Now, only she remembered what happened on her wedding a few decades ago.

She looks a last time at the photo, where you can see, her sister kissing her husband, like she married him that day. Back then, she always said, that she was only too drunk, but later on, Christine realised, that she had already a relationship with him, before they married. Christine’s husband always had to praise how good her sister was in so many things, she was always better, than she was. She asked at the beginning, why he even married her and he answered, that she was the more pretty one. She learned a lot in the past years, about narcissism and gaslighting and could see a lot of these pattern at her husband and her sister. “Triangulation my a….” she thought. She lights a match puts the photo in the oven and set it on fire. Raises the champaign and says: “May you both burn in hell!”

She looks into the fire of her open chimney with satisfaction. Her sister was bulling and blackmailing her with a set up flirt. Exact at the time, as this disgusting guy (which she never saw before) was kissing her, her sister was taking the photo and laughed. She blackmailed her for so long, that she thought, she would never have peaceful days in her life.

And now, if she has luck, she might have a few peaceful years ahead. Was this the karma, she waited to happen for such a long time? Why did it take so long, until she could live in peace?

The funeral was only a week ago, but she could not feel sad, like many others around her. After all, she is a good pretender and no one will ever notice, that as she was alone, she was opening a bottle of champaign, but on her favourite music and danced to the peace she got through the accident, her sister was involved in. She does not ask, why it happened, she was only thankful, that it happened. No one was believing, the narcissistic behaviour her sister and husband had towards her. After all this years, Christine felt real peace and freedom for the first time. It feels like a tons of weight was lifted from her body.

Christine looks at the testament she got: “At least, he could not change the testament anymore.” She thought. He wanted it, but destiny was faster. Until today, she is convinced that they bullied her out of pure hate. Sometimes she was not sure, if they were ever human beings, or just some monster straight from hell. She is looking at the photo of her daughter, who she hardly could visit, because she moved to Central America. She knows, it will take a while, but she will soon have enough money, do visit her. Her husband never wanted to go there, since the wedding of her and the “Latino” as he always called him. Fernando was a decent guy with a good running restaurant in Mexico City. It was a restaurant already his grandparents had and over the years, more and more rich once loved it, for the way, it looked like. Not only was the food very good, and original Mexican, also the building was standing there already for over a century. Already his parents had luck, that one of the filmmakers Hollywood’s, fell in love with it and chose it for one of his films. With this, they could raise the prices. But what she loved most is, that they don’t leave out the poor or less privilege once. People who have more money to spend have the option to pay for more, then they consumed. This, what did not get consumed, was given to those, who normally could not effort it. They never asked anything. Why it happened, that someone ended up at the streets, or whatever, because they also still have a good judgement, when it came down to humans. They have very few boundaries. Of course, when someone had already too many drinks, etc. and might cause troubles, they are giving him or her the option, to come again, when they are not too intoxicated. Same goes with any kind of drugs. She looks at one of the photos which Jenny sent her and was wondering, if Jon Bon Jovi came up with the idea on his own, or if he was in this restaurant in Mexico.

The phone rings: “Hello Jenny,” Christine said and continues, “I hope everything is alright?” “How mad are they?” “Who is mad?” “Well relatives, friends,….” “Why should they be mad?” “Because I was not at the funeral?” “Don’t worry about it. Most have known, that you and Fernando had problems with your father and those who did not know us very well, like his working colleagues and partners, well, I do not care about them at all.” “Are you drunk?” “No, today not.” An awkward pause followed. “I mean, how do you feel?” “How I feel, you ask? Listen to this Jenny.” And she puts the volume up and what was heard, was of course Bon Jovi’s “It’s my life”. Now some laughing could be heard at the other end of the line. “How could I ever ask?” “Never mind Jenny.” “Mum, Fernando and I was thinking, that you should come down for a couple of weeks, if you have time to do so, of course.” “Oh that would be wonderful.” Christine replies.” In the background you hear her husband’s voice, who calls her. “Mum, I really have to help Fernando again. It is not always like this, but today for some odd reasons, more than one bus with movie-fans suddenly showed up at the same time, who want to have at least some snacks.” “Oh, that is great to hear, that your business is going so well.” “I fear even too well. At the moment we are so tired after closing time, that we nearly fall asleep immediately, after arriving in our apartment. We are looking for more staff right now.” “Oh, I am sure, you soon have more time again Jenny. Greetings to Fernando.” “I think so too mum and I will tell him.” With this, her daughter hangs up.

Jennifer goes back to the bar, where her husband waits and Christine apologies. “No hay problema” (It’s not a problem), he replies, but also that he needed to go to the bathroom since a while. He kisses her and runs in the direction of the bathroom, as he saw, that no one follows him he continues at the corridor, so he ends up at the area, where they keep the meet. He dials a number and says only: “Gracias hermano” (Thank you brother). “De nada” (You’re welcome) was the reply. He wanted to do this phone call earlier, but did not had any time to do so. He turns around and his father looked sad at him. “Que has hecho?” (what have you done?”  “Algo que era nescesario, padre” (Something which was necessary). His father looked more sad at his son. But Fernando gave him a smile and says: “Puedo vivir con eso, porque lo hice por mi esposa y su madre.” (I can live with it, because I did it for my wife and her mother.) His father looks at Fernando with sadness. Sighs and gives him a hug. Fernando says that it is time to go back to his wife and his father only nods with his head. He goes to the bathroom, also to fresh up a bit and heads back to his wife, who he silently watches for a few seconds, before he is at her side again at the bar, giving out drinks to the guests.