In Another Life

In Another Life
"Lucia...! Lucia...! I'm coming to pick you up! Let's ride our bikes!"

At that time his voice sounded very annoying. He always comes and calls me that. I, who feel much greater and stronger than him, always try to pay attention to my arrogance.

In the yard, the skinny, filthy and unkempt boy was standing with my used t-shirt that I gave him the other day. I still can't forget the happy look on his face when he received the shirt.

"I'm feeling lazy today, Leo! You can just play with the others!"

"But you're the only one who wants to lend me a bicycle!"

"Borrow Pierre's bike or Chris's bike!"

"Pierre is holiday with his family. Chris too."

He looked at me with a sad look, hoping I would accept his invitation. I still had pain in my shoulder after yesterday's practice that's why I didn't want to play with him today.

"Okay, okay!"

Because I couldn't bear it, in the end I accepted his invitation. The two of us rode together to the lavender field. He hugged my back tightly and occasionally I could feel his head resting on my back.

"Lucia!"

"What?"

"Do you believe in reincarnation?"

"I'm not sure. Why?"

"I just read a really good storybook."

"Really? What's the story about?"

"About a poor puppy who was kept by a drunkard. The puppy was always kept in a cage and rarely fed by the owner. When he was upset, the owner often hit the dog. One day, there was a kind little girl who saw the puppy. Because feeling sorry, the girl took out all her savings so that the puppy owner would sell the poor puppy to her."

"And then?"

"The girl took the dog home, but none of the girl's family members wanted to accept the puppy. The girl's parents told the girl to throw the dog away. With a heavy heart, the kind girl left her house and offered it to everyone who she met on the street to keep the puppy. But no one wanted to keep a skinny and ugly village dog. Suddenly, a car passed by and two men approached the girl and tried to kidnap her. The dog tried to attack and bite the man with all his might. One of them hit the dog and kicked it so hard. The girl streaming and make everyone hear her scream. She look the puppy was lying on the ground. The kidnapper was caught, but not the puppy. He died in the arms of the good girl. At the end of his life he found love that he had never had before."

"Then, reincarnation?"

"Because she had been grieving for months until she fell ill, the girl's parents decided to buy a puppy for her and the puppy was very similar to her beloved puppy who had died some months ago."

"Puppies do look alike, right? So it's not reincarnation."

"No, the new puppy knows all the girl's habits. He knows that the girl comes almost every day to the man's owner's yard to see and feed the poor dog. He knows that the girl gave the dog a name and he responds every time the girl calls him by the name of the dead dog. Do you know what that dog's name is?"

"Who?"

"Leo!"

"Leo?"

"Yeah, that kind girl named the dog Leo and you know what's more interesting than that?"

"What?"

"That little girl is called Lucia! Hahaha..."

"Wow...what a coincidence, huh?"

"That's no coincidence!"

"That's a coincidence, Leo!"

"I feel like the story is like the story of the two of us."

"Why is that?"

"Because you saved me. I want to be like that puppy. If reincarnation exists, if I die, I want to be reborn as your child."

"You're so ridiculous! That's impossible, Leo! Forget it!"

"Why not?"

"I don't know, but if reincarnation really exists. Why do you want to be my son? You should hope to be born in the Bryan family or the Pierre family. If it's in the Chris family, it's better not, because his father is annoying."

"No, I just want to be your child! I want to hug your back like this every day. I want to talk and see your face every day."

"Why me?"

"Because you are so kind, I love you so much, Lucia."

Even though I thought that his wish at that time was very ridiculous, somehow a point in my heart felt very happy.  Leo always thought that I was a mother and father figure to him.

He always asks me for whatever he needs and wants. He knows that I will definitely do anything for him. But I never thought that in the end, he would be so dependent on me that he would sad when I was no longer by his side.

"Lucia...! Lucia?

"What's wrong, Leo? What more do you want?"

He squatted in front of me and smiled gently, he looked very cute. I raised my head after realizing that I had almost fallen asleep while lying among the lavender flowers.

"Lucia, when we grow up, I will definitely look after you."

"Why is that?"

"You don't need to be hurt anymore, you can be yourself because I will always accept you as you are."

"What are you saying, Leo? Who's hurt? I'm fine!"

Leo brought his face close to me and suddenly he kissed my lips. I, who was only 10 years old at that time, felt confused and shocked. But strangely I wasn't angry or annoyed with him.

"What was that?" I still feel confused about what he just did.

"You are not alone, Lucia. I am here with you."