Othon
As I walked with Bart, the insistent ringtone of the phone shattered the peace. Karen. Her name blinked on the screen, stirring a strange sensation within me. A bad feeling settled in my chest. With a lump in my throat, I answered, sitting down on a nearby bench.
Karen's words hit me like a hammer, leaving me stunned. My son was missing. I gripped Bart's leash tightly, ready to rush back home and assist in the search. But something made me hesitate.
As I ended the call and held onto the dog leash, a strange movement very close to me caught my attention. A figure was approaching from a side street. I furrowed my brow, a shiver running down my spine.
"Otavio?" I spoke aloud, but he wouldn't hear me from that distance.
KarenI was consumed by despair, but I knew I needed to keep my composure, as Camila had suggested. Otávio depended on me, and I couldn't allow myself to fall apart. With slow steps, I returned to the sidewalk, anxiously waiting for the arrival of the police, whose delay felt like an eternity.Meanwhile, my mother, with teary eyes, joined me after searching the house for any sign of Otávio. My father, on the other hand, went from door to door, asking the neighbors if they had seen the boy. Anguish hung in the air, enveloping everyone in its web."He's out there somewhere," my mother tried to comfort me, holding my hand firmly."I know, Mom, but it's so hard..." I replied, struggling against the tears that threatened to fall at any moment.Suddenly, my mother's expression changed drastically. Her eyes widened as she fixed her gaze on something behind me."Karen! Look over there!" she exclaimed, pointing to the end of the street.I quickly turned in the indicated direction, and my eyes
OthonAfter leaving Otávio safely with Karen, I returned home, feeling torn between the desire to clarify everything immediately and the need to take a step back, allowing all of us to digest the revelations of that eventful day.While Bart roamed around the house, I was lost in thought. I didn't attempt to sleep, knowing I wouldn't be able to. I felt extremely restless and unable to simply lie down peacefully in my bed. Instead, I opted to try to focus on reading one of my books from the living room bookshelf. I would try to lose myself in the world of fiction and forget for a while the extraordinary turn of events that had happened in my life over the weekend.With a resigned sigh, I picked a volume and settled on the couch, hoping that the distraction of printed words could push away the tumultuous thoughts that haunted me.Already absorbed in the reading, I immersed myself in the pages of the book and finally managed to forget a bit about the world around me. However, the momentar
KarenUpon hearing Othon's words, I felt a tightness in my chest. His serious expression and sincere words struck me deeply. I was genuinely remorseful for my actions, but I also knew I couldn't erase the past. The decision to forgive or not now lay in Othon's hands.For a moment, I fell silent, processing everything he said. I acknowledged the gravity of the situation, yet I also felt the urgency of a second chance, the opportunity to prove that I had learned a valuable lesson that day."Othon," I began, my voice trembling slightly, "I know I can't change the past, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to start over. I've learned from my mistakes and am determined to be a better person, not just for myself, but also for our son."I looked into Othon's eyes, hoping to find understanding and acceptance in his gaze. Uncertainty hung in the air as I awaited his response, yearning for a chance to mend the damage I had caused."It's going to be okay, Karen," he said softly. "Try to get s
ColinThe doorbell rang insistently, interrupting my moment of peace at home. With an irritated sigh, I got up from the couch and made my way to the door, prepared to unleash a few curses at whoever was on the other side. But when I opened the door, I was completely stunned to find Valquíria standing there.“Valquíria? What's going on? Why do you seem so shaken?” I asked, my surprise reflected in my voice.She looked at me with red, swollen eyes, clearly struggling to contain the emotions overwhelming her. I had never seen her like this before, and it deeply worried me.“Colin... I... I need help” she murmured, her voice trembling with emotion.Instinctively, I opened the door wider, inviting her
OthonAfter ending the video call with my family, I felt inundated by a mix of emotions. But the joy of sharing the news of fatherhood with those I love was quickly overshadowed by a growing concern.As the hospital director and with Karen working as a nurse in the same institution, we were both subject to strict rules prohibiting relationships between colleagues. This revelation left me perplexed and torn. Now, I face the challenge of reconciling my happiness with the professional implications of this delicate situation.On one hand, I longed to share the news of my son's discovery with the world. On the other hand, I understood the need to proceed with caution to avoid compromising my reputation at the hospital and Karen's work. I needed to carefully consider my options before taking any hasty action.
KarenDays unfolded into a new pleasant routine, filled with subtle changes that began to transform our family dynamics. Since Othon decided to become more actively involved in Otávio's life, things seemed to have taken a different turn, and I couldn't be more grateful for it.Every morning, after dropping Otávio off at school, I headed to work. Othon now insisted on picking him up from school, a change I didn't expect but welcomed with gratitude. He could leave the hospital earlier than me, and seeing his commitment to being present in our son's life was reassuring.As Othon dropped Otávio off at my parents' house, I was confident that he was in good hands, allowing me to focus on my responsibilities.When I arrived home at the end of the day, I was greeted
KarenWhen I met Valquíria, Othon's sister, something stirred within me. I couldn't help but feel an instant antipathy, which made me question my character. After all, she was my son's aunt, and there was no apparent reason for such a negative reaction.As Othon introduced her to Otávio, I felt like I was on unfamiliar ground, with each word from Valquíria increasing my tension. But it was when I heard her voice that a sense of déjà vu washed over me, as if I had heard those same words before, or perhaps it was that voice, at some point in the past."Darling, you're as beautiful as I imagined you would be! I was eager to meet you, did you know that?" As Valquíria expressed her feelings, I struggled to hide my unease. A strange sensation enveloped me as if something was out of place.
OthonI looked several times at Karen's house, hoping to see her join us, but instead, it was Margareth who approached to accompany Otávio. Karen stayed where she was, and her absence worried me.After the lively play with Otávio, my parents invited their grandson for a snack at my house. As we walked towards my house, I couldn't shake off the tense moment between Karen and Valquíria from my mind. The harsh words exchanged between them had left a bitter taste in my mouth.I knew I needed to address the unresolved issues between Karen and me, but I also recognized that there was more at stake than just my grievances. That word battle left me at a crossroads between the love I felt for Karen and the loyalty I owed to my family. Now I found myself torn between the desire to confront Karen about the truth and the need to maintain peace within my family. Deep down, I still didn't know exactly what to do.Sitting alone in my room after dinner, I wondered if I had been fair to Karen and if m
ColinThe moment of meeting with Letícia came quicker than I expected. As I sat in the car, staring at Letícia's front door, a knot formed in my stomach. I had spent the last few days trying to sort things out with my family, but nothing compared to the nervousness that now consumed me. Taking a deep breath, and trying to gather my courage, I finally got out of the car.I walked up to Letícia's door, and before ringing the doorbell, I hesitated for a second. Would she believe me after everything? Could I prove to her that I was here to stay? Without further delay, I rang the doorbell and waited.The door opened, revealing Letícia with a look of apprehension mixed with determination. Even in her simplicity, she looked radiant, and for a moment, I was at a loss for words.
LetíciaThe week passed without any news from Colin. At first, I believed in his intention to truly take responsibility. I even discussed with my mother the possibility of not allowing Colin to be part of our lives. She, with her wisdom and calmness, made me see that it wouldn't be fair to deny our child the right to know his father, as long as he was willing to be a positive presence."Daughter, we all make mistakes. If Colin truly wants to be present, you should give him that chance," my mom pointed out.But as the days passed in silence, I began to think that everything he had said was nothing but lies and deceit. Cynically, I thought he must be just like his twin brother, a liar. However, this realization didn't stop the sadness from settling in. I attributed these feelings to pregnancy horm
ColinI returned to São Paulo with a heavy heart. The memory of the pain in Letícia's eyes haunted me. She accused me of things I would never do. The shock of discovering Patrick's involvement gave everything a new perspective. How could he? Despite our disagreements, I never imagined he would stoop so low. I need to sort this out. Clarify everything and somehow try to correct the wrong that has been done to Letícia.But the desire to do things right this time, coupled with the fear of causing more damage to our relationship, left me confused and unsure of what to do next. Patrick's revelation once again meddling in my life was like a punch to the gut. He crossed all boundaries this time, meddling in something as serious and intimate as Letícia's decision about her pregnancy.Letícia... her name echoed in my mind, bringing back memories of that one unforgettable night we spent together. A night that changed everything. I knew I shouldn't let myself be affected so much by someone I bar
Continuation - Four months agoLetíciaYears passed, and I tried to move on. My mother was my rock through it all. She worked hard so that I could study and become a doctor. She did everything to make up for my father's absence, but that absence was a wound that was hard to heal.However, fate has its twists and turns. One day, without warning, someone rang the doorbell of our house, and when I opened the door, there he was, Osvaldo, the man I hadn't seen in years.My father, the stranger who had abandoned me. He looked older, and tired, but he still had that smile I remembered from childhood."Letícia, I...," he began, but couldn't finish the sentence.The shock left me paralyzed for a few seconds. I wanted to scream, cry, and ask why, but I just stood there, looking at him. Finally, I managed to say something."What are you doing here?" My voice came out colder than I intended, but I couldn't hide the pain and anger.He sighed, seeming to search for the right words."I heard you gra
LetíciaI spent a long time awake that night, tossing and turning in bed, thinking about the past and my ghosts. Hearing about the crazy story involving not only Colin and his twin brother but also Othon's sister made me reflect not only on what was haunting him that night we met at the bar but also on what led me there.All of that stirred up a still-open wound in me. It was hard to simply forgive Colin and involve him in my child's pregnancy after so much hurt. Finding out that he didn't cause it didn't seem to change much within me.I've always dreamed of having a child to give all the love in the world to. I love children; that's why I chose to be a pediatrician. But I wasn't prepared to have a child by a stranger, whom I only remembered the name of. He introduced himself as Colin Salles as soon as we toasted and
LetíciaThe meeting with Colin was very different from what I expected. When I decided to look for him, I imagined he might use all sorts of excuses to justify his rude behavior when I told him about the pregnancy. But it never crossed my mind that he would use the excuse that his twin brother had impersonated him.As I walked back home, trying to process everything he had told me, I found myself torn between believing or not believing this story. I didn't doubt that he had a twin brother; after all, that wasn't so extraordinary. What left me incredulous was that this brother could be so despicable as to impersonate Colin and mistreat the woman who was pregnant with his brother's child. But, as Colin himself had said, it wouldn't be difficult to find out if he was telling the truth about something so serious.When I
ColinThe first thing that caught my attention when Letícia entered the café was her protruding belly. It was subtle but a few months into pregnancy. She looked radiant and beautiful, but the coldness with which she treated me quickly refocused my attention on what truly mattered at that moment.As we sat down, I still felt somewhat incredulous that Letícia had agreed to meet me. Even more shocking was that she had reached out to me, and set up the meeting. Now we could talk more calmly and clarify things between us."Thank you for coming, Letícia," I began, trying to find a friendly tone.She only nodded in agreement, her eyes not meeting mine directly. I noticed her gaze shifting to the table next to us, where the waiter had just left some doughnuts
LetíciaI woke up that Saturday with a sense of excitement I hadn't felt in a while. The idea of starting to buy things for my baby was thrilling, even though I still didn't know their gender. As I had my breakfast, my mind was filled with thoughts of baby clothes, toys, and everything else I could buy. I had the day free and wanted to make the most of it.I mentioned to my mom about my desire to start shopping, but also about Karen being on her honeymoon and not wanting to go alone. My mom then suggested that I invite Camila."You and Camila have been getting along so well, Letícia. Why don't you invite her to go with you? I'm sure she'd love to."She was right. Camila had been a great friend, always there and willing to help. I grabbed my phone and called her.
ColinBack in São Paulo, I can't stop thinking about Letícia and all the confusion this story has become. Her image is always present, disturbing me with every moment of silence. While I try to focus on the new project for an important client, I feel restless and uninspired. Normally, my work as an architect flows easily; I have a well-established company in the market and have always been recognized for my creativity and efficiency. However, days have passed since Othon's wedding and I still haven't been able to regain my rhythm.If I were honest with myself, I couldn't attribute my lack of concentration to the time I spent in a coma in the hospital. I was already physically and mentally recovered before the weekend wedding. No, this restlessness had a name: Letícia.My phone vibrates on the table, interrupting my thoughts. Othon's name appears on the screen, and I answer with a sigh."Colin, my friend, how are you? I heard you already knew Letícia," he says, and I can almost hear th