LOGINThe smell of fresh herbs filled the kitchen. Rose stirred the hot water with the wooden spoon, explaining to me, with the patience of someone who had taught the same recipe a thousand times, how to prepare the perfect calming tea.
"Chamomile is the base, but the secret is the combination with lemon balm," she said, smiling softly, the colorful scarf she always wore tied in her hair s
I arrived at the building already exhausted, the smell of cigarette smoke and stale coffee clinging to my clothes—the marks of another day at the station. The sun was saying goodbye behind the buildings, painting the sky in a faded orange, and all I wanted was a shower and silence. But when I turned the corner of the hallway, I saw someone who made me stop.Mrs. Lurdes.The old cleaning lady of the building.I hadn't seen her since before Manu disappeared. Always with her floral apron and scarf tied around her head, she swept the hallway and knew about everyone's life. If someone had visitors, if there had been a fight, if the second-floor plumbing had burst—nothing escaped her.And by coincidence or fate, there
The penthouse door closed behind me, muffling the distant sound of the city. Silence greeted me, broken only by the ticking of the clock on the wall and the low sound of the television in the living room.I left my jacket on the sofa and loosened my tie, feeling the weight of the day fall from my shoulders. It was late, but the apartment was bathed in a calm twilight, lit only by the yellowish lights coming from the kitchen. That's when I saw her—Manu was sleeping curled up on the sofa, her loose hair spread over the pillow, her face peaceful, almost serene.In the center of the coffee table, the bouquet of flowers I had sent was there. The petals still fresh, the ribbon bow undone, as if it had been opened in a hurry.I sat down beside her, wa
The smell of burnt coffee permeated the air of the small café on the corner of the police station. It wasn't exactly a pleasant place, but it was discreet enough for the kind of meeting I needed to have. I sat with my back to the street, a clear view of the entrance, my fingers drumming against the porcelain of the still-full cup.The informant wasn't late. João was always punctual, too nervous to risk any slip-up. A thin man, thinning hair, and eyes that darted around restlessly as if the whole world was after him. Maybe it was."Roger," he murmured, sliding into the seat across from me. His skin glistened with sweat, even though the café's air conditioning was on full blast. "You said it was urgent.""It is." I crossed my arms
The smell of fresh herbs filled the kitchen. Rose stirred the hot water with the wooden spoon, explaining to me, with the patience of someone who had taught the same recipe a thousand times, how to prepare the perfect calming tea."Chamomile is the base, but the secret is the combination with lemon balm," she said, smiling softly, the colorful scarf she always wore tied in her hair swaying as she leaned in to check the brew. "This mixture not only calms the body, but also the heart."I watched her gestures, small and firm, and felt strangely at peace. The steam rose from the kettle and fogged up the window, where the city stretched out, distant, indifferent. The soft sound of the spoon tapping against the cup reminded me of sounds from my childhood that I thought I had forgotten.
I woke up with a strange feeling, as if I were still floating between dream and reality. My body heavy, my head throbbing, and that vivid memory of the dizziness that had knocked me down the night before. For an instant, panic threatened to take over again. But when my eyes found Ravi, kneeling beside me, his hands firmly holding mine, my breathing returned to its rhythm.Now, lying on the living room sofa, wrapped in a soft blanket, I watched him from the corner of my eye, remembering the way he had carried me so carefully, as if I were something too fragile for the world. And maybe I was.He had left early, after insisting a thousand times that he would stay. He only went because something urgent at the company required his presence. Before leaving, he kissed my forehead and promised that the doctor would come
I woke up before the sun rose, as always happens when the mind insists on giving me no rest.The room was silent, only the sound of Manu's soft breathing filling the space. She was sleeping on her side, her face turned toward me, her messy hair spread across the pillow, and that floral dress she hadn't dared to change before lying down, wrinkled against her skin. For a few minutes, I just watched her. It was such a rare scene... Manu relaxed, without fear, without tears. I wanted to believe I could freeze that moment.I moved away slowly, not wanting to wake her. There was an endless list of responsibilities waiting for me: the company, investors demanding answers, Daniel needing to align every detail of the complaint against Roger. But at that moment, nothing seemed more important than her.







