Chapter 1 — The Weight of Silence
Tell me.
If you lived in a family.
Where the father beats you since you were 5.
Never plays with you.
Acts like the master.
And everything he does is approved by the family.
And by your mother.
Who has an unmatched devotion for this so-called father.
Who laughs at you.
And yells just because you dropped a single grain of rice while eating.
That's not even the worst.
But what would you do?
Back to reality.
— Dude, wake up!
— Tell me, is polygamy a good thing?
— What are you even saying? The teacher is calling you, answer!
— NITA!
…
— NITAAA!!!
— Uh… YES, ma'am.
Then a student says:
— When someone calls him, he has to think first if he's a boy or a girl.
HAHAHA!
— Why did his parents name him like that?
— Their family is weird, hahaha!
— That's enough, kids! said the teacher.
Silence falls.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
The rest of the day ends.
Quiet.
Almost suffocating.
Walking home alone as always.
With that same icy feeling in the air.
Like some invisible presence was following me.
Then a little girl appears out of nowhere.
She crosses the road.
A shadow follows her.
For a moment, her mother's eyes turn empty.
— She can see them.
Then my family isn't the only one…
A metallic crash.
Time twists.
The little girl's body is thrown violently.
A piece of her brain bursts onto the ground.
And splatters.
But no.
She doesn't see the shadows.
It's just her daughter dying right before her eyes.
— MY DARLING!
Please wake up!
NOOO! Mya, I'll take you to the hospital!
NOOO!!!
She screamed so loud.
I decided to just go home.
On the very day of my 15th birthday.
Now at least it's clear.
My family really is cursed.
That girl was cursed… because of me.
As I walk, the question hits me.
My heart shakes because of the scene.
But why now?
It makes no sense.
Why is my family cursed?
We're normal, as far as I know.
At least… I think so.
— I'm home.
— Good evening, my dear.
How was your day?
— Meh.
The teacher gave us a lesson on morals.
— About what?
— Like marriage and stuff.
How it works.
What everyone does.
— Ah yes, that's good, she said, still cooking.
Coming in, it felt like something was off.
I didn't know what.
At dinner time, my father wasn't there.
Haaaaa… relief.
— About what?
— Uh, no, nothing mom.
But something was really wrong.
Why did I feel like something was missing?
Then I see it.
My mother's watch on her wrist.
But it's not her watch.
It's the watch of…
my sister.
Lisa.
— Mom!!
— Yes, my dear.
— Where is Lisa?
Then silence.
So heavy it felt like time had stopped.
— Where is she, mom?
— My dear, don't tell me you didn't know?
— Know what?
— Ahhh, you'll never change.
— What? Just answer!!
— She's m…
— No!
— Ahah.
She went to your cousin's place a week ago.
At that moment.
I had never felt so relieved.
A first time for me.
My heart felt at peace.
— But tell me mom.
What is she doing there?
— Well, she's a woman now.
— Ahah, yeah right.
She's 14!
— Yes.
And now she's your cousin's wife.