Rules and norms

"You must not leave the house today."

And then he left, leaving me alone in that big house. What could I do? I felt like I was arrested, I felt like I did something wrong, but I couldn't figure out what it was. Rules and norms, he used to say. Rules are laws that must be obeyed . Norms are rules you must obey so that everything stays normal. But that is just too boring.

I decided to leave. I took my car and drove out. I felt in the wind in my hair the smell of freedom. I cried when the wind went into my eyes. I cried when I felt under my skin the taste of the abnormal.

I found out I should go to some place far away. I went to a park on the other side of the city. Why not? See new people, see their pets, their lives, their vibrations would feel good, I thought.

I got there and started to look around. I parked my car somewhere and went for a stroll. I walked around a big lake. Then I saw ducks, I saw people feeding fishes, I saw pigeons eating everything people dropped, I saw little kids running from one side to another - never on a straight line - I saw young and old people walking together, I saw dogs and dog owners, each one with their own collars, I saw dreams, plans and ideas on the eyes of lovers. And then I saw my dad.

"I'm glad you came!"

"Dad, I'm sorry... I left the house, I know that I shouldn't but..."

"It is ok, my dear daughter. To go against the rules is part of our life ritual. And in that ritual you are only beginning your initiation".

I walked around the lake with my dad. He then showed me a tree. On it there was an inscription that he and my mother left there twenty years ago. A heart with their initials and a date. January 20, 1984. January 20 is the day my mother died, four years ago. With tears all over his face, he then said.

"In that day we ran away too."