In the wastebasket of my character...

In the wastebasket of my character you can find the other side of a the coin. A positive and confident woman who wants to scape from darkness and to be just who she wants to be, elle.




This is Elle



Winnie is in the bathroom in front of a mirror contemplating her old face.



Winnie: “[…] In the bag, outside the bag. Ah yes, things have their life, that is what I always say, things have a life. Take my looking-glass, it doesn't need me.”


Next to her appears Elle.


Elle: why do you say that?

Winnie: are you looking for more reasons. Don't you think it's enough to wake up day by day an notice you are not the same person anymore? (keeping and taking things from her bag).

Elle: you know what?... you are killing me. What the hell are you doing by keeping and taking those stuffs from that bag. (next to Winnie, the view on the mirror).

Winnie: I definitively understand what you mean (smiling line on her lips and ), the sun raises to shine every morning but you stand from bed... just to stay at home... just you and...

Elle: let me guess (combing her hair) loneliness.

Winnie: no, worst than that.

Elle: is there something worst on earth? (putting on her make-up).

Winnie: (with a smiling line on her lips) yes, there is...there is a big one... (moving her head aside, her hands in the bag, her eyes fixed on the ceiling).


A long silence

Elle: (putting her make-up on, and looking at Winnie out of the corner of one's eye). Hey... hey you... (touching Winnie with the hand). Are you okay?

Winnie: hmm... (turning back to Elle) excuse me?

Elle: I am asking you if you are okay, you were going to tell me something about... loneliness, but you get... just, lost.

Winnie: uh yes! I am married, did you know? (raising her shoulders, a smile line in her lips).

Elle: hmm...no?

Winnie: yes, I am married. I wake up every morning...he's there (her eyes fixed down)...and me, I'm there (her look back to the mirror) I'M THERE, I'm always there. But he...

Elle: and...have you ever thought just not to be there?

Winnie: yes (her look fixed to the mirror) I have thought many times...many times. But...

Elle: but have you tried...at least have you tried.

Winnie: no...no, I haven't...I haven't tried. (moving her head side to side).

Elle: remember what you said when I just arrived here...

Winnie: I always say, things have a life.

Elle: yes you said that (shouting. her eyes fixed to Winnie in the mirror), and I want to tell you something, you are what you want to be whenever you want. You are not a thing, or not anymore. Things do not have a life, things need a life to be what they are supposed to be. YOUR THINGS have life because you decided to give them A LIFE, because you decided to give them your life.

Tears are falling from Winnie's face, her hands fell down leaving the bag on the bathroom table.

Elle: now your looking-glass is with me...can you see it...can you feel it...things' life depends now on me... and it depends on you to have one. To have your own life, and time is not an excuse.

Johanna Angulo Hurtado

Code: 0535624