CHAPTER 19

Closure:
The permanent ending of a business or activity.
Blocking the access to a place or blocking a route.
A device for closing an opening, for example, a zipper or a cap on a bottle, or the place where the opening close.
An act or process of closing something.
The sense of finality and coming to terms with an experience felt or experienced over time.

For the very first time since she can remember, Carmen sleeps.
She really, truly sleeps.
She closes her eyes as her body relaxes into Shane’s arms, she takes a long breath and, finally, falls into the most peaceful and serene slumber humanly possible.
She dreams an enchanting reverie made of Shane’s smiles and Shane’s slender fingers slowly brushing her forehead.
She dreams about images from her past, from their past together.
But there is no more trace of loneliness, sadness, torment or pain, because her mind is doing something wonderful.
It is choosing.
It is making a selection of Carmen’s memories, tonight, discarding the bad ones and showing her the good ones.
And as a result, Carmen dreams about the opening of WAX and Shane’s face while she was listening to that mix.
“A Message Of Love” playing in the air and Shane’s eyes were… Surprised, full of an enchanted wonder, her hand pressed against her chest as if to say: “Is it really for me?”.
And Carmen had smiled that beautiful smile of hers, jumping delighted behind the mixer.
And Shane had sent her a kiss. A light, flying kiss in the air.
And Carmen had pretended to catch it halfway, and press it against her heart.
And then again, Carmen dreams about that lap dance.
Her quincaneara dress falling down, on the floor, revealing her goddess-like body, her hips swinging a few inches from Shane’s skin. And Shane’s smile. That ghost of a sexy smile, as she was taking a drag from her cigarette.
And Shane’s eyes. A dark green universe staring at her intently, savoring moment after moment, and movement after movement.
And then again, Carmen dreams about the future.
She dreams about a house full of lights and colors. She dreams about children’s laughter. She dreams about expectations full of hope and trust.
She dreams about love and freedom.

”Miles Away
There’s hopeless smiles brighter than mine
And I need for you to come and go
Without the truth falling out.
Old incisions refusing to stay
Like sun through the trees on a cloudy day
You brighten my life like a polystyrene hat
But it melts in the sun like a life without love
And I’ve waited for you so I’ll keep holding on
Without You
Without You”