Hispaliterario 10 / El pantano de mamá. (Español/Ingles)

Una historia de ficción basada en hechos reales.

Indra era la menor de tres hermanas, se habían criado con su madre, pues su padre era un viejo retrato colgado en la pared, las tres crecieron como plantitas, la madre las regaba todos los días. La casa donde vivían estaba en medio de un pantano, aquella abnegada madre lo había hecho con sus propias manos. Piedra a piedra fue creciendo su maligna creación, escogió las más pesadas, también trajo palos e insectos hediondos, cabo la tierra para que el agua se estancará con facilidad. Aunque le costó años, cuando todas sus hijas nacieron, ya su hogar yacía en una ciénaga a la que no se podía entrar ni salir.

Las tres hermanas crecieron sin contacto con el exterior, tenían prohibido ver por las ventanas, eran algo lentas y de aspecto enfermo. No conocían el sol, solo percibían un poco de luz a través de las gruesas cortinas, un olor podrido perfumaba sus días, claro que para ellas no era extraño, pues ese era uno de los pocos olores que conocían. Un día una de sus hermanas escapo por la ventana, Indra recuerda que se fue volando, al poco tiempo la otra también se fue, cruzo el pantano dando saltos, la suciedad le llegaba a las rodillas, pero no miro hacia atrás, por lo menos eso le contó su madre, porque Indra no se atrevió a mirar hacia fuera.

La madre loca de dolor maldijo a sus hijas, pasó 8 días gritando odios, hasta que cansada y marchita se convirtió en una sombra. Desde ese día Indra vivía sola en la casa con la sombra de su madre y con el tiempo se acostumbró a la fantasmagórica presencia. Aunque pasaron los años, Indra nunca se fue, un sentimiento de culpa la consumía cada vez que pensaba en seguir los pasos de sus malagradecidas hermanas. Además sentía una pena enorme por su madre, tanta entrega y amor para al final quedarse sola, no lo podía permitir, tenía que quedarse a su lado cuidándola, aunque de la madre que ella amo ya no quedaba nada.

La estancia en aquella casa se volvió peligrosa, Indra sabía que su madre se alimentaba de ella, por mucho tiempo eso no le importo, de hecho, accedía voluntariamente en aquel despojo, a sabiendas de que cada vez tendría menos fuerza. Lo que no sabía era que la oscuridad de su madre se hacía más fuerte y que pronto no se saciaría con nada de lo que ella pudiera darle. Así que su vida se convirtió en una huida constante a lo largo de la casa, corría de una habitación a otra, se movía en silencio para no llamar la atención, no quería que su madre se enojara porque entonces era peor, la castigaba a golpe de culpas y remordimientos, la brumaba con sus resentimientos y recuerdos terribles de mil vida atrás.

Hasta que llego el día en el que Indra se propuso escapar, sabía que aquella trampa la habían tejido juntas, ahora ella no tenía fuerza y su voluntad tenia las esquinas rotas, su madre en cambio era un monstro imparable, sabía como golpear a Indra hasta hacerla desvanecer. Pero estaba decidida, no quería mirar por la ventana, lo había considerado varias veces, pero cada vez que se acercaba, algo frio le machacaba la nuca. Le había prometido a su madre que nunca se asomaría por allí, aunque ese día se sentía dispuesta a romper todas sus promesas, y eso la hacía sentir miserable.

Si no era por la ventana entonces seria por la puerta, pero debía salir de allí lo más pronto posible. Recordó los días felices, la sonrisa de su madre era una mancha borrosa en el callejón de sus memorias, pero estaba allí su cálido olor a maquillaje barato y ternura, quiso llorar pero sabía que no tenía tiempo. Corrió hacia la puerta mientras a sus espaldas todo se hacía pedazos, tiro de la manilla enérgicamente, pero se detuvo en seco, la puerta estaba abierta frente a ella y del otro lado nada sorprendente ni aterrador la esperaba, ocurrió justo a la hora del atardecer, una belleza nunca antes vista por sus ojos. Miro atrás y su madre ya no la perseguía, de hecho parecía que se había desvanecido, no estaba segura. Camino dos pasos hacia la puerta, uno de sus pies toco el exterior, los rayos de luz la hicieron darse cuenta que ella también parecía una sombra, una tristeza implacable golpeo su pecho, lloró un poco mientras cerraba la puerta que la apartaría del mundo nuevamente, sabía que nada ni nadie la esperaba afuera, sabia también que aunque corriera lejos, su madre era el pantano que, por siempre, ella llevaría adentro.

A fictional story based on true events.

Indra was the youngest of three sisters, they had grown up with their mother, for their father was an old portrait hanging on the wall, the three grew like little plants, the mother watered them every day. The house where they lived was in the middle of a swamp, that self-sacrificing mother had made it with her own hands. Stone by stone her evil creation grew, she chose the heaviest ones, she also brought sticks and stinky insects, and she filled the earth so that the water would stagnate easily. Although it took him years, when all his daughters were born, his home lay in a swamp that could not be entered or left.

The three sisters grew up without contact with the outside, they were forbidden to see out of the windows, they were somewhat slow and sickly looking. They did not know the sun, they only perceived a little light through the thick curtains, a rotten smell perfumed their days, of course for them it was not strange, because that was one of the few smells they knew. One day one of her sisters escaped through the window, Indra remembers that she flew away, soon after the other one also left, she crossed the swamp jumping, the dirt was up to her knees, but she did not look back, at least that is what her mother told her, because Indra did not dare to look out.

The mother, mad with grief, cursed her daughters, spent 8 days shouting hatred, until, tired and withered, she became a shadow. From that day on Indra lived alone in the house with her mother's shadow and eventually became accustomed to the ghostly presence. Although years passed, Indra never left, a feeling of guilt consumed her every time she thought of following in the footsteps of her ungrateful sisters. She also felt an enormous sorrow for her mother, so much dedication and love to end up alone, she could not allow it, she had to stay by her side taking care of her, although there was nothing left of the mother she loved.

The stay in that house became dangerous, Indra knew that her mother fed on her, for a long time that did not matter to her, in fact, she agreed voluntarily in that plundering, knowing that she would have less and less strength. What she did not know was that her mother's darkness was growing stronger and that soon she would not be satiated with anything she could give her. So her life became a constant flight through the house, running from one room to another, moving silently so as not to attract attention, not wanting her mother to be angry because then it would be worse, punishing her with guilt and remorse, misting her with resentments and terrible memories of a thousand lives ago.

Until the day came when Indra decided to escape, she knew that this trap had been woven together, now she had no strength and her will had broken corners, her mother was an unstoppable monster, she knew how to hit Indra until she faded away. But she was determined, she didn't want to look out the window, she had considered it several times, but every time she approached, something cold crushed the back of her neck. She had promised her mother that she would never look out there, although that day she felt ready to break all her promises, and that made her feel miserable.

If not through the window then through the door, but she had to get out of there as soon as possible. She remembered the happy days, her mother's smile was a blur in the alley of her memories, but her warm smell of cheap makeup and tenderness was there, she wanted to cry but she knew she didn't have time. She ran to the door while behind her back everything was shattering, she pulled the handle forcefully, but stopped dead in her tracks, the door was open in front of her and on the other side nothing surprising or terrifying was waiting for her, it happened just at sunset time, a beauty never seen before by her eyes. She looked back and her mother was no longer chasing her, in fact she seemed to have vanished, she wasn't sure. She walked two steps towards the door, one of her feet touched the outside, the rays of light made her realize that she also looked like a shadow, an implacable sadness hit her chest, she cried a little while she closed the door that would take her away from the world again, she knew that nothing and nobody was waiting for her outside, she also knew that even if she ran far away, her mother was the swamp that, forever, she would carry inside.

_{Original content by the author.
Resources: Tablet ZTE E10Q
Own drawings
Translated with Deepl.com
All Rights Reserved || Hive account@jetta.amaya// 2022}