its not one of those days

Its funny how you may wake up, and its an ordinary day. And you don’t even think about the memorable events that will surprise you in the next 12 or so hours.
 
I escaped into the city because I need sanity oh so much. And as soon as I stepped onto the brick sidewalk of Harvard Square, I couldn’t stop smiling and smiling and smiling. The streets were busy and crowded and man singing on guitars, and man selling his artwork, and a man trying to sell Budhism in a packet and girls trying to sell Jews for Jesus even in bigger packets. I passed them by. They were like home. The bird sounds of the crosswalk light. The yelling of the cheery kids. The gossip of teenagers, dressed in too provocative clothing. And oh so much life, I swear just couldn’t stop smiling.
 
I got entirely too wrapped up in the jewelry store of Zinnia, where I bought two dazzling new necklaces and earrings. And then. I tried my best to not get too wrapped up in the tight squeezed aisles of the bookstore, where people said “excuse me” in whispers and leaned against shaky shelves to escape into a page or two. I raced my fingers against the trails of the thick titles and I sighed. Next time. Next time, I will have time to play with you.
 
I sat in Au Bon Pain, where a woman laughed with barks just like her dog. A girl behind the glass stared at me, in fear that I was going to photograph her. Pigeons sat idly on the branch, watching the world under them. A women with too many coats and sweaters shuffled her way from one table to another, trying to find a bottle to throw into her carriage collection. I almost wanted to grab her hand and ask, how did your life become revolved around plastic? A black dog sat by his master with a pink tongue sticking out. The Chess Master was in depth in a game, while he smoked his fat cigar and everyone intensely watched, with hands behind their backs.
 
I walked along the Charles River, and I watched the sun set behind the buildings in a quiet discreet manner. Couples sat under naked branches. An old woman with wrinkles on her knuckles, watched the runners pass. The runners were breathing and breathing and I wanted to stop and ask them, what keeps you going? And I sat on the edge, myself and I watched life. And I thought, this is the moment that one realizes how beautiful life is.
 
I belong in Boston. It is the home to my heart.
 

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One of the reasons that I left to Harvard Square was to escape everyone. I didn’t escape for too long. Right after the sun set, my phone started its diabolical ringing.
 
Liz called to inform me that there was an argument between Misha and Marina. And it was so bad that she had to leave. And we talked about what could possibly be happening. And when I finally arrived to campus, I tried to call her nonchalantly, but when I heard her teary tone, I knew that I couldn’t be nonchalant. “I don’t want to be alone. But just give me a few seconds,” she managed to say. And I didn’t know what to say or do. And my entire body was engulfed in goosebumps. What do you do when your best friend’s heart is getting broken and you cant do anything about it?
 
Liz and I went a little crazy. We drove around, shouting angrily and beeping the horn and generally letting out all our emotions. How can this be happening? Misha and Marina have been together for 1.5 years. They were good together. And now he drives up for 4 hours to break up with her?
 
We immediately went into the store and the Indian cashier thought we were crazy. We huffed and puffed through the aisles. “Where is the damn chocolate?!” And then we threw down 2 tubs of ice cream, a package of Milano cookies and then I topped it off with a handful of Lindt Dark Chocolate candies. The perfect break up kit for a girl, right? The petite Indian cashier gave us funny looks but Liz answered the question he couldn’t bear to ask. “It’s a girl thing!”
 
We entered the apartment. It was quiet and still. We ran to Marina’s room. And we found her sitting with her face in her hands and before I entered the apartment I didn’t know how I would console her but at that moment, my muscles and my limbs and my heart just knew. I quietly, without a word just came and hugged her and she sobbed on my shoulder. And I held her.
 
The three of us sat and just talked, in hushed tones. “I was going to break up with him, myself. But I was just too nice…” and I squeezed her. I know the feeling too well.
 
We held a pillow and let her punch it hard and I almost fell back from the force. And she ate too much chocolate and ice cream. And we ordered Thai food and Liz went out to buy some drinks too.
 
And Marina was out of breath, so I took her hand and led her to my secret spot. It is a 5 mins walk, and it is this little woodsy area that peaks into the Charles River. And we stood there under the stars and the shaky branches. But the water was still since it was a quiet night. The lights reached out with long arms across the river. And we watched all this. And we smelled all this. And we talked like we havent talked in months. And sometimes we just stood quietly hugging. And Marina caught her breath. [It is moments like these when you realize that boys come and go, but your girl friends are always there]
 
Back in the apartment, everyone was waiting for us. Upon arrival, intoxication began. They drank tequila shots and I videotaped the whole thing because one should never forget their first tequila shots.
 
Salt was all over their clothes. And lime clung to their mouths. And we giggled. And we played Scattegories, where it was okay to have M for Misha the monster. And for L, I said love was cold and no one laughed for some odd reason. They took more shots.
 
We did a massage circles. There was moaning and molesting. Our fingers danced upon each others backs and we squealed. And then Aliza and I got into an intense tickling battle, where I don’t think I have laughed so hard and my ears echoed with her giggles.
 
We put on dancy music and jumped up and down. And then somehow, I, Elina, the sober one of them all, said “WHAT IF WE TOOK OFF OUR SHIRTS? HAHAHA” And they took me seriously. And before I knew it, we were all jumping up and down and twirling around the living room, with the shades closed. Our colorful bras looked like rainbows in the evening. We danced so hard we lost our breath and all sense of what is what.

We took pictures, pretending we were hot Baywatch babes. And we were sexy babes in bras. And we squeezed our tummies into faces and took pictures too.
 
And maybe last night will be remembered not as the night that marina’s heart was broken by a boy, but as an amazing girls’ night where laughter was infinite.
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[silly smiley faces are the best]