04. Turning Point

Mariana is sitting on the huge double bed, where two huge suitcases, clothes, make-up items and some books rest. Drying another of her insistent tears, she puts a few more items in the suitcase on the right.

How embarrassing she had been in that coffee shop! A few seconds after James and Maximiliano started punching each other, three employees of the place had to separate them, and the real fight only ended after they threatened to call the police.

Max left the place, kicking a few tables and chairs. James escorted Mariana out of the place, and then hugged her and offered her his shoulder to cry until she couldn't take it anymore.

He still hadn't given any sign of life. After talking some more, apologizing, and thanking James for the invitation, Mariana returned home feeling defeated.

This episode was what she needed to make a decision. She had no more time to lose. The girl would never again be humiliated like that.

No, Mariana would not allow anyone to treat her in such a cruel and disrespectful way.

She had already called her mother and told her everything. She also asked for secrecy and promised that she would keep in touch as soon as things were resolved. 

Now all she needed to do was to get rid of that damn baggage.

What she was about to do was too risky, but it might be her only chance to survive the hell her life had become.

That morning Mariana felt scared, happy and hopeful to discover that there was a life growing in her belly. However, in a very short time, all that dream was shattered like water.

Her thoughts are interrupted when the double doors of the room are opened. 

Maximilian is more or less dressed, since both his shirt and pants are in pieces.

In another life, if the circumstance were different, Mariana would run to him and ask what had happened, if he was hurt or injured.

But now, all she did was throw him an icy stare and go back to doing what she was doing.

"I went out drinking at Timmy's bar," he mutters.

The girl doesn't even slow down the pace of tidying up. Max continues:

"I ended up overdoing it. I got into a fight and got robbed. I had to walk here. I took a shortcut through the city alleys and got attacked by some dogs." He points to his own clothes. "That's why I got like this."

Mariana doesn't say or say anything.

The doors close and Maximilian comes closer to his wife. It seems that only then does he realize what she is doing.

"What's that?"

"Two suitcases."

"And for what?"

"For me."

Max doesn't seem to understand very well. He looks once more at the suitcases, one of which was almost full, and at the other items strewn across the bed. The man raises one of his eyebrows.

"Are you going on a trip?"

"I am."

"And when were you going to tell me this?"

"I wasn't going to."

Silence.

"Mariana, what the hell is going on?"

The girl finally zippers up one of the suitcases and props it on the floor. She fastens her dark hair in a tight ponytail before focusing on the second suitcase and asking:

"What seems to be going on?"

"It looks like you wanted to leave without telling me."

"How clever you are. No wonder you are such a great businessman."

Maximilian is not aggressive like before in the coffee shop, and his veins are not bulging. It's more like his perplexity is reaching stratospheric levels.

"Why?"

"Do I really need to answer?"

"Look, I... I know I was a total asshole. I shouldn't have said those things. I was angry and nervous and... When I saw you with that guy-"

The girl's icy stare causes him to stop speaking, faltering in mid-sentence. When Mariana refocuses on her remaining bag, Maximilian coughs before saying:

"I have no justification for this. I don't have any excuse. And yes, you are completely right to want to travel without me, to clear your head for a while. I understand."

The woman says nothing. The man continues:

"I know that soon we will be well again. We are a strong couple. We've always... Well, we always overcome all difficulties together."

He opens a forced smile, but fear is present in his expression. Mariana does not respond to the smile, but begins to stare at him practically unblinking.

Maximilian swallows dryly.

"And when are you coming back? No pressure, of course. Just so I can prepare myself."

"Never."

More seconds of silence. Nervous, he gives an awkward laugh, coughing at the end.

"Look, Mariana, how funny you are. But don't joke about these things, okay? Now say it." He scrunches his nose. "When are you coming back?"

"I already told you. Never."

The coldness in her voice makes his eyes go even glassier. She really was serious.

"Hey. Come on. You're not-"

"I'm dead serious."

Mariana props the second and last bag on the floor.

"I'm leaving tonight. The divorce papers are in the kitchen. I ask that you sign them and send me a copy by e-mail or mail. My lawyer will contact you in a few days."

"Mariana."

"I ask that, if possible, you sign the papers quickly. That way, we can avoid further discomfort in each other's lives and get on with our lives."

"Mariana!!!"

"There will not be a conversation. There will not be a discussion. I have forgiven you in the past, always trying to understand your side and being the best possible person for you."

She takes a step toward him. There are tears in the man's eyes, but the girl is neither shaken nor moved by them.

"And all I got in return was your rudeness, your lack of respect and total lack of commitment. I still had to hear those barbarities earlier, in public, as if it was some kind of..." She closes her eyes and clenches her fists, bringing herself back under control. "Well, that was the last time. Goodbye."

Mariana grabs her two suitcases and begins to drag them as she leaves the room.

She walks down the stairs with a little difficulty, and just as she is crossing the living room, she hears Maximilian yelling:

"DON'T DO THIS TO ME, MARIANA!"

The cry is full of pain and fear, a fear such as Mariana has never heard in his voice before. But still, she stands firm and unwavering. There is a black car waiting for her further down the road, outside the estate.

As she gets close to the huge gate, Maximilian's hand holds her shoulder firmly, without hurting her. She looks back. The man is panting and red, but his dark eyes show no spite or anger.

No, that was panic. Total panic.

"Don't do that," he murmurs, panting. "Please stay. Let's talk. Don't do this to me, Mariana."

A painful, heartfelt cry takes over his features. Mariana just watches.

"I will change. I swear to you, Mariana, I swear by anything, by anyone. But please don't leave me..."

He kneels over her legs, hugging her and wetting her clothes with his tears. She had never seen him so emotional.

Still, she was firm. She pulled Maximilian's strong arms away from her own body, looked up at him, and whispered for the last time:

"Goodbye."

And he stormed off to the black car.

"NO!!!! MARIANA!!!!"

The sound of quick footsteps indicated that Max was running after her. She hastened her step even more, cursing the weight of her own bags.

"MARIANA!!!!"

Crying, the girl finally got into the car, which was already unlocked.

At the wheel, James wasted no time with stupid questions. He just sped off towards the bus station; the last favor Mariana had asked of him as soon as she got home, before packing her bags.

Still very tearful, she looked back. Max was running behind the car, also in tears.

Desperation made the man continue, tirelessly, shouting his wife's name without stopping; each plea was worse than the other.

But then he got tired. And he collapsed, exhausted, in the middle of the road.

Mariana cried the whole way to the bus station, where the bus that would take her to her hometown would be...

... Where she would start her life again.

With her baby on the way.