It was a cloudy day I could see the clouds flying across the skies my vision wandered "ah!" I could hear behind me "there you are!" I turned around in surprise a young woman dressed in a black skirt and a snow white shirt a small badge stood out on her suit she had a small smile on her face despite the darkness of the day her smile seemed to shine as if it had its own light somehow the ominous feeling that this day provoked in me was appeased by the one I longed for Mateo "Ugh, how did you discover me?" immediately the girl pointed her finger at her clothes moving with the dynamism of her action her smile widened as if she was mocking my previous statement Camila "Haha" her laughter had a mocking tone, "I know you very well almost like the back of my hand" my thoughts before being discovered were as fast as a bullet especially knowing what would happen after being caught an electric current passed through my body at such an idea how did she know? In any case, the first thing was to escape. I approached the edge of the building slowly without taking my eyes off Camila, who was slowly approaching with her finger extended and a smile that conveyed contained anger with her slightly narrowed eyes. Mateo: "Come on, you don't have to get angry. I wasn't thinking of escaping. I was just taking some time off, you know, because of the nerves." a small smile appeared at the corner of my mouth trying to downplay the fact that I had run away I could barely see how his smile and expression turned into one of anger I set out in an instant to run away quickly I turned around touching the metal railings that blocked the exit to a fall of more than 20 floors of an apartment building before I could jump I heard some words that I couldn't finish listening to because of the nerves that invaded me I fell into free fall feeling the wind touch my cheeks I immediately regretted my decision when I felt the freedom of a free fall I looked at the ground in fear "come on, come on, come on, come on you have to cast the spell well, or else!" I closed my eyes in fear before I could touch the ground my body remained static in the air I opened my eyes with some disbelief "it can't be I did it!" Mateo "Good!" I felt a small blow to my head instinctively I looked up
I could see Camila's serious face staring with slightly furrowed eyebrows the force that was raising in the sky disappeared immediately I hit the ground Mateo "Come on you don't have to throw me like that" I said as I lay on the floor with my gaze lost in nothingness I knew very well what was going to happen next thanks to my countless experiences with Camila over the years memories began to flood my mind my look, it was the same one that someone had who was told a joke that was not funny at all, completely cold Camila's parents, Mr. Juan and Ana were friends of mine Jose and Maria, according to my mother we knew each other since the crib since my crib was next to hers, I wonder what kind of conversation do babies have? because if they had it Camila and I would undoubtedly have been the ones who talked the most, it's not to brag but we have always gotten along very well but everything took a turn I think
that began when she showed an unmatched talent in the magical arts, her ability according to the description given by the teacher [a talent that is seen once in a millennium [ I don't want to talk about probabilities but according to the current birth rate that is a lot of births and a lot of people I still remember when she levitated all the tables and chairs in the classroom with a movement of her finger it was mind-blowing it looked bright, illuminated by the light coming out of the classroom window added to a smile to see how easy what she did I will never be able to forget that image at the beginning it was because of the amazement it caused me and also because it was the beginning of everything, as children we were amazed at such ability we approached
More and more, Camila was interesting and enviable. The teachers valued her for her talent and constantly spoke with Ana to ensure Camila would be sent to a magic institute for "special" people. The teachers praised Camila; her friends admired her as a magician, someone who made the impossible possible. She could create water, fire, wind, earth. But I could feel how slowly we were drifting apart from her.
The parents said that such power was dangerous for the other children, so little by little they distanced her. I, being a close friend, was the exception. Gradually, the comparisons the teachers made with Camila created discord in the hearts of our classmates. Soon enough, I saw her alone during all recesses, completely isolated. Whereas before she was always surrounded by children wanting to see the power of her magic, now they simply preferred to pretend she wasn't there.
I saw her playing alone from afar, though sometimes I'd approach her to play. In those moments, I could feel the silent pressure of the children's stares, as if they were asking, "What are you doing near her?"
Alex said, "What are you doing near her? Don't you see! She could hurt you."
I could feel the intensity in his words, emphasizing a stark truth.
Mateo said, "You're wrong! Camila would never do that."
Alex replied, "Don't you see? What if she loses control? Even the best magicians sometimes lose control."
Mateo said, "That's—"
I tried to interrupt, but my voice cut off halfway through the sentence. I had seen Camila's power firsthand. I could still remember the time, jokingly, when Camila unleashed what she considered a weak fire, but it would have completely burned my face if she was unable to control her power. Even for just a second; but that second could mean my end.
I swallowed hard. My legs began to tremble as if I had realized a terrifying truth. I glanced sideways, my eyes slightly narrowed toward Camila as if I saw a fierce, dangerous animal.
Alex, noticing my emotions, said in a quieter tone, "For your own good, stay away from her. She looks weak, but any moment she could turn us to mincemeat in the blink of an eye."
His voice had a sincerity that only a child could have. I nodded in agreement. Occasionally, I would look at her during recess to see her playing alone under a tree with blue flowers. But fear completely neutralized the guilt I felt seeing her alone.
Our friendship had been reduced to a mere formality. When my parents and hers got together, I interacted with her, but I couldn't help feeling a certain fear that completely prevented me from getting any closer to her.
When I turned 8, I stopped being afraid of the magical power she possessed. But by then, and long before, her parents had already transferred her to a magic academy. The time I met her again after her parents changed her school, I saw her radiant—a completely different person.
Since she began developing her high magical capacity, the light she once emanated as charisma and charm had disappeared, leaving just a sad melancholy of better times that made me feel powerless and miserable. I wondered why that light disappeared. Had something changed? My friends and I continued happily the same, with or without her, so why couldn't she be the same? Was it my fault?
I could never stop asking myself that.
That's why, when I saw her again just as I had seen her the day she fell into melancholy, it felt relieving—as if a weight disappeared from my chest. I no longer feared her power, but I doubted if she would still be my friend after having forgotten and feared her.
She didn't seem to hold any grudge against me, in fact, she looked at me like a great friend who had always been there for her.
"Ironically, don't you see I was the first to leave you behind?"
Keeping a smile I felt hypocritical, we became close again since our parents saw each other very often, and soon we became best friends. But for some reason, I could never see her like that. A feeling separated me from her; even looking at the same sky lying on the same grass, I never felt equal.
I felt like a mosquito; my parents admired her more than me, they compared me to her even without bad intention. I could only believe them that she was better than me—by far—especially after seeing her magic and the looks of admiration all the people around her had. Even her own parents couldn't help wondering how someone so incredible was born from them.
We were separated—not by time or space, but by value.
She was incredible; she could light up the darkest room; she was charismatic, intelligent, and extremely talented. And I was just a mosquito who had failed as a friend and had nothing particularly good, just hovering near her.
Time passed, and I became passionate about magic. I had always liked it; I chased it as soon as I became friends with Camila again, as if trying to catch something unreachable—a saving grace to erase all my mistakes
But the gap between our abilities was insurmountable. My ability was at most average, while hers was unattainable. I would reach the level of Grand Tower Master in a few years, or so the teachers said, who to this day still talk about Camila as if they had witnessed a legend with their own eyes.
One day, at 14, just about to send my recommendation to the most prestigious magic academy in the world, and see if they accept me, I understood that I would never be Camila nor could I reach her. Nor could I erase the guilt of excluding her.
I was not angry or particularly sad. I felt calm, as if I had finally been able to accept something I had not been able to accept before
It was then that I decided not to send the letter, even though I still wanted to enter. I did not meet the admission standards; if they accepted me, it would be a miracle. I threw the letter in the trash can near the dark wooden door and lay down with slow and tired movements on the bed, staring at the ceiling for no particular reason. I just felt that there was no reason to make an effort in anything.