Chapter 12: YARON

I walked into the kitchen and took the juice out of the fridge. I was practically floating on the floor.

My father peeked in and stood there, staring at me. Somehow, I knew. I knew we were about to have a significant conversation. One that would be repeated in the future, even if in different ways, but one that would change everything between us.

“Can I talk to you, Yaron?”

“Sure, Tatele.”

I took a sip of the juice. It tasted bitter. My father sat across the table from me and propped his elbows up before sighing, and blurting out what seemed to be bothering him.

“Your mother is worried about you.”

I rolled my eyes. “What’s new about that?”

He nodded and thought about his words before sharing them with me.

“This time is different.” He let the silence hang over us for a while and then, he added, “I remember what it was like to be seventeen. Believe or not, I was seventeen, too.”

“Please tell me this is not a talk about sex.”

“No, Yaron. It’s about her.”

He did not even have to name her; her image floated between the two of us like a ghost; her madness, her eyes sparkling with excitement, the sound of her laugh, her kisses...

“You need to end it as soon as possible. You have no future with her.”

I tensed up and he noticed it. It wasn’t an order, just a reality in front of which no other had a place.

“She has burdens. Her life is not compatible with yours. Maybe it’s not noticeable now, but the more time passes, the differences will only generate problems.

We both knew that some neighbors whispered when they saw us. The rumors about us had never stopped being present.

Despite everything, nothing mattered too much to us. The girls stopped being interested in me. After a couple of rejections, they realized that my relationship with Vee was serious and I was not available.

My friends tolerated my absences; even Daniel, who seemed slightly disappointed because we saw each other less and less. I stopped being the accommodating Yaron that they knew, and became one who was only accommodating with Vee.

Maybe I did wrong.

Some evenings we would wander through the woods and let ourselves dream about our future.

“She is not Jewish, Yaron.”

“Please, not this again, Dad,” I answered, with a certain bitterness that he overlooked.

“Blood lines are very important to us, and you know it. One day, you’re going to meet a good Jewish girl and you’re going to get married. It’s better to end your relationship now. The more you give this girl hope, the more it’s going to hurt when you split. A few kisses are not worth it.”

I shook my head before saying a word, pondering my next words. I was ready to switch to attack mode.

Knowing my father, I could understand his reasons. I was his only male offspring. The son who was responsible to continue his name, his legacy. I also knew one day in the future, he was going to disown me, because there was no way I was going to let Vee go.