Irfa out of the spotlight

"Most things left me cool-headed. Whereas I disliked a lot of stuff, only some of it made me lose that cool. Like when our house would fill up with all of our neighbours. Everyone would kiss everyone else's foreheads and the backs of their hands, make noise, shout over each other and even shake the house's foundation with howling laughter. I would then escape into the higher levels of the Stump, where I would sit down, lean my back against a sun-warmed wall and watch the peaceful course of the rest of the city. No matter if confused or angry, couple of deep breaths up there and the occasional breeze would soothe the loud banging of my heart and the ringing in my ears. If only I could laugh, as they would say, from the soul. If only I could shed a tear over their touching stories."

Excerpt from my upcoming short story.