FAR FROM ERIS • FreenBecky •

NINETEEN

After a few minutes, they left the greenhouse with several bags of seeds and a small bouquet of yellow flowers that Becky had bought, and they got back into the car with a vague destination for Freen.

-I practically lived with my grandmother- she said suddenly, not taking her eyes off the road, as if they had left that conversation unfinished at some point. -I didn't spend much time at home when I was a teenager, you know. Not even now that I'm older, as you can see.-

-Do you not get along with your parents?- Freen asked, hooking onto that conversation that had sprung out of nowhere almost effortlessly.

-Not really. Worse with my mother, I guess. But sadder about my father- she sighed. -My grandmother was important though. She loved those flowers,- she said, nodding towards the backseat. -Well, flowers in general. I guess Patty picked that up from her,- she smiled at the memory.

-Were they very close?-

-They were inseparable. They went everywhere together. Patty spent more time at my grandmother's house than her own- she paused, her brow furrowing slightly. -I guess that's why she left when she died.-

Freen observed Becky's profile, which for the first time since she knew her, had a serious, rigid, almost painful expression. Whatever she was feeling at that moment was important enough to harden her, and Freen didn't want to reveal her family past and make her feel worse. Freen felt like there was so much she didn't know about Becky, and whatever that was, she wanted to prevent it from hurting her.

-Well, but you stayed in touch, right?- Freen asked, trying to bring Becky back.

-Yes, of course. We've never lost touch. Patty is my family now.-

-She's family to me too- Freen said. -She was the only person I knew when I arrived here. If it weren't for her, I don't know where I'd be right now.-

-I'm glad you found her then- Becky smiled.

The car stopped at a dirt road near the highway. Freen hadn't noticed, but they had left the city and were now in a forest path about ten minutes away by car. Becky got out and grabbed the bouquet of yellow flowers. Freen followed, walking for a few minutes until they reached a stone bridge over a river. It was a small bridge, yet Freen felt all the hair on her body stand on end as she watched Becky walk on it.

If Freen's demons had any shape, surely one of them would be a bridge. But that was something she definitely wasn't ready to share with Becky.

-Are you coming?- Becky asked from the center of the sturdy structure. Freen had lagged behind a bit.

-I'm not a fan of heights- she lied.

-Should we add that to ghosts and bats?- Becky asked.

-Probably- Freen replied.

-Come on, Freen. It's not that high- she said, peering over the edge. Freen stifled a scream, bringing her hands to her mouth. -Oh my God, are you okay?-

-Don't look over, please- she practically begged.

-Okay, okay,- Becky said, concerned. -Wait, look- the girl retraced her steps until she reached Freen. -I just have to reach the water. We can go along the shore if you prefer- Freen nodded. -Alright.- She looked directly into the eyes of the girl who now seemed like a frightened puppy. The need to hug her was so great that Becky didn't know how much longer she could bear the agony. -Let's go.-

They began to walk down the mountain slope until they reached the river, which meandered calmly and silently. Freen was still trying to regain her normal breathing rhythm under Becky's watchful gaze. She simply nodded as a signal not to worry about her, and then Becky moved a few meters away, crouching on the shore, watching the water flow for a few seconds as she took a deep breath.

-Hello, grandma. Look, today I come accompanied,- she murmured, smiling. -It's Freen, although, well, you already know her. I don't know if she remembers you, but I'm sure she loved you too. She loves Patty, so I have no doubt she loved you too. She's had some... issues, and well, maybe she'll never know who I am. But for now, I'm just happy to be here. I hope you're okey up there, or wherever you are.-

She released the bouquet of flowers into the water and watched as it drifted away. Freen's footsteps on the stones on the riverbank told her that the girl was approaching.

-I do this every year- Becky explained. -Every year that passes and she's not here. It's my way of paying tribute to her. I don't usually stay home to visit her in the cemetery, but I like to think that the water will always carry the flowers wherever she is. That the water will always take me home.-

And it was instantaneous, as if her need had been heard by the universe; the girl with frightened eyes pulled her arm to turn her around, and before Becky could even react, Freen hugged her.

*