Yoko: The Birth Of The Star

I stand on my bed without discovering myself of the sheets, in fact, I hold on to it, without wanting to uncover myself, as if staying under it I could, somehow, evade this day, dodge all the responsibilities that are about to be invested in me, as if this ragged piece of cloth represented in some way the last piece of my childhood, protecting me from the danger of the outside world..

I realize that this is the day for which many people have prepared me for so many years, many people will attend, however, the one who I would have wanted the most, is not here. My throat is dry, I squeeze my lips and I can tell they're cracked.

I hear some strong steps approaching my room.

I decide to accept the reality once and for all, whoever come through that door can’t see me like this, shy, hiding under their sheets, scared, and inept, I can’t afford that luxury, it’d only guarantee me to be the topic of conversation they will have with others, and then my aptitude will be put in doubt so soon in my reign.

I take off the sheets, decisive. I watch my room, chaos reigns here. I hear Fausto's voice scolding me in his monotonous and calm tone. The steps approach to my room more and more with several voices following them, one talking on top of the other, I can hear several ideas about clothes, headgear, footwear and others.

With an agile movement of my hands I make the dresses that are on the floor rise and return to my closet, I approach my desk and place several loose books back in the shelf. I press the mirror of my dresser with my hand while with the other I order that all the jewels that are scattered on it return to their place. I finish cleaning the mirror, I see myself for a moment, analyzing myself.

I put my other hand to my forehead. A ring on the way to the jeweler catches my attention, and I take it. It is the same one that my father used all the time. I try it on several of my fingers and I still enjoy the fact that it’s a bit loose in each one, my father always had extra-proportioned fingers.

I hear how the handle of my door is turned. I snapped out of my pensiveness. I take the ring back to the jeweler and take a last look around. I think I'll be saved from Fausto's scolding.

A mess of ten men pass through the doorframe, all wearing the same clothing, white long cloaks and one odd-looking hat, also white. They’re all talking to each other, although it looks more like they talk to themselves since one doesn’t pay attention to what the other says, and vice versa. I don’t even know if they are paying attention to me and that they have entered my room.

Faust makes his way through the crowd as he comes towards me, also with his same outfit, a long dark blue “” and a his saber on his hip. I try to put on my best face.

I'm more worried about how long it will take me to get used to that phrase than about the responsibilities of the title.

I see how the gentlemen continue to whisper behind him, covering their mouths with the sleeve of their clothes. I can’t help but think that they are talking about me but I try not to reflect this concern on my face. Fausto looks at my room with his penetrating eyes, studying each corner calmly. He is a man of few words, so by not objecting to anything, it doesn’t necessarily mean that everything has passed his standards, being the royal counselor, it is his job to find the problem in everything, he was my father's right hand and on several occasions, mine too, so I will always be grateful and attentive to him. He takes his hand inside his tunic, which makes me doubt what he will say, to my surprise, he takes out a package beautifully packed in a cloth and wrapped with a strip of red.

It amazes me what Fausto tells me, but even more, the sensations that come to me along with the present.

Knowing that despite everything Fausto is always in my best interest lets me know that no matter how terrible he might be at times, he is probably the only one in this whole kingdom who bets for me.

I unwrap the package and unroll a beautiful red kimono, with a lovely design of flowers of various warm colors that go from the back towards the sleeves to meet a phoenix that adorns the front. I see this dress with melancholy and longing, but before plunging into these feelings Fausto brings me to the present quickly.

All the men behind him divide in two groups, some go towards me, others towards my closet, some take several of my shoes and then others my jewels. I am hauled out of my room and driven to the royal bathroom, where a large tub awaits me with boiling water, and in front are three women kneeling, bowed before us. I had never been here.

The man next to me says to one of the women.

One of the women approaches me and gives me a brief bow.

The woman politely tells me to approach the tub, while the other two are placed on each side of me, one takes off my clothes which makes me feel very tense and uncomfortable about the situation but I don’t want to be a nuisance so try to surpass it and move on. One woman places a low chair in the middle of the large tub. I put one foot inside and the boiling water and it burns me, I give a slight squeal, but anyway, I enter it without replying, one of the women realizes this and walks swiftly to the other side of the bathroom, pulls a rope and after this, a small opening slides from the roof parallel to one of the corners of the tub, and from the opening begins to fall a strong jet of cold water, which tempers the water to a more pleasant temperature, the woman nods towards me, and I nod back at her with a brief smile. I am embarrassed by the momentary setback caused by me.

• I can’t cause this kind of eventualities -I scold myself-. If I can’t tolerate a little of hot water, how am I going to handle this kingdom by myself?. It is decided, no matter what comes, I will make my presence as little as possible.

• Finally -I think loudly-.