest.
Maria:
• I'm not hungry.
.
.
The next morning...
Maria woke up early and went to the beach to get some fresh air. Coincidentally, Max was jogging nearby, as he usually did. Suddenly, he heard someone crying and rushed toward the sound.
Max:
• Maria?
She quickly wiped her tears and said:
• M-Max? What are you doing here?
Max:
• I was jogging and heard you crying! Are you okay?
Maria:
• Y-Yes.
Max:
• Are you sure?
After a moment of silence, Max said:
• Maria?
And she broke down crying again.
Max:
• I knew it.
Maria:
• Why did they leave me alone? Why didn't they take me with them? I miss them so much.
Max:
• I—
She interrupted:
• I wish I could tell them what happened after they left. I broke. I fell apart. No one can save me now.
Max:
• But we're all here for you.
Maria:
• But who can replace my family?
Without realizing, she hugged Max tightly, and he gently patted her hair to comfort her.
Max:
• I lost my mom too, you know. And do you know how?
It was because of me. I was the reason she died.
They both cried until their friends arrived.
Leo:
• Max?
Julie:
• Maria?
They quickly separated, embarrassed.
Maria:
• I'm sorry.
Max:
• It's okay.
Matthew:
• What's going on here?
Max:
• Nothing.
Matthew:
• Is this real?
Max:
• What?
Matthew:
• Are you... crying?
Max:
• Me? No!
Matthew:
• But your eyes are red!
Max:
• Shut up.
Matthew:
• Okay, sorry.
Julie:
• Are you alright, Maria?
Maria:
• Yes, let's go.
The girls walked away.
Julie:
• Are you hiding something from us?
Maria:
• He blames himself for his mother's death.
Julia:
• Who?
Maria:
• Max. He said his mother died because of him.
Meanwhile, with the boys, Max was telling them about Maria missing her family.
Until Leo said:
• She misses them? She can just see them when she goes back!
Max:
• You idiot, they're dead.
Leo:
• Oh...
To be continued...
⸻
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