RÔMULO" Stand up, Dahlia. " Clara asked, standing next to the woman, and shuddering her whole body, the woman finally stood up.She was the face of devastation. It looked as if Dahlia had just been run over by a car. The beautiful woman of minutes ago was transformed and upset. Clara went to the refrigerator and got a bottle of water, took a glass and poured it. Dahlia had to hold the glass with both hands, and still, droplets of water escaped and wet her hands.Clara helped her sit up, holding her by the elbow and leading her to the chair she had been sitting in during dinner. Seeing that the woman was emotionally broken and Otávio was still eating, she decided to take her to another room." Shall we let him continue with dinner? Shall we go there? " Clara found her voice and, urging the woman to follow her, they left the kitchen and went to the playroom.Dahlia was crying, disconsolate and leaning on Clara.Clara sat her down on a white leather pouffe and sat facing her, waiting
PASSEDDahlia continued to lay bare the past:" Looking back now I see that it was a thing of fate. Romulo didn't allow another boy to approach me and ask me to dance, he wanted to enjoy every song with me. And he wasn't even supposed to be there, you know? It didn't take long for me to look for him in the middle of the party, when he left my side, can you believe that I missed him so fast, since I had just met him? " Dahlia laughed at this, at the memories. " We were so young, I mean, the guests there, not Romulo, although looking back now, I realise that he wasn't that much older than everyone else there. But the other guests already had their dates, their flirtations, those who were fond of each other, they didn't even mind that I was glued to the boy there. It was fate.”"Romulo took me to the garden, I remember that there were so many flowers, an explosion of colours and smells that intoxicated me. We sat on a bench in the garden and talked. He really talked to me, you know? Nobo
MATERNAL BOND" I had a very sensitive pregnancy, I was sick for almost eight months of my pregnancy. Romulo seemed like the happiest man in the universe, because he didn't leave my side during the whole pregnancy. His friend and partner ran the company and he took care of me. I was spoiled by him and my parents, as if I were a queen. Everything was wonderful, and when Otávio came into the world, we became an even more perfect family. As I told you, Otávio spoke and walked early, earlier than most children, but speaking, I think it was more for the challenge, because after he realised he could speak, he lost interest.” She smiled and took another sip of water. “ My days as a mother have been filled with discovery and joy. It was his father who discovered that he was special, as I told you, we took him to several specialists who found, after many years, that he was not autistic, but was within the aspect, you see? As his father used to say, 'He had one foot in autism and one foot out.”
MOTHER HEART" Otávio returned alone to his camping tent. Luckily, a family had camped near the tent that his father had set up and they came to ask him for matches to light a fire. They asked him if he was camping alone and he told them that he was with his father, but he had fallen off the waterfall three hours ago.”Clara thought that the woman had held back too much, but after telling this part, she fell into a convulsive cry and her body shook so much that Clara got up and hugged her, stood beside her, her own tears falling and she didn't know who she was crying for, the boy who had witnessed the tragic death of his father, the wife who had lost her husband, or the wonderful man who had been Romulo." If they hadn't asked him..." Dahlia tried to continue the story, choking, her eyes red, the pain mirrored in them, but he continued. “They thought he was joking, they couldn't believe that a boy could say that so naturally, a tragedy had happened! Later, the policemen called, thoug
DON'T GET INVOLVED!“ Of course it is something, son. You are my special boy, and any company would want to have you as an employee. It's just a fact, you are the best and you are my special baby.”Dahlia kissed her son's neck more, preventing him from bringing the cup to his lips. Clara smiled at them both and imagined that it was something important between them, since she knew that the boy wasn't a big fan of touch, he didn't like, as his mother had said, to be touched, but he didn't let go of her caresses, nor did he make any mention of doing so. He didn't even stiffen his body at his mother's contact, and that must have been very nice.Dahlia's cell phone rang in her expensive purse and it was she who stiffened her body. The smile vanished from her lips as if by magic and Clara could then see the transformation, however slight, in Otavio´s face. It seemed to her that he clenched his jaw slightly.“ Hi, Gerard,” Dahlia answered. Forcing a cheerful voice that seemed far from what
VEGAS Clara didn't go to the big house or to some friend's house in the condominium. For more than an hour she sat alone in Otávio's kitchen, mulling over the unusual and not at all normal afternoon she had spent. Meeting his mother and hearing all about her past, her son's childhood, the death of his father, had really moved her. The house was silent, Otávio in his office. She took her backpack and went to the guest room. What had Megan told her? That in the Paradise condominium there was no such thing as so and so's house, well, she would sleep right there. Last night had been an intense night, she and her friends had had a lot of fun and the sleep of the day had not erased all the tiredness. She was exhausted and after a restorative shower, the ritual of brushing her hair thirty times each strand, running a body cream, putting on her favourite worn sweater, she lay down on the guest room bed with her Kindle open on the book she had been reading for months, a wonderful duology by De
HOME AT LASTClara had a busy schedule this Tuesday and barely had time to stop. She had a snack at the snack bar of the salon and went back to work. The salon was really big and well known, and very busy. The employees would not give out their personal numbers, no matter how much some customers insisted on asking, or they would have no peace of mind. The waiting line was long, many had seen the ads that the franchised salon kept in all social networks, radio and TV. With three floors, the basement being only a gym and spa, Clara and her employees took turns to attend to clients and got tired just by walking around the gigantic space. Clara attended after lunch, a regular customer who came twice a week to take care of her hair, nails and skin. Gláucia liked to be seen in the ofuro area. Clara attended her in a special chair placed in the steaming hot tub, where she could relax while she took care of her hair. A manicurist would do her nails, and a dermatologist would take care of her
VIP TREATMENT“You look simply... wonderful!” Clara exclaimed, greeting her with a kiss on the cheek, took one of the girl's hands and spun around to get a better look at her.“I knew it was chic here, Megan told me” Lara spoke into her friend's ear, with a conspiratorial smile. “But I had no idea it was so chic! And look at you, you look beautiful too, the uniform looks perfect on your body.”Clara wore a uniform of pants and shirt with the salon's logo printed on the shirt. The uniform was light green, social, and on the pants there was a little purple belt that hung down the side of the body. Even the salon uniform was chic." Well, I'll treat you like a vip, okay? Let's go to room 13.”" And what would this hall 13 be? " Lara accompanied her and waved to everyone as they walked.“It is aimed at clients in hair transition. It's a lucky number, isn't it?”They went to the second floor and Lara was more and more excited about the welcoming environment. An assistant at the reception d
TWO YEARS LATER"It may seem like many people say that, but I'm being completely sincere when I say you are the most beautiful pregnant woman I have ever seen!" Clara exclaimed as Megan entered her apartment."I hope she believes you, Clara, because I tell her the same thing every day and she doesn't believe me," Gregory said, entering behind his eight-month pregnant wife, who waddled with her pregnant swagger."I believe you, Greg, but when his godmother says it, I'm happy too," Megan said, sitting down with some effort and with Gregory's help. The two had been married for a year and seemed to be in a constant honeymoon phase. "Friend, I also never tire of saying that your apartment is the most beautiful I have ever seen.""I'm obliged to agree, and Dália helped me furnish it.""Dália has incredible taste, doesn't she?""Yes, look at this painting!" Clara pointed to the wall where a beautiful landscape canvas was hanging. It was exactly the painting of Paradise – she says it's for me
SO MUCH OLDER.When they left, Dália and Linda were buzzing with excitement, practically ready to take flight. Linda made calls to catering services, wanting everything to be perfect, and sent messages in the group, warning everyone and threatening anyone who thought about leaving tonight, as she wanted everyone present.Lara sent an audio message, saying she was heading to Márcia's house right now and promised to drag her along by her hair if she had to. Everyone responded with laughing and laughing emojis.Clara was practically dragged to the main house by Linda and Dália. Priscilla was already there with her boyfriend and their daughters, busy cleaning and organizing the house for the party later.Frank tried to help as much as he could, Jânio had left work to assist everyone, and Megan pulled Clara aside to tell her that this party would be good to get them out of the slump they were in. It was Clara's father's call that reminded her that she was supposed to be on her way to his h
RESCUEShe locked the living room door, trembling at the thought of him showing up, knowing she would hit him if he appeared there now. She paced around the room like a caged lioness. Hurt, devastated, and feeling dirty. She felt like the dirtiest woman on the face of the earth.Dália must have seen the lights on in her living room because minutes later she knocked on her door. And she only opened it because she recognized her friend's voice."Why was your door locked?" Dália asked as soon as she entered. "I couldn't sleep thinking about Jaqueline and Márcia, can you believe it? I'm going to make some coffee."Her friend didn't look at her and didn't notice how bad she was feeling. Clara thought it was better that way and shouted from the living room."Okay, I'll get ready and take a shower, and then I'll come to the kitchen."She really needed a shower and took a long one, hoping that the water would wash away some of her pain and anguish down the drain, and that her eyes wouldn't be
THERE ARE OTHER PLEASURES IN LIFE.And that's exactly how it went. Clara had a sleepless night. It was past midnight, and she was still stressed, thinking about how casually he had mentioned talking to her father, solving the problem, just like that. But by one in the morning, her feelings had changed, and she felt like a fool for getting upset and kicking him out of her house simply because he had said he would never have sex with her, ever! What kind of woman was she, getting rid of a man just because he said he would never sleep with her?But at two in the morning, she reconsidered. No, it wasn't about sex! The harsh reality of her situation with Otavio was that it was messy and strange. Perhaps deep down, she knew that it would have to come to an end someday. It wasn't about sex, it wasn't a relationship, it wasn't what they had. She knew that one day it would have to end, and now seemed just as good a time as any. A breaking point could come at any moment, even now.Reality final
I AM AT MY LIMITDália messaged her shortly after, and she thought it was Dália who was turning the doorknob."Hi, my dear. Is something wrong?""Was it you at my bedroom door?" she asked."No, I'm already in bed, but I was there about twenty minutes ago, and Otávio was mopping the living room. Is everything okay?""No. We had an argument, Dália.""I understand.""I don't want him in my house anymore. Please let him know that he needs to go back to his own house.""I will, don't worry."After a sleepless night, she left her room and saw that the living room was sterile clean, but he wasn't there. Thank goodness for that. But his mother was there because the smell of fresh coffee was coming from the kitchen."Good morning," she greeted her friend, who along with Linda, was sitting at the table having breakfast."Good morning. Are you feeling better?" Dália asked, concerned."Yes. I'm feeling better now.""Was it one of his quirks?" Linda asked."No, Linda. I got upset when I joked with
YOU DON'T SLEEP HERE ANYMORE!"I still can't believe it," she said, lying on his chest in the morning. "I don't even feel the urge to drink.""God, that's the best thing I've heard in centuries," Lipe said, his voice husky and smiling."I didn't sleep with Murilo, Lipe. I know I've said it already, but I want to emphasize it.""It's okay, love. I believe you, okay?""Especially because I could only think of you since I left the hospital, and my mind was filled with thoughts of you all the time.""Lara, I'm so happy, and it's so unbelievable to me that I feel like I might be dreaming, you here with me, telling me that you love me." He propped himself up on his elbows and looked at her with shining eyes."I don't understand why it's so hard to believe. I'd be crazy not to love you, love. I may be dependent, but I'm not insane. You're the most incredible guy who has come into my life, and it would be me not believing that you could love me. I just have to be grateful to the universe for
I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SURE IN MY LIFE"Are you not going to visit her at the farmhouse?" Clara probed."I'm not that evolved," he replied, smiling to the side."I don't understand," she said."She stayed at my house the day she was discharged from the hospital, Clara, and left in the morning without saying goodbye, just leaving me a note on the fridge saying she would spend a few days at the farmhouse. I could have taken her there, but she called Murilo. They're together at the farmhouse now, and my concern is that he and she, well... they degrade themselves sexually. I'm sorry for telling you this, but you've gone out with her to Jânio's parties and you've seen how she uses sex to vent," he explained."Oh my God, Lipe. I'm so sorry," Clara wanted to cry upon hearing that, imagining how much the young man was suffering."I guess deep down, I worry that she will resort to old habits that will lead her to relapse, you know, and she has struggled so much to get clean," he confided."You a
LIGHTNING STORMMegan was thinking about Gregory even more now. She had stopped stalking him on social media a long time ago. It was too much suffering, why continue to do that, to hurt herself even more?Talking to Clara was always wonderful. It brought her relief and made her feel calm. But when she was alone, the thoughts assaulted her again. No matter how much she tried to convince herself that it might be her ego screaming, that her longing for him was because she couldn't have him, that it was the desire for the forbidden, deep down she knew it wasn't just that. It wasn't a matter of ego; it was love in its most painful and absurd form. It was the love for someone who was already committed, and if he were single, they would be together, end of story. She wouldn't be the mistress for quick encounters, the other woman who patiently or anxiously waits for the married and committed man. She had self-respect and wouldn't lower herself to be the lover who regrets being with the husban
YOU DID THE RIGHT THING!When his plump, warm lips touched hers, the sound of the door being opened concealed her moan. Finally, a woman who valued her bladder!"Let's go to my place," Gregory whispered in her ear, intertwining his finger with hers, and she followed him outside. The woman who entered didn't even notice them there, nor did she notice that there was a man present. Megan walked with him, their fingers still entwined. It was only when they were going down the escalator that it hit her. One: she was walking hand in hand with a married man in the middle of a shopping mall. Two: he said they were going to his house?But she didn't want to ask anything. She feared that if she asked any questions, the enchantment would break, he would change his mind, see reason, and by God, the self-proclaimed moralist feared that. She mentally kicked herself. Rolled her eyes internally at knowing that she was falling for it as well, and this time, fully aware! She was aware that she was acco