43. Epilogue

Mariana is thirty-two weeks pregnant. Lost in thought, she caresses her belly and sighs, closing her eyes afterward.

Knocking at the door. She turns when a man enters, smiling, and kisses her on the forehead.

"How are you, dear?" he asks.

"Good. Just a little anxious."

"About the arrival of our child?"

"Yes," Mariana murmurs, looking back at the window. "Yes, that's what I'm thinking about."

James crosses his arms.

"Did you know you're a terrible liar?"

The woman rolls her eyes but doesn't disagree. Instead, she takes short, heavy steps and sits on the bed in the spacious room.

"Love," James murmurs, sitting next to her.

As if she simply couldn't bear the idea of seeing him or looking at him directly, Mariana just keeps staring at nothing. Then, she starts caressing her belly once again.

"Love," the man insists.

"What do you want me to say?"

"The truth."

She remains silent. James continues:

"It's about him, isn't it?"

Although she doesn't mention any specific name, Mariana knows who h