NP STORY

I'm sitting on my windowsill, the morning June sun shining on the page I'm currently writing on. I woke up today and decided I wanted to write something serious, real, and especially for you. I knew what the main theme of the story would be. Everyone knows her—personally, through books, the media, friends, family. Not everyone who had the privilege of meeting her appreciated her and allowed her to change their lives for the better.

I wanted to write about her as beautifully and as well as I could. I wouldn't succeed anyway, but I kept trying to convince myself that it was the intentions that mattered. I started inventing characters, searching for different threads. I mentally flipped through all the works I'd encountered her in, searching for inspiration. I even turned on the radio, hoping to hear how I should present the whole story there.

I looked around the room and...yes, the solution was so close that my sleepy eyes couldn't see it. It's because of her that I'm here, in our apartment! It's because of her that I'm writing this for you! I know her perfectly well…

What did I see in the room? A photo of us. Do you know which one? It's from the holidays, when we were still completely crazy, when every word meant too much, when we thought life was long. That photo framed in a blue frame, our favorite.

Yes, from the very beginning I wanted to write about Friendship. Being a Best Friend, I know a lot about it, maybe even everything? I'll be the first to point out that this title didn't come easy. Before, I'd listened many times, comforted you, also saddened you, given you advice more than once, written hundreds of pages of letters. I also told you everything myself, sought your comfort and advice, and you were always there for me. Finally, I was appointed. One winter night (exceptionally frosty for our climate), when my life changed again thanks to you, you said: "From now on, you're my NP." I remember that we weren't adults yet, but we weren't children anymore.

And now, when I want to write about Friendship, I realize that to describe its full importance, beauty, and indestructibility (contrary to appearances), it would be enough to write a fragment of our biography.

But I certainly won't do it just like that. This won't be a "realism reigns supreme" novel, I promise you that.

I think it's worth sketching the very beginning of our acquaintance. I see it all as if through a fog, but I remember very clearly how we destroyed a huge sandcastle together, which we had spent an incredible amount of time building for four-year-old girls... The most banal place to make friends – a sandbox. From that day on, we were practically always together. Well, maybe that little crisis in high school tore us apart a bit, but we eventually got through it, like everything else.

The most important decision was made when we were 19 and had high school diplomas. We decided to pursue further education about 20 kilometers from our family homes. It wasn't much, but for us, it was reason enough to rent an apartment.

The most memorable moment was walking into our empty rooms, carrying with us what would forever be the foundation of our existence: a television with a remote, a hi-fi system with a remote, a toaster, a waffle iron, and a few records and cassettes.

Later, we had the idea of ​​investing in some furniture, but it wasn't that important. Not then.

We lay on the floor, stuffed with waffles with overly sweet strawberry sauce, staring at the TV screen, constantly changing channels. It felt like we were adults, suddenly capable of managing on our own. We didn't quite know how, but we believed we could do it together. Faith was definitely the most important part of our lives. It still is, right? We always believed in everything! Above all, in myself, in my own strength, in the fact that tomorrow will be even better than today. When I still sit on the windowsill and see the sea in the distance, I remember how we once believed we'd be able to sail into the sunset. Remember that, Maggie? We were only a few years old. You were the Queencess, I was Beauty Queen from Mars. That was the time when I wore only red, and you were blue! I remember the designs of all the carriages, palaces, the menu that always featured waffles, jelly, and burnt toast! And strawberries!

That was the time when we realized that as rulers, we needed a man by our side. The search didn't take long. Later, thanks to that very idea, we supposedly mended our broken hearts. I say "supposedly" because we both knew they weren't true loves. Back then, we tried desperately to convince ourselves he was the one, we believed! Fortunately, the day came when we wised up a bit.

Looking back on our past, it seems to me now that we've spent our lives constantly laughing. That doesn't mean things were always good, because they weren't. We simply emerged victorious from almost every situation, and that was a reason to be happy. We also always knew we'd never be alone. Each of us knew that if we couldn't manage it alone, the NP would step in, and we knew we'd win the case.

Remember back in high school, when you used to justify your absences? And when the principal caught you and you had to make up some crazy story, and only when I told her you were telling the truth did she believe you... It's like when I got in my parents' way by sneaking out, and I probably would have been grounded for a thousand years if it weren't for your fabricated explanations!

I won't even describe the countless times one of us tried to get a guy! Those were the real scams back then!

I always smile when I think about the vacation we took with Lucy and Dominic. You remember, right? We weren't far away then. We got away from home, just hopped on a bus, not even really knowing where we'd be staying. We only made it to Mendocino☼, less than 100km from home, but in reality, we were much further: in seventh heaven!!! It was all so far from everyday life that that's the only way to describe the place where our little souls were at that time! We went to the cinema to see the silliest movie of the season, listened to the cheesiest music, took pictures with a timer, and it was amazing! How long ago was that? I think it was '89. Well, yes, many years ago. Time flies! We just celebrated your 18th birthday party. Dominic, Lucy, and I were a hit! It was all amazing! Of course, as usual, we messed up with the gift. But that was because we really wanted to give you something special. And… it took us longer than it should have.

And suddenly we graduated, we have a well-furnished apartment, great jobs, and very serious plans. Suddenly, we're too old to be able to just hop on a bus and go somewhere, anywhere. We've always been responsible, but with age, that unfortunately has come to the fore. Another thing is that now we really have too many serious responsibilities to be able to do what we did a few years ago again. This is what I want to describe in detail. It seems like the wildest journey of our lives. Back then, we were convinced we were adults, but we also knew perfectly well that we definitely didn't know what we were doing… And I guess that was the point. We were about 20, just finished our first year of college, and not quite in our heads. Although we knew who we were, who we wanted to be, and what we wanted from life. There was also a lot of madness involved, and that's what drove us forward. Thanks to this, we've achieved everything we have today—exceptional professional positions for 25-year-olds with an endless future ahead of us. I won't go any further, just get straight to the story. Note! We're now traveling to... I think it was the end of July 1992...

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-Alex! Alex!!! Get the hell over here! - Maggie screamed so loudly and for so long that I was terrified! I jumped out of the chair and ran to the living room, where my hysterical NP was jumping around.

-What happened?!

-Listen! Just listen! I'm recording this whole thing!!!'

Our beloved band was on the screen. I already understood Maggie's squeal and immediately started doing the same. They were showing clips from the tour, and some strange song was playing. I started listening… It was definitely our divine rock star singing, but… I didn't know the song!

-Maggie, what kind of music is this?! Is that Bon Jovi too?!?!

-Yes, they said it was some kind of demo. Alex, just listen!!! That music! Those lyrics!!

At that moment, however, the song ended, and Richie Sambora appeared on the screen, saying that I shouldn't count on another album just yet.

-Alex! This is it! What are we still doing here?! We're going! We're leaving tomorrow morning!

-What?! What are you talking about?!

-Haven't you heard?!

-I came in at the very end of the song!

-"I never was scared of nothing, there was nothing that we couldn't do. We used to think that we can walk on water, just because we wanted to. & it all seems so easy, when you're living not just alive." -Nice....

-Alex! Listen further: "We talked about our dreams & how we'd like to spend our lives/ When freedom was a tank of gas in a long summer night." That's the message! We're going! We were always supposed to go to Hollywood, don't you remember?! We promised each other we'd go there, pretend to be celebrities, and go to auditions! There's no turning back now!

"Maggie! Calm down! We can't just leave like that. There are a million things to take care of. " "

What?!

"Well… we have to pack… call my parents… set up a video recorder to record "Twin Peaks"…"

"Alex… don't be ridiculous!" My NP pursed her lips, stamped her foot, and folded her arms. Yes, I knew exactly what that meant: "come on, you know I won't give up." To which I reacted: I'd frown, toss my hair, and then cross my arms. It meant: "You're starting to annoy me, be careful!" "

Maggie, listen. You want to get in the car, drive to Los Angeles, and what? We don't even have enough money to survive! We have to live somewhere there, and gas isn't cheap either!"

"You have no imagination at all! We'll make money!

" "How?! Do you think they'll just pick us up off the street?! Or maybe we'll go to a karaoke club, sing, and the audience will love it so much they'll pay us for it?! But…"

"Wait! Are you saying I can't sing?!"-

"Maggie... you're making me weak at times! I just wanted to say that we won't make any money this way! We only have a month of vacation left, and I think it would be wiser to look for a job here, somewhere in San Francisco.

" "You want to sit here for a month?! No more talking! We're leaving tomorrow morning!" she said, leaving the room. I rewound that Bon Jovi song. It was truly wonderful! Captivating...

"I want to scream, when I have this dream, that my whole life just passed me by" and "(...)There's still freedom in this tank of gas(...) so drive, just drive"...

I went into Maggie's room. She was sitting on the windowsill, just like me now, looking far beyond what she could see beyond the sea rippling on the horizon. I sat down next to her. I was afraid to speak. All my thoughts were racing too fast to catch any of them and say them out loud.

"Little sister..." "I've been thinking, it's hard to speak these nights, can I confess what's on my chest, what's really on my mind?" "Maybe we ain't kids no more, but I'm too young to die." "We'll drive. Just drive."

Maggie looked at me. Even though I knew her inside and out, I didn't know how to interpret her serious expression. Was she angry (probably not...she always yelled then), or maybe she wanted to let me know she was disappointed in me and hadn't decided yet whether she would forgive me (but then she would lock herself in her room...)?

"But...you're right. We can't just leave, drop everything." She hung her head sadly. "As usual, I got carried away by the moment.

Well, yes, she could really get me down! Fortunately, I knew how to act in situations like this.

"Please give me your names!" I shouted in her ear, and poor NP jumped!

"Uh…Magdalene Ann Angela Clim!"

"Okay, now your date and place of birth!

" "Uh…October 11, 1971, San Francisco, California.

" "Great! So, do you know what we're doing tomorrow?"

"But Alex…yes, I know!" She threw her arms around me, almost sending us flying out the window! And falling from the third floor, even onto grass, could have been our last experience ever."

We turned on Bon Jovi as loud as we could and started packing all our clothes. We decided to go in my car because it had a bigger trunk. If our trip ended in LA, it wouldn't be far. Less than 400 miles ☼. However... we've always been unpredictable, and in reality, you never knew if we'd suddenly find ourselves in New York, or maybe Alaska, or Mexico...

In an instant, all our vacation plans were ruined. We were supposed to go looking for work because... I'd been fired from a clothing store (the economic crisis and they didn't have the money for three salesgirls...), and Maggie had resigned from a perfume store after her boss started making a serious advance on her. We were also planning to go somewhere with our other friends. We were all students, and during the year, no one really had time to talk quietly and have fun. It was obvious we couldn't take them all on this trip. Why? Well, once, probably 10 years ago, we promised ourselves that one day we'd get in a car together to conquer Hollywood. It was supposed to be our trip of a lifetime! But then everything happened too quickly. When we were in high school, we couldn't go because our parents would disown us. We, always perfect and beloved daughters, couldn't do something like that to them. When college started, there was no time for anything. We were constantly studying and working. At first, it was very difficult, because neither of us could hold down a job for more than two months. We didn't want to take money from our parents, because the condition for renting an apartment was that we would pay the rent and bills ourselves. We never told them how hard it was, how we barely ate, how we wore the same clothes since we moved out because we couldn't afford new ones. We always talked to them about our academic achievements, about our boyfriends. We largely avoided topics related to money. We strove to be adults at all costs. Maybe a bit forced, but we felt good about it. Everything was changing, but our friendship remained the same. When Maggie burst into the house a year ago and shouted that she was engaged to Ewan, I have to admit, I was pretty scared! It meant disruption, and I really don't like that. After a month, however, the engagement was broken off... both parties decided that maybe that wasn't exactly what they had in mind.

At the time, I was still with Lance and I wasn't sure what would come of it. Nothing worked out, which I felt accordingly, and today I can honestly say that everything turned out well. Admittedly, I'd been single for four months, but I didn't regret it too much. The time would surely come when we'd start a family. It's all about finding The One.

I think I've gotten off track, though... I still do!

We called our parents and friends, and briefly told them all that we simply had to leave. They wanted to ask too many questions, too many for us to answer.

We went shopping, packed everything. We fell asleep in the armchairs in the living room... it happened to us often.

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I was woken up by the sound of a hairdryer. Maggie struggled to style her hair every morning. I never used a hairdryer, and even with my curls, I couldn't do much with a hairdryer...

I tried to get up from the armchair, but I ended up falling off. I wasn't particularly bothered; I was still pretty much unconscious. The room seemed strangely dark, which was surprising, because we never closed the curtains and the windows were really big. Everything became clear when I looked at the video clock…. Only then did I actually wake up! It was 4:12 a.m.!!!!! I jumped up from the floor and screamed, running to my friend's room, who greeted me with her disarming smile and graciously turned off the hairdryer.

"Maggie!!!! Have you lost your mind?!? Do you know what time you dry your hair?!!" I was desperate! Waking up before 10 a.m. had always been one of the worst tortures for me! And what kind of time is 4:12 a.m.?!?! That's when I sometimes went to bed!

"Yeah. I know what time it is," she said, checking herself in the mirror and adjusting her blouse collar.

"Maggie!!!!!!" I was really angry! She knew it perfectly well….

"Excuse me?!!" She always did this to me!!! She always loved to annoy me! She had such a sweet smile; blondes can do that. They have this truly charming smile that no woman with darker hair can replicate! Hair dye doesn't help either. Maggie knew how to use all those tricks. This time, however, I decided not to give up so easily! It was 4 a.m.!!!!! You're not supposed to wake me up at this time!!! Why was she up so early anyway?!

-Why were you up so early anyway?!

-We have to go.

-Not at night!

-At night? Not at night, it's already morning.

She killed me with that statement! She delivered every line with the calm of an ant patiently rolling its prey.

-Maggie...leave me alone! What are you doing?! Why are you drying your hair? Why so early? And what's going on, because I have to sleep sometime!

-Ah, Alex...Too many questions. My hair's wet, so I'm drying it! We have to leave early if we want to be in LA by evening! We talked about this yesterday.

"Yes, we did, but by 'early' I mean 10!

Alexis, my love! Stop talking nonsense. If we'd gotten up at 10, like you like, we probably wouldn't have left at all."

I backed off. NP, as usual, was right. On the other hand, 4 is……….murder! I went to the kitchen and turned on the coffee machine. Yes, we even got that! Actually, it wasn't ours, it belonged to my cousin, but my cousin had gone away and let me take care of a few things from his household.

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WE LEFT!!!!! The city was very busy for 5 a.m. It was also quite bright, the sun was getting hotter and hotter. I felt strange looking at my city, not yet fully awake, as if it was just rubbing its eyes. It reminded me of coming back from one of our camping trips. We were probably 16, maybe 17, and we'd run away from home for a few days. With our parents' permission, of course. We lived in a tent in the woods and even slept on the beach a few times. Now I realize how many things could have happened to us, we might not even have returned whole! We knew this then, but we gracefully avoided such thoughts. We drove back all night long. During that trip, we tried all sorts of transportation. Including planes, yachts, and horse-drawn carriages. By the time we reached San Francisco, it was after 4 a.m. After a sleepless night, we were walking through the streets exceptionally fast. We were proud of ourselves for having managed to return to the city without any money! Unfortunately, we still had a long way home, but at least we knew where we were and which direction to go next. It was the end of August, and the air already smelled of autumn. We could still feel the freedom in it. Despite our immense exhaustion, we were still laughing and, truth be told, we didn't want to go home at all. But for us materialistic women, the lack of funds was too much of an obstacle—always.

We didn't have much in our wallets now either, but we approached money differently; after all, we earned it ourselves.

Back to our trip. We were almost on the highway when I suddenly remembered something terrible and unforgivable!

"Mag! Turn around!"

NP braked sharply in surprise.

"Why?!

Please turn around! I have to get home!

" "Alex, we're probably 20 miles from home!

" "NP, please...

" "NP...do we have to???

" We did go back. Maggie whined, muttered, and called me names the entire way, but she must have decided I really needed to go back, because she finally calmed down. We pulled up to the house, and I quickly slipped inside, grabbed what I'd forgotten, and put it in my suitcase so that NP wouldn't see. Of course, there were questions, which I had no intention of answering, because I knew perfectly well I'd be murdered for what I'd done. I was under the illusion that the case would remain unsolved…

We still don't know how we drove well over 100 miles without even noticing. It felt like we'd just left. We kept changing channels on the radio, singing along, and couldn't believe we were actually going to Hollywood! There were also moments of terror when we suddenly ran out of gas and there wasn't a gas station in sight.

We'd occasionally stop, where we'd swap roles so the other one could drive. We were both crazy about cars! For Maggie, it manifested itself primarily in very fast driving, but for me, it was always something more. I loved cars in and of themselves. I guess our genes took over.

Quite by accident, Maggie and I passed our driving test on the same day. I'll never forget that date—December 20, 1989—and the freedom that came with passing our driving test went to our heads! NP and I ran around the park and the beach. There was a very strong wind and it was quite chilly, but that only confirmed our point, as if nature were agreeing. There are moments in life when you feel like you need nothing more, when boundless happiness pulses through your veins. That day was almost entirely like that, filled with euphoria. We made the most of it, knowing full well that another one like it might not come anytime soon.

We decided to make a longer stop in San Luis Obispo late in the afternoon. It was quite a large town. Big enough for us to get lost… First, we looked for a pizzeria. In the end, however, we got so lost that we just wanted to get back on the highway! We weren't that far from LA, but the whole day of driving had taken its toll, and we needed a longer break. Unfortunately, the time we had allotted for this was wasted wandering around San Luis Obispo! Well... we'd seen much more attractive cities, at least architecturally. While trying to find our way out, we made another mistake that ruined our chances of reaching Hollywood before dark. We got on the highway, and just as we were about to celebrate this wonderful event, we realized we were going the wrong way!!!! We were going back to San Francisco!!! The next exit was 50 miles away!!!! Maggie was hysterical, fumbling with the map, and I clutched the steering wheel, unsure whether to slow down or accelerate. Our nervousness froze, and we kept driving... In fact, that was when our spirits finally dropped. We had no food left in the car, and stopping to buy something was out of the question—we'd wasted enough time. We were doing well...

After a long moment of silence, Maggie started laughing. Louder and louder! I didn't know how to take it, but…it was all we could do. Our stomachs and facial muscles ached from laughing, but we couldn't stop! Completely crazy!

Already heading in the right direction, and therefore a bit more relaxed, we began to calculate the likelihood of reaching LA before midnight. The chances were slim. Unfortunately, as we drove, it became increasingly clear that we'd be lucky to arrive before 1 a.m.

We sat on the sidewalk, eating doughnuts and yogurt. We weren't sleepy at all; it hadn't even occurred to us in over three hours! It was slowly getting light. The neon signs were fading almost as quickly as the stars. The moon had faded, along with the "Marriott - your best choice" sign. The doughnuts were still hot. Garbage men whistled merrily, a guy zipped by on his bike at breakneck speed, sending flyers scattered across the street flying after him. It was after 4 a.m. We still couldn't figure out how we'd actually reached our destination?! It was too late to look for a hotel and too early to consider it... the logic of our thinking. So we wandered around the metropolis, feeling nothing but happiness. Finally, the aroma of a bakery wafted across our path, and then we remembered that we were supposed to eat something in the famous San Luis Obispo. The baker was already delighted with his customers at 4 a.m., and we were rewarded with two more large yogurts. We sat on the sidewalk and silently watched as the city simultaneously woke up and went to sleep. It was incredible. The last customers were being let out of the pubs and casinos. We were beyond it all. We belonged to a different reality. We didn't have a permanent place here. We never could. We simply didn't fit into any of the puzzle pieces.

Everything was so much for show. People walked around looking at each other's clothes. Only what mattered was what was on the outside. Anyone we met on the street could be a star. Yesterday's, today's, maybe the next day's too. Nothing lasted long in this city. It was fairytale-like, perfect, but at the same time very unreal. We weren't sure if we could trust anyone here.

We visited all the famous places. The magnificent Walk of Fame, Sunset Boulevard... so very American... It was nice to be an ordinary person and go there.

I don't know where all these feelings came from?! The city itself was a bit like New York. Maybe only the vegetation was different. However... it was probably the atmosphere, the people. There was no such thing as that vague peace that surrounded San Francisco. Different values ​​mattered, and Los Angeles had a different way of life. Not bad at all—just not for us.

We finally fell asleep on the beach, around noon...

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-NP... you're all red! NP! Wake up! - Maggie was nudging my shoulder. I was slowly starting to connect. Everything hurt. I could hear the waves, feel the sand beneath me. It was chilly. I opened my eyes and…it was dark!

What time is it?

"I have no idea! But it must be after 7 p.m., because the sun set a while ago. Alex! We slept on the beach all day! Look how tanned we are!

" "Mag, we're burned! Everything hurts!!!

" "Well... me too. And I'm hungry. I think we should look for a hotel, what do you think?"

We headed for the car. We were still recovering.

We wondered how it was possible that we'd just slept on a beach full of people?! Somehow we managed...

Finding a hotel wasn't easy at all. Especially since we had price requirements. Most of the motels we'd visited so far were over $60, and we couldn't afford that.

Then we made another decision. Well, the decision made itself, because Maggie accidentally drove onto the highway to... Las Vegas. And since it was only 260 miles, we decided to go there too… We took the phrase "the trip of a lifetime" seriously, and consequently, we were making our dreams come true. We had nothing to lose, as the saying goes, and it must be admitted that sometimes there are situations when any solution is truly the right one. Maggie was driving twice as fast, but we didn't feel the speed at all. Quite the opposite! The speedometer still seemed too slow! We were psychos! We'd always been like that. Our madness manifested itself in many ways. Once, when we were returning from a party at night, I had to climb over a chain-link fence because I'd slammed the gate my brother had left ajar for us, so I'd instinctively closed it behind us. We were going to spend the night at my place. It wasn't easy climbing over the fence in a dress… Maggie was panicking a little, and I couldn't stop laughing! In fact, everything we did had at least a slight deviation from normality. The worst thing was that as we got older we didn't get over it at all...

The miles flew away as Jon Bon Jovi kept singing:

Baby, I've been thinking, it's hard to speak these nights,

Can I confess what's on my chest, what's really on my mind?

See, I never was scared of nothing, there was nothing that we couldn't do,

We used to think that we could walk on water, just because we wanted to.

And it all seemed so easy, when we were living not just alive,

We talked about dreams, and how we would like to spend our lives.

When freedom was a tank of gas, on a long summer night,

To drive, just drive.

Can you keep a secret baby, if you can't, just lie,

Yeah, I want to scream, when I have this dream, that my whole life passed me by.

And they sold my heart for diamonds, and they sold some pride for gold,

There's lots of things that I can't get back, that the record company owns.

When 17 has turned 30, its all gone kiss it goodbye.

Hey baby, maybe we aim kids no more, but I'm too young to die.

There's still some freedom in this tank of gas, if youre by my side,

We'll drive, just drive.

Don't want no airplanes, no ticket on a fast train,

All I wanted was a two-lane, with you by my side.

We'll drive, all night long, get on board.

We'll drive, with the radio on.

You can lean your head on my shoulder, and just for a while,

Forget about the world, baby, mile after mile.

We'll drive, all night long yeah, you want a ride?

No airplane, no ticket on a fast train,

All I wanted was a two-lane, and you by my side.

We'll drive, all night long, get on board,

We'll drive, with the radio on baby all right.

All this gave us a sense of freedom. One that no one could take away from us. It has always been so and would remain so. "Drive…just drive…."

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The neon lights were blinding. All you saw was colorful brightness. Music, shouts, laughter, and those blinking, writhing, vying for the gaze of passersby. The noise never died down. People in sequined outfits, each one a neon sign.

It was 2 a.m., so practically the beginning of Las Vegas nightlife. We slowly made our way through the crowd, which was heading in every possible direction, and even more. Lost in itself, completely impersonal, uniform. No one stood out.

We walked with a box of pizza, a little smeared with ketchup, but smiling broadly, fascinated by every, even the most insignificant, detail. We didn't talk, we just observed. We filled our heads with new sights and impressions, so we could talk about them endlessly later.

"Alex, do you have a camera?

" "You have one in your backpack." I looked at a guy dressed as a cowboy, chatting up every woman he met on the street. He had three gold teeth and matching boots... "

I don't. You had one in your purse."

Of course, it turned out the camera had probably been left at home... We weren't having any luck with photos. One day we decided to have a photo shoot. Dominic was the one taking the photos, and we were all models. Halfway through the shoot, the batteries died... Then, for half a year, our friend pestered us to develop the film...

And now we were going to have no photos from the trip of a lifetime! No eXtRa...

We sat on a bench at the bus stop and wondered what to do next. It was too late to look for a hotel again, and it was pointless – after all, we'd slept almost the entire day. So we decided to wander around the city, which didn't really offer much. It was hard to distinguish streets or buildings. We wandered around until 5 a.m. That's when we felt exhausted. By some miracle, we made it to the car. Of course, we didn't have a map with us. As usual, we hadn't thought about such a small detail. However, it had its advantages. We were exploring on our own, finding everything ourselves.

That's how we ended up in a motel. Quite unusual, because there was a pub on the ground floor, which wasn't very common. However, the price was really reasonable, so we checked in at 7 a.m.

Late in the afternoon, we went down to the pub for a drink. We chatted for a while with the bartender, who was clearly bored – there weren't many customers yet. We smiled sweetly at him, and eventually he got us some sandwiches and Sprite on the house. However, we felt a little embarrassed because it felt so strange to be a con artist. Maggie had the idea to sing in return. So she jumped on stage and started singing without music. Just then, a pianist jumped up and began to quietly accompany her. After a while, a guitarist emerged from the backstage area and joined them. The pub was filling up, and they kept playing! My NP was in her element! Unfortunately, I'd never been able to sing, so I'd stay a safe distance from the stage, but I was the loudest applauding…

And that was another situation that proved Magdalene Ann Angela Clim was always right. Not only did we eat for free, but we also lived for free and made a tidy sum! Maggie made… The owner loved the performance so much, he wanted to hire her permanently!!! We only stayed a week. Actually, a WHOLE week. One night, when we had more money, we went out on the town. Makeup and hair took up the most time. I even pulled out the flat iron and straightened my bangs! While I was fussing over my hair, Maggie asked,

"I didn't know you brought an iron? At home, you said you wouldn't bring one because it wouldn't take up space in your suitcases...

" "Ugh..." I changed my mind, finally." I avoided her gaze, but it was too late. Maggie knew I was scheming.

"Alexis, dear, please tell me why you made me drive 40 miles home? Surely not for a flat iron?

" "What 40 miles?! What are you even talking about?! No more than 15 miles!" A failed and completely pointless attempt to change the subject... to avoid the answer...

"Yes, yes, of course." That's 20 miles, don't get off topic. YOU TOLD ME TO GO BACK FOR A HAIR IRON????

-But Maggie... -I was so afraid of her in situations like this! I hated arguing with her.

"What?!?! You're a complete lunatic, Alex! The iron! You're seriously screwed!

" I preferred not to say anything. I didn't want to upset her even more. I had my own arguments, but I knew I wouldn't win against her. In this case, my professional knowledge was of little use. Besides, it was moments like these that convinced me I wasn't cut out to be a lawyer...

After a moment, Mag started laughing and...phew...she got over it! She decided I was right about the iron, because she'd need it too...

Well, yeah...

So we finished our hair and makeup, dressed like celebrities, and off we went. Believe it or not, there wasn't a guy who didn't turn a blind eye! We looked stunning! We hit a dozen clubs and a few casinos. We didn't lose a cent, quite the opposite!

That was the end of our stay in Las Vegas. I have to admit, it summed up the trip quite well. We were utterly exhausted. The mere thought of returning home to college and looking for a job made us dizzy. But all of that was still hundreds of miles away. We had money, so we planned to very slowly reduce the distance between us and home, but in reality, we only increased it. We spent the next two days at Lake Mead. We holed up at a campsite and lounged on the shore or wandered through the woods. A completely crazy idea came to us: to drive deep into Arizona, along the Colorado River, to reach Utah, and then stop somewhere near Lake Powell. There's no road along the river, so the idea was only feasible for the desperate. And for us...

The only problem might be gas, or rather, the lack of it. Our practical thinking worked even during vacation. But we decided it was worth the risk. We were counting on our rare luck. Or maybe just gas stations along the way?

We drove exceptionally slowly. At night (we'd changed our lifestyle again), we'd usually pitch our tent right on the lake's shore. We also sometimes stayed overnight at campsites, and there were quite a few. Our longest stay was at the Grand Canyon. When we were seven, we'd been there on a school trip, so it was high time to refresh our memories. Now we'd explored the entire area along the Colorado River. We also went rafting along a section of the river. Wow... something amazing. We might have overpaid for the trip, but IT WAS WORTH IT.

Gigantic rocks, all the power of the water. Completely different from the power of the sea, which constantly beats against the sandy beach. The river seemed to be fighting for its way forward. We were terrified of it. It took every bend at dizzying speed, sometimes shallow, and in places so deep that you couldn't see anything through the water. Only darkness.



last Wednesday of July 1992, Salt Lake City

Maggie's still asleep, but I can't anymore. I finally have a moment to fill in my diary. Maybe someone will read this someday? I want to write down what happened over the past three days and nights. A time when we couldn't relax our vigilance for a moment, when there was no question of even a minute's sleep, no rest of any kind. A time when our only sustenance was the rain. Torrential, cold, thick, and impenetrable. Driven by a powerful wind. There was no escaping such force. But that wasn't the only thing that nearly killed us. Everything I write here will be true, not the slightest bit exaggerated. I've thought it through; I'm not embellishing. This whole nightmare would fill several episodes of "Twin Peaks." The horror, the terror, the fear, would be enough for a whole series!

That's why I want to write this now, while I still remember so much. Even though I'm not at all sure I'll ever be able to forget even a little of those three days.