shadows

black was her shadow (4)

Fanny was bigger. Wiser. She understood. She knew what the shadow was. She had never spoken about it to anyone. It was her and grandma’s secret.

She hadn’t seen or heard any mention of the shadow. Until now.

“What is it?” Emilia asked.

They were rushing down. Fanny wouldn’t let go of Emilia. And she wouldn’t wipe that worried expression off of her face.

“Nothing,” Fanny said, shaking her head.

They were outside. A few feet from Fanny’s car. Emilia forced them to stop.

“No. Not nothing. Something. Definitely. Look at your face. Would you believe that? Nothing? Tell me.”

Fanny sighed in defeat. She knew well how obstinate her dear old best friend could be.

“That shadow you saw in the mirror? I’ve encountered it before.”

“You saw it too?” Emilia asked in wonder.

“No. I didn’t see it. I encountered it. Like today. I encountered it. You saw it. I was with you. I encountered it. My grandma saw it. I was with her. I encountered it.”

“What happened to your grandma?”

“She died. That day. Not long after the shadow.”

Emilia fell quiet.

Fanny grabbed her friend’s face. Stared into her friend’s dark eyes from so close the faces were less an inch apart. And spoke with all the seriousness she had in her.

“You are not dying. Don’t you dare entertain that idea for even a second, you hear me?”

Emilia nodded with a smile.

“I know. I told you already, didn’t I? I must live.”

The two friends stared into each other some more. Then nodded. And headed for the car.

“The same car,” Emilia said with a smile.

“Yes,” Fanny replied.

The roles had reversed. Fanny was the one trembling. The shadow shook her. And Emilia held Fanny’s hand, giving strength and comfort. The car was the perfect topic for a diversion.

Four years ago, they decided they needed a car to get around. Fanny downloaded brochures of all the coolest and the newest cars. She got started studying the brochures. Reading up on the terms to understand the material, to understand cars. There was just too much. Progress was slow.

Emilia came over, pushed aside the brochures, closed the browser windows and then the laptop. She presented the list she had prepared. A simpler, shorter list. With exactly five cars. Including their prices. None of them new or cool. Nor too old. None of them expensive. Each tagged with an explanation that the they could understand. Reasons for and against each car, reasons that affected them directly. There was even times next to each car. She had made appointments with the sellers, to get a hands on understanding of the car. A test drive. Experience the cars in person. Before taking the call. It would all be done in one day.

A day later, they bought their first car. A black hatchback that was bigger than other hatchbacks because it had a bigger, a more powerful engine, and bigger tyres, and nicer seats. It was an older car that had been modified, upgraded by the guy who had enjoyed it to satisfaction and was now selling it because he was getting started on a new project, a much more ambitious project. He even introduced the girls to his friend’s garage, who would take responsibility of servicing and maintenance of the car.

They were buying the car on Fanny’s name. And she didn’t think much of it at first glance. But then, she got in. Drove it. And that was it. It was love.

The black wasn’t as black as Emilia remembered. And there were the streaks of steely grey.

“Still the same car,” Emilia said.

“Cosmetic changes,” Fanny said. “As you can see. Felt a little change was good.”

“Yeah. It is nice. Shall we?”

Fany nodded.

They got into the car. Fanny behind the wheel. Emilia by her side. Fanny started the engine. They felt the faint vibrations in their seats. The familiar sensation brought them to smiles. Fanny gripped the steering hard enough for the whites to show in her knuckles.

“Ready?” Emilia asked, grabbing Fanny’s hand gently.

“Do you see it?” Fanny asked.

Emilia shook her head. Fanny was looking her was, and so saw it.

Fanny nodded. And turned back toward the front.

Emilia’s head was turned the same direction, the front. Her eyes, however, were at the furthest corners to the left. Staring into the window. At her reflection. And the shadow staring back at her.

“Let’s go,” Fanny said.