I leave a beautiful story by Jorge Bucay full of tenderness ... speaks of indecision, and can have negative consequences.
's a bit long, but I assure you well worth reading, is one of the stories of "Stand by Me" from this excellent author.
Enjoy Mark was born with an extremely serious immune system disease. A deficiency syndrome in the defenses that a genetic alteration capricious had assigned him forever. Children born with this serious anomaly, which fortunately is very rare, have very little chance of survival, or at least had when Mark came to the world. Given their inability to generate antibodies, any infection, however banal it was normal for an individual, could end his life in a few weeks. His only alternative was to be built around an aseptic field where Mark could live, waiting for science discovered a different solution to your problem immunity. A movie filmed in the seventies showed the drama of a very young representing Jonh Travolta a child born with this anomalia.La movie called The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.
obsessive son of a rural medical worker and a teacher, Mark was able to survive his early childhood through the financial effort of their parents, by their own resilience and, above all thanks to the dedication of its almost exclusive mother. Living in a bedroom and a desk with a bathroom between them and isolated from the rest of the house and the world by large and tightly sealed plastic curtains, they spent the first twenty years of his life receiving few visitors in his private space protected. To prevent germs that would join potential threats to the lives of Mark, no one could enter their perimeter without washing their hands with antiseptic and use sterile clothing: Surgeon gown, boots and mask. During those twenty years, Mark had learned all he knew of rigorous classes and methods that had given his mother, deep conversations and committed to his mother, a few books that came his way (new, clean and sterilized ) and how little we saw on television. Beyond that, his only contact were the letters, pictures and some telephone conversations with the rest of the family.
was exactly the day I turned twenty-one, who asked his mother to change and enter his room. I wanted to talk to her.
-Mama, "she said very calmly," I made a decision. I will travel ...
The paralyzed mother to listen to your child. Exit aseptic scope of his room was seriously endanger his life. In fact, the only time he had left the room was when his father died, and despite all precautions, any influenza virus that came to his body almost killed him.
For two weeks, no one in the medical team who always spoke with you, not even the doctor Skoro, could ensure that would overcome this crisis.
-Son, "he said at last, you know you can not do that. I would give my life and you know, if that could give you that possibility, but it is not real and I'm sorry.
"Look, Mom," Mark said, I have twenty-one años.Nadie with this disease have survived beyond the twenty-six, despite had equal or better care than me. It is assumed that, after development, the liver and spleen begin progressive and irreversible deterioration. I do not want to die, Mom. But unless I leave this world without seeing the Mona Lisa. I do not want to die without ever having set foot sands of a beach or bathing in the sea without even once. I do not want to spend forever without visiting Aunt Gertrude and know his ranch in California. I will not die, mama, not embraced Having A feeling my cheek against yours, with nothing in between, even once more.
The mother cried, but he replied: "Science progresses
Mark. Maybe in a few years, which so far is incurable is settled or resolved. Wait a minute, son ...
"I'm willing to listen to Dr. Skoro," Mark said, if he says something new, if I get an alternative, if you have any information that I know, I will review my position. But if so, mama, I tell you now: I'm going out of this bubble and I like to go to Europe with you, the beach and your sister's farm. However, if you do not want to be my accomplice, I can understand and makes it anyway, if only. Dr. Skoro
also disagreed with the decision. He said that survive exposure to the outside would mean six months, maybe eight, but not much else. Yet he would not lie, I had nothing new.
Given the irrevocable decision of Mark, the mother decided to accompany in his final adventure
Nearly a month later, the two were amazed watching live, the sculptures of the Louvre, the paintings in the Prado Museum, the ruins of Greece and Rome sources.
From there they flew to California, Mark said they had too much time and had much to do. The family was delighted to accompany the boy on his first ride, to teach him how to milk a cow and share with the mother and son Mark the day I cry of emotion before the immensity of the sea.
had been four months away from home when the temperature a few lines marred the happiness of all. The mother asked Mark to return to the city vsitar Dr. Skoro and so they did. The
analysis did not show anything but predictable. A cold was not a complication for anyone who had no immunity, but Mark meant extreme care. The team physician recommended return to the plastic enclosure, but Mark refused. The doctors start the patient could only his word that he would rest at home for a few weeks.
were days of great distress for the mother of Mark, that he wondered if he was mistaken. Do I have to have opposed more firmly? Perhaps the approach was bluffing and without the company of his mother's Mark would not have dared to take the plunge now threatened to be his last will.
-Mama-called his son from the bed.
"Here I am, son, what need?
-Abrazame "I asked, and while hitting his cheek to hers she said, as if reading her thoughts. Thank you so much, Mom. I know how must have cost you to accept my decision, but your respect for my only love can compare with the one who always cares for me. "Maybe I should insistirte
for you to stay ...
"I did, mom ... I would not have mattered, though of course he would not have enjoyed it so much," said Mark, smiling.
In two weeks of rest and mothering the medication took effect and the danger step. Mark got up from bed, first with permission to roam the house and then to take small trips around town.
One of his first outings was to the huge shopping center near his home. Pretended to buy some books on Israel and Egypt, his next destination, he told his mother.
Passing the record store so he had the music of those places ought to be an excellent gateway to its geography, and upon entering, he saw her.
was a girl in her twenties, her hair full of curls, dark skin and some amazing green eyes that looked like Mark was shining in the distance. Drawn like a magnet approached to her and watching her was stunned.
After a few seconds the girl asked:
- I can help?
And the thought of saying, "Yes, let's have a drink. Let's go for a walk. Let me look at a few hours. Tell me something you ... "
but could not. You felt a lump in the throat and swallowing just said
" I want this CD, taking the first leap to his fingers and delivered to the seller without even seeing him.
She smiled taking the CD and ask
- Anything else?
Mark also lost that second chance and just shook his head. The knot is no longer allowed to speak.
The girl still ask
- Is gift?
"No, for me.
- Do you want me to gift wrap it anyway?
-Ssssi" said the boy with a weak voice, realizing that wrap would carry a little more time. Maybe in those moments ... As she enveloped
la caja del CD, Mark pensaba todo lo que podria decirle, pero tambien supo que no se iba a atrever.
Al salir su madre le pregunto si habia encontrado lo que buscaba y Mark le contesto con un enigmatico: "Si. Supongo que si".
Cuando llegaron a casa le conto a su madre todo el episodio y se maldijo frente a ella por no haberse atrevido a decirle nada. La madre lo tranquilizo diciendole que podria volver a la tienda la semana proxima y tener el coraje de invitarla o pedirle su telefono para poder llamarla. El joven acepto que su madre una vez mas tenia razon. Podia volver pero no en una semana sino al dia siguiente.
Esta vez, removio algunos estantes haciendo que buscaba algo extraño para darse la oportunidad de mirarla. La vio aun mas beautiful than the previous day. As they approached, she seemed to recognize it, because with a smile approached him and said:
-hi ... I can help?
Mark felt that it turned red and embarrassed him. Coughed, swallowed hard again and finally said: "This CD
.
"Another gift for you ...? "Said the young man as Mark discovered a pin with your name ... Jennifer and was glad that he remembered thinking.
...- "If I answer please enthralled. Again, the ceremony of seeing the back of the girl when she was handling the paper and ribbon from the package. Infinitesimal again rubbing his fingers to give the credit card. Again, the brief encounter of their eyes, and especially, again, silence Forced by shyness and embarrassment.
So, I d or three times each week, Mark continued to go to the record company every time thinking that would dare to speak, but ending with the purchase of a CD, that once wrapped in colorful paper and increasingly colorful bows, he bequeathed the house and was kept in the locker room as a symbol of his lack of courage.
Until one day the boy took the decision. This time talk to her, would run the risk, dare to live their rejection, after all, as I said his mother, there was nothing to lose and everything to gain. Mark had not been feeling well. Some lines of fever seemed to say that some new "bug" was annoying out there. On Monday I would go to visit the doctor Skoro.
Like every Saturday, the mall swarmed with people. Mark stroll aimlessly hoping it was last minute and then when everyone started to leave, go into the record company and address directly to where it was Jennifer. She saw him coming and smiled.
-...- I Started.
- Yes? "She said.
"I wish ... This CD-said once more with an unknown case in hand.
"Sure," said Jennifer.
And without asking questions to the packaging sector to pack gifts. Mark is cursed silently. But before that Jennifer will rotate to give him his CD, he dared to do something. I take the book of invoices bearing the name of the girl and wrote without her noticing: "Hi my name is Mark. I live here. I would love a drink and charlaramos. This is my number :298-345 688." And after writing
closed the book and I pay, going as if nothing had happened.
On Monday, the phone rang in the boy's house. The mother grabbed
.
- Yes?
"Hi ... I'm Jennifer. Could you talk to Mark, please?
was a long silence on the line, until the mother recovered her breath to answer.
"Sorry Jenny ... Mark died yesterday.
Possibly because there was another sale that day, or because Jennifer had a party on Sunday, the case is that she had found the note on Mark when he was late.
The mother hung up the phone crying for no reason and went to the bedroom, now empty forever, his son.
He opened the closet and look at the stack of CD's without opening on the first shelf. Curiosity and automatically opened the first box below to see what it contained. The CD had stuck a note that said:
"Hola.Soy Jennifer.Soy new in town.
I have no friends, you like a drink with me ...?"
The mother opened the other CD's.
Each had stuck the note, which unbeknownst to Mark, Jenny had written and left hidden by the wrapper. Possibly with the same fear of rejection than his son. Surely not dare not to take the risk.
"You have a beautiful eyes and a sad look,
do not want to talk we are? "
" My name is Jennifer and I have a real desire to meet you ... "
" Hello ... I'm Jennifer ... Will not you be my Friend ...?