Chapter 7: The weight of goodbye

  Silence had taken over the house.

  Since his grandmother left, Juan had not been the same. It's not that he had given up... but something in him had broken. His eyes no longer shone the same, and although he tried hard to move forward, there was a seriousness on his face that had not been seen before.

  But Juan knew something: he couldn't afford to be like this.

  Because although for him his grandmother had died... for his mother his mother had died.

  That sadness he carried in his chest was not only his. Yessy had tried to be strong, as always, but Juan knew her well. I had heard the sobs in the middle of the night, the sighs when I thought I was alone.

  Two weeks have passed since that day.

  And Juan knew that he was only prolonging the inevitable.

  ?

  One afternoon, in the living room...

  Juan sat next to his mother. At first, neither of them said anything. They only shared that uncomfortable silence that forms when they both know there is something to say... but they don't know how to start.

  It was Yessy who spoke first.

  "How are you?" he asked, his voice weak but soft.

  Juan pressed his lips, not knowing what to answer.

  "I don't know," he finally admitted. I feel... weird. As if I were missing something that I'm just beginning to understand.

  "That's normal," his mother said. But do you know what's important?

  Juan looked at her in silence.

  "May it continue to be you," she continued. Because... -he paused, trying to get the words out without breaking- ...because you are strong, Juan. But not because of your muscles... but because you've always been good. And if one day you change, let it be to become even better... not to become someone you are not.

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  Juan looked down.

  "I don't want to change for the worse..." he murmured. But I feel that something inside me... is transforming.

  Yessy took his hand gently.

  "Whatever it is, I'm sure you'll find the right way," she said with a weak but sincere smile. Because your grandmother always believed in you.

  For the first time in days... Juan smiled.

  ?

  That night...

  Juan stood in his room, silently observing the clothes hanging in front of him.

  It was a special set... not because it was expensive or elegant, but because it represented something. It was a black shirt with long sleeves and dark pants, the clothes I always wore when I felt I had to take something seriously.

  "It's time..." he murmured to himself.

  He changed slowly, feeling that every garment that was put on not only covered his body, but was part of his determination.

  When he finished, he looked at himself in the mirror. His reflection looked back at him firmly.

  No more doubts.

  No more fear.

  It was time.

  Juan left his room and went to his mother's room. He saw her asleep, her eyes swollen from the tears of previous days.

  He approached, leaned gently and kissed him on the forehead.

  "I'll be fine, mom..." he whispered.

  He walked to the door, looked at his mother one last time and closed it carefully.

  ?

  Already on the street...

  Juan took out of his pocket something he had kept for weeks. It was small, metallic... an object that The Mother had given him that night in the void.

  Finally, the mystery was about to be revealed.

  Juan held it in his hand... and for a moment, he remembered that moment.

  ?

  (Flashback in the Void)

  "When the time comes..." said The Mother, handing him that small object- ...you will press this button.

  "What will happen when I do it?" Juan asked.

  The Mother just smiled at him.

  "You'll know."

  ?

  (Return to the present)

  Juan looked at the button in his hand. For a moment he hesitated... but only for a moment.

  "Let's do it at once," he murmured, and firmly pressed the button.

  The screen went black. A sigh... and then, everything changed.

  ?

  The Void.

  Juan opened his eyes and found himself again in that immense space where only the stars and the constellations made him company. In front of him, was The Mother, with a calm smile on her face.

  "I told you..." she murmured.

  Juan looked at her, his expression serious and determined.

  "Let's do it at once."

  The Mother nodded softly and stretched out her hand towards him. The constellations moved violently behind her, as if the entire universe was holding its breath.

  And then, Juan saw the Motherboards.

  Colossal... infinite... powerful.

  The golden light they radiated seemed to envelop the entire Void. The space around him vibrated as if something impossible was about to happen.

  He stared at them... and the chapter ended.