6. THE LAST NIGHT

Nina entered the apartment with the disturbing feeling that her mother might discover her escape plans or suggest anything that would prevent her from meeting Nano the next day, as agreed. Her mother was lying on the sofa, next to her boss, who was wearing a bathing suit. She was wearing one of her light silk robes. Nina didn't feel like talking, just wanted to retreat to her room and think about tomorrow's getaway. Her mother noticed her daughter's mood change again. Now it seemed as if she was away, focused on her thoughts, away from there.

“Nina, did you like your new song? You don't seem thrilled!”

“Mom, I haven't sung tonight.”

Nina felt violent and could not erase from her mind the images in which this man took part. Her very presence disgusted her. He was not an attractive man. He already had an incipient abdomen. He had hardly any hair, and his skin was pale and milky; he was a vulgar man and, for her, even disgusting. How could her mother have a passionate physical attraction to him?

The mother supposed that her change in mood had to do with the time she waited for them to finish having sex.

“You won't be mad at me for meeting the red towel. I assumed that you would arrive later.”

“Okay, Mom, I'm not mad.”

“Don't you want to tell us how it goes with Nano?”

“There is nothing to tell about what you imagine; we are only friends, but not lovers!”

“She's only a teenager,” interrupted the boss, “she's not old enough to think about such things yet.”

That inappropriate comment outraged her. She was old enough to condemn her behavior.

“When do you think girls think about those things?”

“I don't know, your mother will know that.”

“My mother knows nothing about girls!”

“Nina, what do you mean by that?”

“Nothing, Mom, it was just a comment that came to mind ...”

“You disapprove of my relationship with your mother, do you?” Asked the boss.

After her behavior the night before, Nina couldn't answer that question.

“I am not the one to approve or condemn it, I am still a child to understand such things!”

“You don't like me, do you?”

“My mother has to like you; what I think doesn't matter. My mother never asks for my opinion.”

Nina thought this was possibly the last time she would speak to her mother because she was certain that her escape would be a success, and she would never return to her disowned mother.

Nina did not want to continue that conversation and went out on the terrace. She leaned back in a hammock and gave herself over to her exciting thoughts of everything she intended to do when she is free and away from her mother's negative influence.

How would she react when she knew she had escaped? Would she report her escapade to the police so they could search for her? And what would happen to Nano? Would she accuse him of some crime for which they could confine him in a reformatory?

She had to write a note to justify her escape and let her live her life as she wanted. Maybe she should mention the pornographic photographs on the cell phone; that would be an excellent reason for her not to report her flight to the police. No judge would give her custody with such immoral behavior. Yes, that would be a good alibi to get to safety and protect Nano. She would have no choice but to accept the facts and allow them to live their lives. As for her music career, she already knew enough to write her songs, and Nano could help her hone his style. She needed now to gain experience on the street or in cafes, which she had found to be the best school.

If she wanted to escape, she would have to give up many things, because, as Nano had asked, she could only take what could fit in a backpack. Can you live only with what fits in a backpack? she would soon know! Again the moon was reflected in a calm sea, and the cliffs resembled the heads of marine giants in permanent struggle with the sea. Nina improvised a few verses about those gigantic figures, which would be the subject of a new song:

Giant asleep arise from the sea,

and their senses slowly awaken

to see the moon reflect in the sea,

and the stars in the sky see gleaming.

Asleep giants arise from the sea,

and their senses slowly awaken

to see the sunrise at sea,

and already awake to dream,

sleeping giants emerge from the sea

and their senses slowly awaken

to see that you are with me,

as close as you have the sea.