6. BFF #2: The dreamer

“Life is shorter than we imagine, so we have to take advantage of it.”

-Thalia

August 30th, 2008

I leave the biology class annoyed. I just wanted to see my friends, this year sucks for the simple fact of not being with any of them in class.

Engrossed in my thoughts of hatred, I do not realize anything but the sound of the books falling catches my attention. Looking up, I realize that she is a girl with a lot of books around her. The others look at her, but nobody stops to help her, so I pick up my pace and crouch next to her.

“Are you ok?” I help her pick up the books, there many and I wonder if she eats them instead of reading them.

“Thank you.” She says with some discomfort.

“What’s your name?”

“Margaret, but everybody calls me Maggie.”

“Nice to meet you Maggie, my name is Thalia, but everybody calls me Tali.”

I give her a smile, and once we get up with the books, I ask her: “Are you a new student?”

“Yes, but apparently I already have people who hate me.” I'm surprised she says it without anger.

“Don’t worry.” I said walking next to her. “If you want, we can be friends.”

Her eyes light up as she looks at me.

“Are you sure? Look, I'm a walking library, and many don't like that.”

“It's not like I care a lot, since to be my friend you don't need many requirements, besides, I like to read.”

She smiles at me, starts talking to me about a lot of things, including her literary boyfriends. So, I think the same as her: it's a walking library. But I know we will be good friends.

January 14th, 2014

“I swear I couldn't believe it, I stared at him like an idiot, but when he said that about my books, it killed all his charm.”

“You should forgive him if he's not a fan of your treasured novels.” I roll my eyes. “We can't force people to read, Maggie. That would be like telling Charlotte to stop wearing nail polish.”

“She never will.” She smiles and looks at me with a twinkle in her eyes. “That's why I adore you, I don't have to persuade you to read my books.”

“They are pretty good.” I sighed. “I wish everything was like in the books, Maggie.”

“Dreaming costs nothing, Tali.”

I smile. Maggie would never stop being the way she is. She is dreamy, different but very special.

September 10th, 2016

Margaret Porter:

If you are reading this it is because I am gone. I know you must think that this is all a cliché from some period novel or something romantic, but this occurred to me after you made me read "P.S. I love you."

Before I met you, I thought I was reading, then you gave me a long list of books and I learned more than ever. We read romance, comedy, erotic, drama, suspense, in short, almost all genres.

I would like you to make Charlotte read at least two books a year, it will be torture for her, but she will survive, please take care of Toby for her too; you live closer, teach him to treat girls with love.

Maggie, never give up, love may be at your door and by being foolish you are letting it go. You are an incredibly wonderful girl; Max is in love with you, but he will get tired if you play this game.

I read that novel that you have in the bottom of your drawer and let me tell you, it is very good. Although I will not have your first copy, I will carry the draft in my heart.

I see your future as a great writer, only your reviews are already heaven. Sometimes I wonder: Why didn't I say it before? Because I'm a coward and I don't want to spend my last moments crying and watching them cry.

I love you Maggie, I value you very much. I want you to have my collection of books, the repeated ones, donate them to that little bookstore where we loved to go.

Keep dreaming Margaret, you are not silly, you know that. You will go as far as your strength and perseverance let you go; you will achieve it.

Thank you, Maggie, for teaching me, for your friendship, for the moments together, for those hours when we read while we ate chocolate, thanks for everything.

For the girl who taught me to dream, to think differently, of her best friend: Thalia.