Unfinished- add on
Rena:
It wasn’t always this hard. I used to be happy. I had friends, family and neighbors all supporting me in what ever I did and caring about me. I had my whole life set right in front of me. I was going to be a ballerina and start my own ballet school. It was what I was meant to do. I was truly happy and had a direct route I knew I was going to take- for a first.
I never told anyone about it. Not even my parents. I wouldn’t even think about it to myself. I was ashamed of myself that I ever allowed it happen to me. I missed my audition at Visceral and gave up on that route. Soon later, my friends gave up on trying to talk and hang out with me. My neighbors never came by to ask how my ballet was going. I pushed my family away and I shut myself inside my house.
I decided to go back to Chicago and leave Long Island for good. Sure, there were plenty of times where I could have gone and tried to get into Juilliard, but staying in New York, kept the reminder of what happened. I took off and didn’t look back.
Chicago was similar, but unfamiliar. The sounds were just like the big city of New York, but there was no reminder. It was perfect. No one knew who I was; it was just what I needed.
Matt:
“Hi, is there a Rose Lowenthal here?” I asked the receptionist.
She smiled. “Yes, there is. Are you a friend or relative?” I nodded. “Okay. I just need you to fill out a guest list and show me your driver’s license.”
“I don’t have a driver’s license.” She paused a moment. “I’m her son. I’m Matt Lowenthal.”
The receptionist bit her lip, thinking about what to do. “Do you have any ID with you?” I clenched my jaw and slowly pulled out my dog tag from beneath my shirt. Her eyes grew wide. “She’s this way.” The receptionist brought me down a brightly lit hall and stopped at the end of the hall. “Thank you for what you did for this country,” she touched my arm gently and smiled. She returned to her desk as I opened the door.
At the far side of the room, right next to the window, an old, weak woman was sitting at the edge of her bed looking out the window to the soggy, gray sky. I quietly walked over to her. She turned my way. Her face was full of wrinkles that spread all around like spider webs, but her eyes were the same as the last time I looked into them- big, deep blue seas.
“Matty?” she inched closer.
“I promised I’d come back.”
She smiled, then, and her eyes teared. I sat down next to her and we hugged each other. I felt warmth and tender care that she always generously gave me.
“I had dreams that you would never come back,” she sobbed.
I weakly smiled at her, “They were only nightmares.”
“But they were so real!” her eyes looked up at me with fear.
I held her shaking hands, “It’s okay, Mom. I’m here now.” She nodded. It was quiet for a bit as we soaked in each other’s company. “I heard you’re sick,” I broke the silence.
“It’s nothing to worry about. They make a big fuss over nothing. I’ll be fine, so don’t you worry about a thing,” she patted my hand. I helped her lay down on her bed and i pulled the covers up for her. “They were all wrong. The hunter’s key lies within the hunted’s heart. Remember that for me, will you?” she pressed her hand to my cheek.
I nodded, too choked up to say much, “I promise.”
“I know you will.”
