AuroraI still didn’t understand what was happening when I woke up in the hospital bed. I had an IV drip and my head was spinning. Lourdes was at my side, regulating the medication. I woke up wanting this to be a nightmare, but it wasn’t.I watched Naldo approach.— What a scare you gave me, Aurora. – He really had a worried look on his face. – Are you okay?— I am – I lied – what happened?— After the doctor said that your father is in the ICU, you fainted.— Will I need to stay here too? – I asked.— No, – replied Lourdes, – it’s just while you take the medication.I closed my eyes and felt my phone vibrate silently. I didn’t want to answer it, but it could be important. Not only that, but I looked at the screen and my heart almost stopped for the second time that night. It was Luke.“Luke?”, my voice came out loud, and I watched Naldo’s eyes widen in surprise.“Hi, Aurora”, he said, and a smile of relief came to my lips, but I didn’t even notice that I had fallen silent.“I’m fine”
LukeI stayed with the cell phone in my hands, trying to understand why the call had ended so quickly. Naldo just said he needed to hang up. While I celebrated my freedom, Aurora continued to face her own chaos. I wished I was there to help her, but there wasn’t much I could do right now. I still needed to put my life in order, and the first step was to declare my financial independence and not depend on Gonzalo for absolutely anything anymore.The lunch that Helena would have to celebrate my return turned into a dinner, because she insisted on Gonzalo’s presence. Something told me this wasn’t going to end well.I went downstairs. Natalia was still sitting on the sofa with a book in her hands.— What’s today’s reading? – I sat next to her and spied on what she read so much.— History of Brazil, – he replied without taking his attention off the book. – I have exams this week, I need to prepare.— That’s great, – he said thoughtfully. – I’m thinking of going to college too.It was at th
AuroraIt was four o’clock in the morning, and we were changing the lock on the main gate. Then we pass inside and change all the doors. I spent the rest of my money to do that, but I would make sure that Rebeca wouldn’t step inside my house anymore.It was already dawn outside. The sun revealed itself slowly and the icy wind made me shiver. I knew that in a few hours, Rebeca would be back, and the mess would be on. Naldo hurried and went to the bakery to buy our breakfast. I confess that if Naldo wasn’t by my side during these difficult times, I wouldn’t have made it. Many judged him for being a man in his late forties who still lived with his mother, but he was a hardworking man and helped take care of his elderly mother, who depended exclusively on him. He was an admirable, friendly, and caring man. He goes to great lengths to help me.A few minutes after Naldo entered, we heard someone trying to open the gate. It was Rebecca. She tried several times without success. I laughed at t
LukeI woke up to a loud noise coming from downstairs. I went downstairs still sleepy and Helena was with some strange people around her, while she gave specific orders of what each one should do. Not only that, but I watched closely as it excited my mother about throwing a party for me. Even if I thought it was totally unnecessary and didn’t have the heart to participate in it, I did it just because of her.After giving the orders, Helena turned her attention to me.— Are you well? She asked, and I went down the next few steps, giving her a hug.That was the best part of being back home.— Are you referring to the punch I took from Gonzalo yesterday? – he said, as we walked towards the kitchen. – I am fine.— You have to stop teasing your father, Luke – she said, even though I didn’t agree with her conclusion – I don’t want him sending you to another country again.— That won’t happen. – I sat down and got a loaf of bread. I filled a cup with coffee – and it’s not my fault; you know
AuroraI gave the evidence to the delegate, but he said that it could take a while. Leaving the police station with a feeling that I would have to live with Rebeca’s shadow for a long time to come. I walked to the hospital in silence, thoughtful. I should keep my thoughts positive. Not only that, but I should stay strong and keep fighting.As soon as I entered the hospital, my cell phone rang. It was a message from Luke, and there were several other missed calls. I even risked calling him, but Lourdes’ presence and the news she had given me made me give up.I ran down the hall desperately, a smile on my face. The doctor authorized me to enter the ICU. I could hardly believe my eyes.— Dad, – I said, panting, and I ran towards him and hugged him.I was never so happy to see Claudio awake.— Hi, Aurora, – he said with difficulty. – What happened?I pulled away, looking into his eyes, and Lourdes shook her head, indicating that I shouldn’t tell him about what had happened to him, not at
Luke FagundesThat night took a long time to pass. At least I had that impression. I didn’t connect with those things anymore. While I had a glass of juice and my old friends, at least for a long time I called them, laughed at me, the rest of them got drunk, sinking into a fake fun. How many times did I do that, get drunk and smile to hide how unhappy my life was?What made the night almost unbearable was the fact that Tayná stayed by my side, insinuating how much she would like to stay with me that night. The Luke of the past wouldn’t pass up that chance. He would have already dragged the girl to his room and had fun. But I had no interest in hanging out with her or anyone else at that party. People pretend to be happy I’m back, but I doubt they helped look for me when I was supposedly missing.Soon they all left, and I could finally breathe in peace.— Didn’t you like the party, Luke? – Helena sat next to me on the sofa – he looked bored, as if he had a weight on his back.— I only
AuroraThe doctor said that if Claudio continued to improve, they would discharge him quickly. The problem was, I was no longer able to hide the truth from him.— Because Rebeca doesn’t answer my calls – I had left to go to the bathroom and when I came back he had my cell phone, trying to call her, – Please, Aurora, stop by the house to see if she’s there.— I can’t, father – I looked right into his eyes. – Why do you make such a point of her presence?— She needs to know I’m okay,– and that was all he managed to say.— She doesn’t need to – I concluded, and he complained, softly, throwing the phone to the side. I knew this conversation would be difficult.— You’re about to start your nagging with her – she crossed her arms and looked away – is it that hard for you to try to maintain a healthy relationship with her, Aurora?— Dad, – I took a deep breath and made my voice come out the calmest and sweetest in the world – Rebeca was responsible for your hospitalization.— What is this no
LukeI was still in the gonsales beta when Aurora called me. I was sitting in reception, watching the cops come and go the entire time. Likewise, I looked down at my bloody hands. My father’s blood and I couldn’t accept what had happened. If I had sped up a little more or not wasted so much time on unnecessary conversation, maybe I would have been able to save him. I blamed myself for arriving too late, and worse, for knowing that it could happen and not having done anything to try to save my father. I watched them take his body away, and I cried. How was I going to tell my mother that? How would I explain to my family that Gonzalo had been murdered?I held the cell phone, and it got blood marks. I held back tears several times while talking to Aurora, but when I told her that Gonzalo was dead, it was as if someone shuddered through me and forced me to pour out all my pain.“I’m so sorry, Luke”, she also cried, as if the pain was hers too, “I wish I could be there with you”.“Aurora,