Les Difformes

Le début ⎯

Today was lovely, exciting, wonderful, and all of the other synonyms! After a stressful week of final exams, she’s finally able to have a good walk outside; fresh air across her face, whistling melodic leaves travel her ears, cold breezes down her spine, and the smell of freedom through her nostrils.

Mother: What are you up to today?

Isabelle: I’m not sure. I thought maybe we could have a coffee and catch up?

Mother: Sounds great! I’m glad you still think of me as a friend!

Isabelle: Haha oh mother, despite of all my “friends”, you’re the one who stood by me the most after all.

Mother: Wonderful.. Get properly dressed in a few, we’ll hit the mall.

Isabelle: Are we going to stay there for long?

Mother: Why? You have plans afterwards? Is it your brother?

Isabelle (sighs & looks away): Not exactly.. But I thought of making some plans with him later on, since I've heard that he’ll be leaving the country in a couple of days.

Mother (notices the sadness): Absolutely. What do you say we cancel our plans for today, and you go along with Andre? We’ll head off some other time.

Isabelle (over-joyed): Are you sure? He’s not leaving until next Thursday!

Mother: No worries mon chéri.

Isabelle is filled with ecstasy.

Andre in his messy apartment, blabbering and trying to look around for anything his eyes would have missed. He was packing, for he is going to leave to study in America, maybe even stay there. His phone rings but he’s not sure he wants to answer; he looks, he shrugs, he wonders, he answers..

Isabelle: Brother! Hey, how are you??

Andre: Bella.. Hi. I’m.. living. You?

Isabelle: I'm ecstatic! What are you doing?

Andre: Nothing. Nothing at all.

Isabelle: Andre, we share the same blood, I can sense it when something is wrong with you. What is it?

Andre: Eh... you call a week before me traveling? Where were you before?

Isabelle: I was busy with exams! And after what happened with mom and dad, it’s hard to keep up with everything.. Andre, we both know that I shouldn’t explain myself, you’re bigger than this.

Andre: No Bella, I’ve been calling and mailing you for days.. Bella it’s been a year and 7 months.. Almost 2 years Bella, TWO YEARS!

Isabelle: Stop shouting for heaven's sake! Can you please out this behind you? I called to make plans with you, not to argue.

Andre: I’m not free; je suis désolé, ma sœur.

Isabelle: But you just said you had nothing to do!

Andre: I have to start packing.

Isabelle: Your flight is in a week!

Andre: I’m leaving for at least 8 years; I have a lot to pack.

Isabelle: Andre! ⎯

Andre (interrupts): Bella, don’t push it.

Isabelle: I just thought we’d hang out and catch up..

Andre: Catch up? Really? Catch up what? The whole one year & a half??

Isabelle: Stop it! Why are you making it a big deal?!

Andre: Because it is! And you don’t see it that way because you haven’t been in my shoes! It's been almost two years Bella and a lot happened to me and you were not there!

Isabelle: I wasn’t aware of anything!

Andre: Because you never picked up!

(Moment of silence)

Andre: ...Where do you feel like going?

Isabella: Your favorite restaurant.. “De Mimmo”.

Andre: Ahh.. That place.. You still live with ma mère, eh?

Isabella (giggles): Where else would I stay in?

Andre: I'll see you there at 4.

Andre is not quite sure if it was the right decision to meet his sister after all what had happened to him, especially the horrific accident.

De Mimmo. All locals. All true Paris citizens. One thing Andre loved about the place! Everyone in De Mimmo knew Andre and Isabella, along with their parents whom are no longer together.

Andre shyly enters and can sense that all shocked and disturbed eyes were following him; he didn’t blame them, he couldn’t. He chooses a table for two in a lonesome corner and awaits his long-gone sister.

Isabella enters De Mimmo; people greet her, waiters & waitresses are astonished by how much she had grown. She looks around for a blonde-headed, hazel-eyed handsome brother; disappointment covers her face. She thought she was ditched until the corner of her eye catches a glimpse on a handsome man sitting all so alone. She steadily walks towards him...

Isabella: Andre?

Andre (stands & covers his face aggressively): You came!! Why?!

Isabella: But.. I thought we’re supposed to meet. What’s wrong Andre? What had gotten into you?!

Andre (tears flow down & takes off his hand): This, Isabella! THIS what happened to me!!

Isabella crashed in tears as she looks at her once beautiful brother. Andre sobs and Isabella couldn’t do anything but to hug him.

⎯ La Fin.