2023-08-12 09:44:34
THE THIRTEEN STEPS, LVII: THE SUITCASE
[Imagen: Inés Valencia]
Actually, it was never entirely clear why Virginia and Aurelia stopped talking to each other, but according to Cousin Nora, it could well have been because of a suitcase. It certainly doesn’t seem like a very compelling reason. Quite the contrary: anyone would have thought that two sisters, otherwise well-matched since their earliest childhood, would never lose their good relationship for such an absurd reason. Whether that was the real reason, or whether it was the straw that broke a glass full of old accumulated grudges, the fact is that, on any given day, the Gadea bond broke. And that cut was as unappealable as if Atropos herself had given the snip.
Aurelia was the eldest, and if we are to listen to rumors, she was always a bit gray. Not that she was plain, really, but she lacked any sparkle or charm to make her stand out. She had the dubious gift of appearing almost invisible, of never leaving a memorable memory on almost anyone. She was tall, bony, and stooped. She moved awkwardly, as if her arms and legs were too big for her. Even her most ornate dress fell gracelessly over her gangly body, and she never had the slightest taste for arranging her hair. She lived in the grip of a painful shyness, ignored by an absent father and subjugated by an abusive mother. In her youth, she managed to intrigue a few suitors, moved by that cloistered maiden’s whiteness and by the melancholy of her black eyes. But even the most intrepid she ended up giving up after a couple of tedious afternoons of fruitless courtship. Ella Aurelia received them cowering, wringing her hands, staring at the ground and responding with monosyllables. At twenty-eight years old, she resigned herself to being single, she wiped away her last tears and without too much rancor assumed a destiny under the roof of her parents, taking care of her until the end of her days. Thus, at least, she could reciprocate her effort that it took to maintain her, as they themselves reminded her daily.
Virginia came into the world when no one expected her anymore, and she was, from her first breath, a troublesome being of light and bells. Smaller than her sister, with a round figure, brown curls, and sparkling green eyes, she always had a sharp tongue, an easy laugh, and inexhaustible energy. If she looked closely at herself, one had to admit that she was less pretty than Aurelia. Separately, each of her features would have seemed like a flaw. Instead, all together, they managed to form an indisputably attractive ensemble, to the point that neither her freckles, nor her somewhat crooked nose, nor her shrill little voice, nor her short, stubby fingers, they detracted from her beauty.
Aurelia fell prey to her sister’s spell, like everyone else, and loved her sincerely. Despite the blatant predilection that the whole world professed for her youngest, there was no jealousy or resentment on the part of her eldest daughter. She did not reproach him when Virginia, barely 17 years old, married an architect fresh out of college and took off for the capital without looking back, leaving her alone in her endless misadventure as her parents’ servant. Each letter was like a gift. Aurelia devoured them in the quiet of her room, resigned to living through Virginia.
“She’s a swallow,” he announced once to Cousin Nora, with a long sigh, his eyes bright with longing. I am a stopped clock.
The father died first, which was not surprising considering he was at least fifteen years older than his wife. He was kind enough to leave in the middle of his sleep, without fuss or major complications. Her mother, on the other hand, opted for almost two decades of demands and outbursts, settled in an agony that was only such for the last three months. Virginia, already a widow, well situated and with her children traveling the world, showed up punctually on both occasions, and was received by Aurelia’s unblemished affection.
“Well…” she blurted out after the last funeral, sitting like a queen in her father’s chair. Well, they’ve finally left you alone. What are you going to do in such a big house, dear? Because just keeping it clean and livable is going to be a torment. I guess it already was, but now it wouldn’t make any sense, would it? Sure, you could rent rooms. The town has grown a lot in recent years, I was stunned when leaving the station. If there are neighborhoods I don’t know! Although you could also sell it. You’d have plenty for one of those cute little new apartments they’ve built on the other side of the river. Less expenses, fewer problems… they are all advantages, Aurelia, think about it.
The eldest continued serving the coffee, trying to hide the tremor in her hands.
—The truth is that I had thought that, perhaps, we could live together now that we are alone…
Virginia received the suggestion with a derisive laugh.
“Come back to town?” Oh, Aurelia, you are crazy. It’s been more than thirty years since I left, how do you expect me to get back into this village, among the chatter of the neighbors?
—Or I could go to the capital…
“You wouldn’t, believe me,” Virginia settled, unmoved. You are not used to it and you are already too old for such a big change. Too many people, noise, traffic, smoke… I love all that fuss, but it would kill your poor nerves. Trust me, you’re better off here, where you’ve always lived.
Not even with her greatest effort would Aurelia have found words to describe her sadness and disappointment. Throughout her meaningless life, given over to others, the only possible consolation had been to imagine that, at least in her old age, she could count on the spirited company of her sister, and that, under her protective wings, she would finally have the chance to see world, to leave that forgotten corner of the country, to discover at least one different place, just one, before his time ran out. After so much sacrifice, the sleepless nights, the ingratitude of those tyrannical parents, the false and malicious compassion of the neighbors, the hidden taunts of the children… her venerated Virginia left her in the lurch. She was leaving her for the second time, and this time was much worse, bloodier, more painful. She had just dismissed her unceremoniously, making lazy excuses to get her off her back. She saw it crystal clear. Virginia, accustomed to a relaxed and capricious life, to not answering to anyone, was not willing to take care of her, to make the slightest effort to thank her for an entire existence of sleeplessness covering her back while she flew free. She had become selfish up to that point, if she hadn’t always been. How had she not seen him before?
He wanted to yell all that at her, vomit his grief, confront her. She was not able. She gritted her teeth, as always, and remained mute, devoured by her demons, while she Virginia chattered like a vain goldfinch. She told him that she was leaving the next day, and before that she didn’t know how to reply to Aurelia either. What hurry would she be, that foul-mouthed? Her husband had been raising hollyhocks for five years, the children were studying in France… did she urge him so much to go back to the cafes and shops? Was a lover waiting for her, perhaps? A ridiculous idea, considering her age, but with Virginia anything crazy was possible.
—And my suitcase broke, can you believe it? she said suddenly, in the middle of her chatter. What a filthy piece of crap… and that cost me a Congo. But, anyway, they don’t do things the way they used to. I’ll take dad’s, if you don’t mind.
“No,” Aurelia snapped, without thinking.
Virginia blinked, confused.
-No? Why not? Don’t you have it anymore? You didn’t give it to Nora, did you? Because you already know that she doesn’t know more than to ask and ask like a missionary. And, total, everything for that useless bum that she has as a son…
“No,” Aurelia repeated, her gaze fixed on the wall and the cup of coffee firmly in her hands.
“Thank God… So what’s the problem?” It’s up in the attic, where it always is, right?
“Yes,” Aurelia agreed. But you’re not going to take it.
-Why’s that?
-Because I do not want to. Because she is mine.
The stupefied face that Virginia put together then almost made it all worth it. During the following hours, they engaged in a completely irrational discussion, in which the youngest persisted as if the damn suitcase were the Holy Grail, and the oldest stood firm with unheard-of stubbornness. Virginia locked herself in her old room, outraged, and didn’t come out again until the next morning. She had to call a taxi to get to the station with her scattered belongings, and she left grumbling without saying goodbye to her. Aurelia, sitting in the kitchen, was sipping a chocolate in silence, enjoying her small victory. They never saw each other again.
Although no one expected it, Virginia died first. Just like her father, she left this world in peace while she slept, on New Year’s Eve. Ella Aurelia survived him for almost ten years, during which she did not receive any visit from her nephews, who only made an appearance to comply with the cremation procedures.
“I’ll call the agency to put the house up for sale,” Rogelio, the oldest, decided. The sooner we get rid of her, the better.
“What do we do with the ashes?” Gerardo inquired, yawning with his air of a bored dandy. Do we spread them around?
—Don’t be a fool. Mom said that even if they didn’t speak, they were still sisters. She wanted them to be together, in the Los Alamos alcove.
“Driving three hundred kilometers with the damned urn?” Fuck me man…
—That it was the aunt, imbecile. Stop drama. Not that you had to carry her in your arms…
-OK OK. And how do we do?
Rogelio scratched his head and shrugged.
—I saw a suitcase under the old woman’s bed. Bring the. That’ll do.
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