chapter twenty-one.

Penelope Martinez Narrating:

Just that evening David and I had decided to stay on the beach a little longer, deciding to give David the night off and stay to watch the sunset on the beach.

Of course, at first this was not David's plans for how the evening would end, but still he seemed nice enough to agree to accompany me.

Due to the circumstances I couldn't be alone, which was scary, so I was so eager to sit there at dawn near the house and watch the sunrise like a normal person.

- David, you never told me where you're from? - I raised my eyebrows.

- Well, I'm American..." He leaned on his gloved hand. - But, I was raised in Scotland when I was little, my foster family has roots there.

- Scotland? Wow, it's a beautiful country, although I've only visited once for work.

- Oh, yes. That movie you made. -He frowned, as he looked at me, seeming to try to remember. - A Marchioness in Trouble... It was shot there, wasn't it?

- Yes. - I smiled, feeling my lips freeze in a cold gale. - I'm surprised you know.

- It's a good movie... - He stamped his feet, causing the sand to loosen from his boot.

- You thought so? Really? The critics hated me in it, I was even nominated for the Golden Raspberry.

- How was it? - He looked over his shoulder at me, then added the question clumsily: "What was it like growing up in Hollywood?

- Hollywood has its good side, and its brutal side. They don't reject you by sending you a box of chocolates. It's real, it's cruel, and it hurts. - I crossed my arms. - When you are too kind. And the kind of person Hollywood eats for breakfast.

- Wow! - he exclaimed, reaching into his coat.

- Sometimes I miss the girl I used to be.

- Look, we all miss who we once were," he retorted, shrugging. - But it's just that sometime, when you least expect it, life changes, and it changes a lot, it seems like it doesn't, but as the years go by, as you get older and more mature, things become impossible not to change.

- Yes, things change, and that doesn't mean they get better. - I ran my hands through my hair.

- Deep! - He smiled sideways, nudging me with his shoulders.

The sun began to rise orange by the sea, it was so beautiful, my eyes blinked in the dark of the night, and the stars were slowly saying goodbye.

- I love it, it is second only to the purplish sunset.

- Sunrise is much more beautiful. - He blinked charmingly, affirming.

- No it isn't. I said, feeling my face turn red.

We stayed in silence, watching the sea, each wave breaking, the sun was already shining even though it was winter, the clouds were white.

I took off my sandals, sticking my toes in the sand watching some people playing volleyball. I pulled my feet out of the warm sand and put them on top.

- Thank you for staying here, for making me feel like a normal person.

- But, you are a normal person, who is going through a storm.

You know, there was a time when I just wanted to be like other people, you know? To fit into a box, to do what everybody else does.

- Look, even though I know you so little. I don't think of you like that. You got married at eighteen because you felt that this was what would make you happy, you got an Oscar nomination at ten, and won at fifteen, you have worked in humanitarian actions around the world, and how active you are in the UN. You don't realize that you hide your pain under sweet smiles, gracious laughter, generosity and kindness.

Her eyes sparkled. - Do you think I have a funny laugh? Everyone hates my laugh until they get used to it.

He bowed his head, embarrassed. His cheekbones were so red, I straightened his hair, putting it all around his shoulder.

- Yeah, I think your laugh is beautiful.