Yalei Wang

I'll teach you to be free

I have a roomie living with me at my parents house. We have three bedrooms and this year, my parents decided to let it out to someone at a cost. We've become friends, Irene and I. At first, i was hesitant because she is a devout Christian and i'm Atheist but it turns out, that doesn't make a notch of difference between the connection that we've forged. Her name is Irene ( Hey Irene, if you're reading this sorry but i have to write about you ). Irene is everything i'm not and this is what makes us friends. She is quiet, reserved and when you speak to her, she reminds you of a small box. A tiny box you can fit into your hand and all that she is, is inside of it. Whereas with me, i am erratic, emotional and dramatic. She only wears blue and white. I wear all the colors of the rainbow.

Last night, I was downing a bottle of red ( a habit i must stop ) when i invited her to my room to ' hang out ', as i like to call it. She was sober and couldn't drink because of her liver problems. I was beginning to get more and more tipsy by the moment.
" I wish i could dance ", she said in her small-box like voice.
" I can dance. I'm the first person to dance at parties " I replied, with an air of boastful grandiosity.
I set down my glass like a decision and went to my ipod. I put on the BEST get crazy dance song,
" Groove is in the Heart " by Deeelite. When the beat started to kick in, so did i and i performed in front of her. I twisted and i turned, i laughed and i screamed. I wanted her so badly to get up and join me. But she sat on my bed, eyes flared open in ghast of how bold i was compared to her neat values of Christian sensibility. I took her by the hand and i began to instruct her.
" First you gotta move your arms like this " I demonstrated, stupidly.
She followed my lead.
" And then you gotta roll your waist around, like this" I demonstrated again.
I told her that i could teach her to be free. She said to me, " I wish i could be like you. You are so wild and loud and bold". I said to her, " There's a part of that in all of us and it just takes guts to bring it out".

We were tired, so we sat on my bed. Me, intermittently swigging red wine and her sitting there like a doll. We listened to one of my favorite songs " Make up " by Lou Reed. And then we listened to some of her favorite Chinese songs. I swayed to it. Half in drunkeness and half in appreciation of this evening where i felt like i was connecting with someone. I told her that being free is about being fearless and doing whatever the hell you want, knowing you deserve the best and that you can beat the pain. And once you get there, you never turn back.
Eventually the party ended. We looked at eachother in the face. I had gotten my diamonte stickers and stuck them all over her face whilst we were dancing and she did it for me as well. It was one of the funnest nights, because we were free.