For they were the same full moon lighting up the dark sky

The waves were meeting the shore bathing in a beautiful sunset light. Anna liked it when the sky was purple because it reminded her of the years she used to spend at her grandma’s house. ‘Oh, what a time to be a child’, those images flashed by her eyes as was she was sipping her coffee on that Sunday evening. Her grandparents used to live in a small and distant village, so far away from everything, where she could run and only run and be free. There was no one around to say how dangerous it was for her to be by herself. Anna always used to enjoy her own company, even if she wasn’t allowed most of times.

A light breeze gently kissed her cheeks. Yeah, a cardigan would be of good use on that chilly Sunday evening, but she wanted to stay a little bit more on the balcony. The sunset was almost gone, as was her hot coffee, but the waves kept on coming and going at a regular speed. It was kind of hypnotizing for her eyes, which rested for a few seconds on the balance of the majestic ocean right in front of her. It was pacific, truly – something she could finally agree on. The night was coming as a delicate lady nicely touching your face. The wind got heavier and started throwing leaves of palm trees around. What a beautiful dance, even if there was no music to celebrate.

There was another kind of dance happening on the streets, a very busy and bright one. Anna couldn’t help but thinking the city had its own life. Especially at night. When she was a kid, she used to pay attention to the civilization within the nature; now she notices the nature within the civilization. Moving to Los Angeles was a bold idea, from what her parents never fully recovered. That house right in front of the sea was also her choice, the last one she could ever make. Now everything she did was pleasing everyone so they wouldn’t worry about her living in a gigantic city like that. Even going to the beach was a reason for extra care. She was sick, but she was sick of them not treating her like the adult she had grown into. Yes, the amusement park on the pier was flashy - and people usually got a little bit too much excited. But the smell of the sea kissing the beach was one of a kind, worth all the risk. She never felt the cold sand slowly swallowing her feet when living with her grandparents in the middle of nowhere. She liked the sand better. That was her little gentle secret.

“Are you coming inside? It’s getting late.” Her mother touched her shoulder, making Anna moan a discreet “no”. The moon was about to shine.

Oh but there were still other things to observe before coming into the silent house. A couple laughing, for example. She could recognize a full smile of happiness from miles away, even though her own family wasn’t very fond of showing teeth. The couple, by the other hand, seemed to freely enjoy themselves by the sea, taking pictures of birds and running to each other like little kids. She noticed her coffee was cold – and that made her feel cold too. Not the kind of cold for a cardigan, as she thought before, but the kind of cold that is only cured by a lovely hug.

As she was entering the room, abiding to the lonely feeling of being by herself in a house full of people, something caught her eye. The neighbors were talking and making weird facial expressions. Even though she couldn’t understand their words, she felt they were going to fight any moment. Like fist fight. The ugliest type. She felt their anger too; what a lingering feeling. And she felt a little bit sorry for them, as at least she was left alone. Nobody seemed to care much, except when she wanted to go out. But spending all her sunny days in a silent cave apparently was nothing wrong for them. They thought it just felt right for a person in her condition. They just couldn’t understand each other very well. What a pity.

And the other pity was the tall blond girl who was born four years after her. They had so many differences growing up. Anna was a full moon lighting up the sky, hiding secrets at the same time as revealing them to the observant eye. Like a goddess sitting on her throne watching her own creation. Her sister was a bright sun during summertime, beautiful yet annoyingly heating up until there’s only burnt people around her. Like a wildfire out of hand. Intensely destructive.

Anna always had the impression her sister was the favorite though. Nobody seemed to care for the cold of the silver night. People liked the golden shiny days far better. And this feeling was pretty much because her sister had everything, as Anna lacked a few things herself. Being a quiet older sister, who just couldn’t express herself very much, was a shame for the family. The angelic little sister, though, was the first one to hide the family’s secrets, acting like there wasn’t any other girl in the house. And now this fake only child was sitting in front of the brightest TV, completely unbothered by the fact that the phone was getting dirty. Oh, the little one already had a boyfriend, and good grades, and friends! As it was supposed to be. A normal life, huh.

Grandpa was the only one who truly got her for they were the same full moon lighting up the dark sky. People don’t like what don’t get, so being a silver precious jewel in a stack full of plastic couldn’t be any pleasant. That’s why grandpa took grandma away and moved to the middle of a forgotten place, so they could live their happily ever. Their love was so huge, though, they weren’t alone for long. A child was born. A perfectly normal child who could communicate as expected. A sun kind of child. But that child had another child and then all the happiness suddenly left. The moon wouldn’t be alone anymore.

Mommy and daddy liked to pretend everything was fine. And, apparently, that was the only thing they liked. Even tough Anna couldn’t hear their words, she knew it deep down. As deep as the ocean right in front of their house. Sometimes she felt so relieved for not quite understanding everything. Living in silence was way better. She was born deaf.