There was a conflict in Anna those days; she felt librated, and modernized, but she was also felt restricted to her old habits and life. Her sense of freedom was bloomed for her being in America, the land of free, being young, doing what she desired to do, reading books, choosing her friends, and her internal growing up. Her limitation was stemmed by her quandary of being Iranian, losing her brother, and carrying past. The second feelings constrained her with anixety, a baffling of subjective decay and confusion. Besifes it was a feeling or a fear of losing her father (he extremely looked old to her), and the imagination of a collaspe, or a stagnation of everything. Those feelings were like policemen that constanly watch the violators. She tried to remembere her brother, they way they depended on each other without admitting it, not the way he was at the end.
The core of her life was made of the turning of the universe or the passing of the time. Her dreams were mixed with truth and reality and also falsehood and things that could not exist. They admixed with all it was and all it had been. What shone in day was carried into her insomnious night. The essence of her being was made of moving from voices to quietude, from people to her self solitary corner, and from day to the night.
A month before her ninteeth birthday, she got the best gift of all. Stacy's lease was over and she decided to move in with Anna. That gift was more superior than anything she got from her parents from Iran. She was tired of waking up in an empty place and falling asleep in an emptier one. It was a bliss to have her best friend around all the time; even though Stacy lived her own exclusive life. In fact that was the beauty of it; however, she was not selfish like Marianna. They agreed on the term that suited them both. Having a boyfriend to sleep in the apartment was not acceptable; however if any of their parents or family member visited them, they could stay with them. In fact, it was Stacy who drafted all these rules like a mathemaition. She spoke Anna's heart; and If Anna was shy to set rules, Stacy was not. They both were happy with this arrangement.
When Shahzdeh heard about this new change in his daughter's life, he was also very happy because Anna had talked about Stacy to her father a lot on their phone conversation. It seemed as though he knew this young woman, his daughter's frined. He was relieved since he knew how much Anna was suffering because of Aria's death. Sometimes he wondered if his hurt was greater than Anna's.
The beasts were disapearing gradually; ghosts were gone, and in that uncorrupted home, the two friends found a different kind of energy and light. They lived a separate life, yet they animated each other. The things that had lived in Anna, like a termianl disease suddebly began disapearing. What was left from them was like a trace of light in dusk . Now she was able to bring up her perfect character to the surface; nonetheless, that disease from time to time would come to grasp her.
After talking to her father and asking his permission, she accepted Stacy's invitation to go to Charleston, West Virginia to Stacy's parents' home for Christmas. Anna wanted to drive her own car so if she would decide to return sooner, she could. Stacy knew her reason and assured her that she would have a good time, her parents are very down to earth people, and they would not stay more than one week.
While driving to Charleston, Stacy talked about her family to Anna for the first time. Up to now it was all Anna that had talked about her family and their culture and the death of her brother. Anna already knew that Stacy had an older brother, but she did not know that Steve, her brother was adopted when he was only a baby. Anna learned then that Stacy's parents could not have children for many years and that was why they had decided to adopt a baby. Steve was eight years old when Stacy ws born. It was like a miracle after so many years miscarriages that Stacy's mother had had. All doctors had told her that because of her built, she could not carry a baby in its full term. It was amazing for Anna that her frined's brother was eight years older than her; just as the age difference between her and her dead brother. Aria was her half brother, Steve was Stacy's adopted brother. Anna considered all these information as a relief, for she found more similarities which could bond them even more. Stacy's father was now retired.
"He had worked for government."Stacy said.
"What branch of government did he work for?"
"I never knew the details of his work; all I knew that my father worked for CIA."
"What about your brother?"
"He works for CIA, too. My father took him in when he was still working."
"How old is your brother?'
"I told you he is eight years older than me. That makes it twenty nine."
"What do they do in CIA?"
"I don't know Anna; even if I knew, I couldn't discuss it."
Anna stayed quiet. It did not feel right to ask more questions; however, Stacy told her voluntarily that Steve had been in Military for several years and he was about to finish his law school. She also said that her mother had never worked.
The few hours drive was pleasant. For that time of the year the weather was nice. Anna, for the first time, was seeing places besides Washington and once California. The roads and country sides reminded her of her own country, Alborz Mountains, and the roads they had traveled often from Tehran to the Caspian Sea to go their villa in the city of Bobolsar.
Stacy's parents were very perceptive. "They must be in their sisties>" Anna thought. The next day after their arrival, Steve came, too. He wanted to be with his family for the holiday. Anna met Steve for the first time and saw the Christmas tradition and gift exchanging. She was glad that her parents had sent her Iranian Arts to take with her to Stacy's family. They all gave her a lot of presents.
To Be Continued
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