Joshua wouldn't leave my mind. Was I doing the right thing? I zip up my suitcase. Agatha and Alex were also packing their bags. I hear the doorbell ring. I walk to the door and open it. Gregory and Nathan stare at me incredulously. "Can I know what's the story of miss leaving?" Gregory furrows his brows and walks past me into my apartment. "And had the courage to tell me by message?" He raises his phone, showing the screen with my message. "I thought I wouldn't have time to tell you in person." "Why are you in such a hurry to leave?" Gregory seems even more incredulous. I moisten my lips and feel my throat burn. "Susanna, Joshua's sister, told me to come back to Brazil." I explain. "And just because she told you to come back, you will?" He raises his eyebrows, stupefied. "It's my fault Joshua got shot. And the least I can do is let him live his own life. I just want the best for him." "Alice! You're underestimating yourself! What makes you think you're not the best for him?"
"I can't believe you're really going," Gregory commented, trying to hold back tears. I let out a small chuckle and hug him. "I'll send you messages every day," he confesses, squeezing me in his arms. "I promise to respond to all of them." I pull away from Gregory and go to hug Nathan. "As soon as I can, I'll visit you there," he comments and hugs me tightly too. "Behave yourself, okay?" I joke. "Both of you." I glance over at Gregory. "We'll be rooting for you, Ali," Gregory says with a cheerful smile. I see some tears streaming down his face, but he quickly wipes them away with the back of his hand. "Don't miss us too much!" I say playfully. I head towards the apartment's exit with my sisters, followed by Nathan and Gregory. "It feels like yesterday that we met. And today... She's leaving. I feel like a mother watching her child grow up and leave. Although... 'Grow up' is a strong word for Alice," I hear Gregory whisper behind me. "Hey! I'm listening!" I glance back at him and ma
I lean my head against the external wall of the hospital that connected to the parking lot. I gaze at the sun for a few moments, then close my eyes and take a deep breath. I couldn't digest my mother's new behavior at all. She seemed like a completely different person. It was impossible not to feel frustrated with the situation."Have you been waiting long?" Benjamin's voice sounded in my ears. "I was stuck with my father who was spewing beautiful words about integrity. But I don't think he even knows what it means," he said ironically.Benjamin had made giving me rides to the hospital almost a daily routine. He didn't mind accompanying me on all the morning visits I made to my mother. In fact, he seemed to love doing it, even though I told him not to waste his time with me."Is everything okay?" he asked, seeing that I hadn't responded to his arrival."To be honest?" I sigh. "I don't know." I open my eyes and look lost in the parking lot."What happened?" he approached, leaning again
There were three things in my life that I never imagined would happen when I returned home. First of all, taking care of my mother because of a terrifying illness that could easily take her life, when I always imagined needing to take care of her when she was no longer able to care for herself, that is, in old age, the phase that every child hopes their parents will reach, and which should be a decisive moment for the onset of some diseases, not during the peak of her youth.Second, discovering that my mother had a new type of behavior and thoughts and principles totally different from those she preached years ago.And third... dealing with a possible "stepfather," who, ironically, was my friend's father.And this last one seemed to be the most frustrating thing I could face.I sigh and stare at the ceiling of my room. My sisters were arguing about something that I had no idea about. My phone vibrates on the bed. I see a message from Joshua.Love, things r a little hectic lately.I'm
I approach slowly, staring in awe at the robust man in the middle of the doorway.“Father?”Looking past my aunt, Ian opens a huge smile upon seeing me.“Alice!”Completely ignoring Aunt Ana, my father enters our house, walking towards me and giving me a strong hug.“I was so worried. You left without saying anything!”“Uh...” I try to answer, but his strong embrace makes it a bit difficult.“Are you okay?” he puts his hands on my cheeks, making me look him in the eyes.“Yes, dad. I...”“Am I a joke to you?” he interrupts me, furrowing his brows.And suddenly, that joyful father for having found his daughter, turned into an indignant one. Confused by his quick mood change, I am at a loss for words to respond.“Why didn't you let me know you were coming back to Brazil?” he arches his eyebrows and crosses his arms.He was one of the people indignant about me not being able to say goodbye.“Mom was very sick. And... I couldn't let you know I was leaving.” I try to explain.My father shak
"I thought it was a terrible idea for you to have invited your father for dinner tonight," my mother complained, leaning over the bathroom counter while applying gloss to her lips."I'm sorry to ruin your plans, but I think it's important for your boyfriend to meet your entire family, especially the father of your daughters," I replied, curling the last strand of my hair with a curling iron. "Besides, he's staying in Brazil now.""What? Ian plans to stay in Brazil?" my mother exclaimed, surprised. "After all these years that I kept him away from us?""He wants to reconnect with his daughters. I think it's only fair," I said, looking at her through the mirror.I finished my hair and put the curling iron down on the counter. My mother tried to change the subject and asked me to forget about her dating Edgar, but I couldn't help but laugh at her. I reminded her that she had left last night when she should have stayed with her daughter whom she hadn't seen in years.She didn't have a good
Benjamin's room was amazing, if I doubted, it would take three of mine. The blue color with white details around allowed the environment to become very harmonious. I sit on his bed."Sorry for what happened," Benjamin's voice sounds low and then he sits next to me. "My father drives me crazy.""It's okay. What would a 'family' dinner be without friction?" I try to make the moment more relaxed.Benjamin lets out a short nasal laugh."Thank you." He looks at me. I stare into his fascinating and friendly blue eyes. "Really. If it weren't for you... I think I would have been kicked out of the house today." He opens a small weak smile.Benjamin and I had spent a good time holding hands. He always made me feel better, so this time, I tried to reciprocate, even though it was a simple gesture.I look away from him."I still can't believe we're going to be siblings." I chuckle and rest my hands on the bed."Yeah... What bad luck." He says in an ambiguous tone, but then lets out a small laugh.
I stretched in bed. For the first time in a long time, I woke up incredibly refreshed. The sun that invaded my room through the glass window barely covered by the curtain didn't bother me; on the contrary, feeling the warmth of the sun spread over my body was exceptionally pleasant.I got out of bed and lazily crossed the room. My sisters' beds were already empty. I headed to the bathroom in the next room. The smell of coffee was intoxicatingly circulating through the upstairs, contributing to my extraordinary morning good mood.I undressed, ready to take a shower.***I entered the kitchen. All the women in the house were already having breakfast, seated around the round table."Good morning!" I smiled. The tone of my voice sounded harmoniously cheerful."Looks like someone woke up in a good mood," my aunt commented, impressed. "What happened?"I shrugged. "I don't necessarily need a reason to wake up in a good mood." For some reason, the smile on my lips remained plastered on my fac