18 — It's just a movie character

S E L E N A

I wiped the water off my face with the handkerchief Pedro had given me when I came to the bathroom. I looked up at the mirror and saw a face that looked half-dead, pale and drawn. I looked exhausted as if I hadn't slept in days.

Crying was not something I usually did, and I was mortified to have broken down in front of Pedro over a movie. But the character in the movie had reminded me so much of my own past experience with Pedro and his ex-lover that I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. The memories of that time came flooding back, and I couldn't hold back my emotions.

It felt like running away wasn't the best option, I felt like I should have stayed behind. But what would have happened? Would my life has been like that character who died for love?

“Um,” I took a deep breath, trying to push the what-ifs out of my mind. Whatever decision I could have made, I knew that leaving the city had been the right choice. If I hadn't left, I never would have met Christopher. Meetin