Life otherwise

It was already dark for good. Zoe was walking down the main avenue. A few more meters separated her from her home, an imposing one, but modern building that stood at the end of the busy street. The size, but also its architecture, they made it stand out from the surrounding houses. The twelve-year-old girl was walking briskly towards the stone structure. Soon he reached the entrance of the house. He pushed open the ornate iron gate and, after entering the garden, she slammed it shut behind her. He crossed the verdant yard that adorned the detached house and entered its interior.

-You are Zoe; she heard her mom call from the kitchen.

-Yes, she answered indifferently.

-How was your ride with Anna?; he continued.

-Good, Zoe replied sharply and went upstairs to the house, where her room was.

Mrs. Lucia paid no attention to her daughter's behavior. He had gotten used to her reactions over the years. She knew she had been spoiled, but this could no longer be changed. So she continued the preparations for the dinner carefree.

The life, locked in her room, lying in bed, he was looking nostalgically at the photos of the summer. It was officially the last day of summer vacation. School started the next day. She would go to the first grade of the private high school located in her area. She imagined herself and Anna – her best friend – among the other big kids at school and felt proud.

 The sound of the door snapped her out of her thoughts. Her dad had returned from his factory. Lately he was coming home late. But Zoe did not know the reason. She hadn't asked him. She didn't care.

He was already quite hungry as well, after placing the photo album on the bottom shelf of her large wooden bookcase, went down the stairs. But he stopped short in the middle of the stairs. She saw her parents sitting on the sofa and talking. Something serious must have happened! He had never seen them like this before! Her mom was very upset. Her blue eyes were shining, a tear rolled down her red cheek. Zoe couldn't believe what she was seeing: Mrs. Lucia who was always cheerful, always smiling, now she was crying! She couldn't see her dad's face from where she was. She could just make out his thick brown hair and gray jacket next to her mom.

No matter how hard he tried, he didn't understand what they were talking about anyway, stepping on her toes, she returned worriedly to her room. Soon she heard her parents calling her, telling her they wanted to talk. Zoe almost ran down the stairs. He didn't remember them ever having a conversation together, like a family. When he entered the living room he noticed that both of them were very agitated, but he didn't speak.

-Have a seat, her father told her and Zoe settled into a plush easy chair.

-We want to talk to you about something very serious, he adds bluntly.

-Which will change your life, adds her mother bitterly.

Zoe is scary. What are they saying to her?; She doesn't want her life to change. She is happy, or at least he thinks so.

-Business at the factory hasn't been going too well lately, her dad continues. Money is not enough. There will be as you understand some… some changes in our lives, concludes.

– You won't be able to go to private high school, my life, her mom explains in a shaky voice.

The twelve-year-old girl looks at them in astonishment. He can't find the right words to speak.

-You are lying to me! she manages to say in bewilderment. You are lying to me! repeats, refusing to accept the truth.

Mr. Apostolos pretends not to listen.

-But I want you to look strong! Things will work out. I'm sure! she says in an attempt to comfort the daughter, but also himself.

But Zoe doesn't follow him anymore. In a gesture of desperation he puts it down. He can't stand what he just heard! Many times the truth hurts and that's why people can't handle it and choose to run away. So does she, he preferred to leave.

He left the house and started running as fast as he could. He didn't know where to go. All he wanted was to leave, to get some fresh air. When he was far enough away, stopped short. He still hadn't realized what had happened. Lost in her thoughts she began to walk at a slow pace.

Without realizing it, he found himself on an unknown road. It was night and darkness spread all around her. There were no lights in that part of town. The dim moonlight helped her make out a wooden bench a few steps away. Zoe approached with a quick step and after sitting on it, she finally burst into tears. She cried uncontrollably for a long time...

I'm surprised, she felt an icy hand touch her shoulder. She jumped up in fright. She quickly turned her head back in an attempt to realize what it was that had just touched her. He faced a blond skinny boy – at her age she must have been – with sloppy clothes and holey shoes. Zoe was scared! She took a few steps back in fear, she turned her back on the poor boy and prepared to set him on his feet.

-Wait, he called that to her. I didn't mean to scare you! My name is Jack, he told her, holding out his hand at the same time. You;

– Zoe, the girl answered him visibly disturbed, without, of course, admitting to giving him her hand.

-You need help; You are lost; Jack asked her in a low voice.

-No! You can't help me, she answered him disparagingly.

-As you think, he replied and prepared to leave.

Zoe would never accept help from someone weak, like jack. But the thick darkness and the barking of a dog heard at that moment were enough to scare her and make her change her mind. Fear had overcome her ego.

-Do not go, she shouted at him and the boy turned his head in surprise and looked at her. It's night and... I'm scared, he admitted.

Jack, seeing her scared, he decided to stay with her and demanded to know what brought her there. Zoe did not answer him. He didn't know him. So how could he trust a stranger;

They sat on the bench speechless for a while. At some point Jack decided to break the silence.

-I have an idea, He said to her. Follow me!

Zoe hesitated, but eventually he followed him. Under other circumstances he would never do such a thing, but now she was desperate, and desperation often drives a man to do things he does not imagine.

Jack led her to the nearby beach.

-This is where I come when I want to be alone, to think, the boy confessed and sat down on the sand. And I think you need it now too, he continued.

Zoe snorted there too, under the starlit and moonlit sky, she trusted him and explained what had happened to her.

-I understand that you cannot be happy with the changes that will happen in your life. But they do not say that every obstacle is for good; Jack asked her. But she didn't listen to him. He had fallen asleep…

She awoke the next morning to sunlight falling on her deep blue eyes. She cast an inquisitive glance around her. "So it wasn't all a nightmare" she thought and looked for Jack. But he didn't find him. He had gone, he had left her alone in this unknown place where he had led her the night before, he hurried to think.

Without losing her cool, he stood up and prepared to leave. Then she heard footsteps behind her. She turned and saw the boy she had met the night before coming towards her.

-I went to find something to eat, he apologized once he got close enough to her and offered her one of the two red apples he was holding in his hands.

-Thanks, Zoe replied in a low voice, biting into the apple with pleasure.

-What do you think to do, he asked her. You will return to your home;

-Never! answered the girl, but without meaning what he says.

-You are being very selfish! Jack told her firmly, startling her. You don't think about your parents; They will surely be desperate just like you.

Zoe did not speak. He had lost it. There was silence for a few minutes.

-Let's go for a walk in the city; Jack suggested soberly this time.

She nodded condescendingly and the two children headed towards the center of town. They moved on without speaking, looking at the shop windows. Zoe was thinking about the words of the boy walking next to her. Although she wouldn't admit it even to herself, he understood that he was right. But she did not want to return to her parents. He was afraid. He was afraid to face the new reality, the changes that would come in her life.

While wandering the streets of the city, Zoe saw Anna coming out of a bookstore from afar. He recognized her immediately and ran towards her.

-Anna, he called to her from afar. I wanted very much to see you, to talk to you, he continued as soon as he reached her and went to hug her. But she suddenly pulled away, avoiding her.

-What do you want Zoe?; he asked her coldly.

– You cannot imagine what has happened! Life began.

But her friend cut her off.

– Zoe, I found out what happened and I'm really sorry, but i can't do anything about it, he said scornfully and hurried away.

Upon hearing the above, Anna's "friend" burst into sobs.

Jack, who until then had been watching the scene uninvolved, he approaches her saying:

-Such people are not worth worrying about. It seems like she was never really your friend!

Both children returned to the beach. But Zoe was still sad and troubled. Anna, her best friend, the person closest to her, now, in difficult times, he was turning his back on her.

Jack had to use all his ingenuity to cheer her up. So he started telling her funny incidents from his poor life so far and managed to make her smile again.

The next few days were surprisingly very pleasant for Zoe. The boy's amazing ingenuity made her forget and enjoy his company quite a bit. Little by little she even trusted him and they talked more and more. Day by day it changed. She realized that the days she spent with Jack were the happiest days of her life and without having to spend any money.

It had been four days since Zoe's world turned upside down. But the young lady had matured. She had understood that until then she was not really happy. He thought it was. This adventure had helped her realize that, but also had brought a precious gift into her life: a true friend, Jack.

A twelve-year-old girl was walking down the main avenue smiling . It was Zoe who had decided to return home and face the new reality that no longer scared her. But it was a different Life. A different life that now knew that having people by your side who care and love you really has the greatest value...