Luke— They set Aurora’s house on fire. – I was leaning against a hospital counter, waiting for the receptionist to come back with information about empty ICU beds, when Naldo dropped that bombshell on me.— That’s not possible! – I exclaimed, completely dumbfounded. But I knew it was possible.— I spoke with Claudio, – he continued. – He was desperate on the phone, saying that Rebeca entered the house and set fire to it, until she left with severe burns.— Does that woman have no limits? - really the nightmare that Aurora lived, it seemed to never end – and how is Claudio doing? I asked him to go home.— He said he’s fine - Naldo, he was completely ecstatic, but he forgot to give me more information – I need to go back. Claudio needs my help.I agreed with Naldo and let him go towards Aurora’s house, if there was still a house, without knowing the rest of the story. For a moment, I wished she would die, for all the harm she was causing me and Aurora. The thought of her in a hospital
FinalPOV: LukeToday is the thirty-seventh day since Aurora was shot and nearly perished. Every day I come here and spend most of the time with her, telling her about how things in her life have changed, even if she is not awake, they are happening. I read books; I convert. The most important fact was when Rebeca was arrested, still in the hospital. She finally got the punishment she deserved. He spent the rest of his life in severe pain, even though he was free. We know Brazilian laws well.It was already late at night. I should have gone to Luke’s house to rest, but for some reason I couldn’t explain, I decided to sleep there, in the hospital with her. Sitting in the armchair, I read a book and ended up falling asleep. That’s when I heard a cry of “Mom” and when I opened my eyes, Aurora was sitting wide-eyed, panting. My eyes widened too, in surprise, but most of all, happiness. Aurora is back. I got up in a hurry and sat next to her. I don’t remember what I said or if I said anythi
Luke Fagundes I was driving down a busy avenue in Rio de Janeiro, watching the car in front of me, so I wouldn’t let it out of my sight. Sweat was running down my forehead. I looked at the clock on the dashboard, and it was only eight in the morning. I accelerated when I realized that the car in front had established a great distance. Inside that car is Gonzalo Fagundes, my father. The night before, I saw my mother come home from the church with a heavy face. Maybe it was fate. I was at home that day, which was very rare, since I was always wandering the streets of Rio de Janeiro, spending my father’s fortune. I went to the bedroom and, with the door ajar, I saw my mother take an envelope from one of the drawers, open it and take what I supposed to be a letter. A tear rolled down her face, as if she were reading it for the first time. Closing her eyes, she shoved the paper back into the envelope and placed it in the third drawer of her dresser. He got up and walked towards the bathro
AuroraIt's a rainy afternoon, when the neighbor next door knocks on the gate, letting me know that there was someone on the phone wanting to talk to me urgently. I hurry and run out into the rain, imagining the worst. When I answer, I hear that familiar voice on the other end of the line: it's my father. I roll my eyes inevitably. A long sigh before saying anything.“Hi, dad”“Your mother is in the hospital”He says this without me feeling any emotion in his voice.“I need you to come over here, Aurora, to help me take care of her”“Is it serious?”“I don't know, maybe”“Don't know?”My voice comes out angrier than it should.“Are you coming or not?”“And how do I do with my work? Or do you think only you work here?”“Put him down”I'm amazed at my father's arrogance, in not caring one bit about my life.“He left home because he wanted to, so don't blame me for your failures.”He could only be kidding, I think.“If you are willing to support me while I am taking care of my mother, I
Luke FagundesA lump formed in my throat as the plane took off towards Brasília, but I didn't cry. I will never cry because my father decided to be a son of a bitch with me. I got used to your disdain, your lack of empathy. Likewise, I might even be going to hell, but I would come back stronger than before and ready for my revenge.An hour later, the plane landed on the runway. I went down and came across an unknown man, standing waiting for me. Gonzalo thought of everything, every detail, to make sure that the punishment would be strictly imposed against me. The man, in silence, directed me to a car, stopped a few meters away. I was pushed unceremoniously into the backseat. Half an hour later he stopped on a street, without asphalt, with mud puddles and boys running barefoot. The place stank worse than the building where he was hiding with his mistress. The man opened the door and pulled me out.— Your aunt is waiting for you, – he said, pushing me into the middle of the street, cau
AuroraThe betrayal I woke up scared. My mother is sitting up in bed, her eyes closed, moaning softly in pain. I jump to my feet, and I know my eyes are wide. I'm worried, visibly lost, not knowing what to do.— Mom, is everything okay?— I'm in a lot of pain, Aurora – I can see that she's crying – it's almost unbearable.— What do I do? — I look away, lost in the room. I look at the clock, and it's almost six – wait just a minute, Mom, I'm going to call for help.I hurried down the hall, not knowing exactly where to look. Furthermore, I remember how well she was yesterday, smiling, happy. She didn't even look sick, and now, she's lying there crying in pain. I spot a nurse a few feet away and run towards her.— My mother is in a lot of pain – I can hardly pronounce these words – please help her.— Calm down – she's kind, drops what she's doing to talk to me – what's your mother's name and what room is she in?— Desiree, room 08,– I try to calm down, but I can't.The nurse goes th
Almost a month later, I started to feel severe pain in my back, and I had pneumonia. If I died, I certainly wouldn't miss my father, who didn't care about me or worry about me. Magdalena, who wasn't the worst of women, bought me a new mattress when she realized that the situation could get a lot worse. I was the source of her wealth, if I died how would she survive? From caviar to fried egg, there were days when we didn't even have an egg to eat. It was only after the second month that things started to change. Magdalena rescues all the money she earned from my father and bought clothes, furniture, food. The woman seemed to live in the clouds, but I saw absolutely no advantage in any of that. I was literally eating the bread that the devil had kneaded. When it rained, it leaked on top of me. There were days when the storm was so big that it flooded the whole house and I had to find a way to sleep on the small, worn sofa in the house. There was no running water and I had to learn to
I slept all morning. When I wake up, it's past noon. I get up, the sun comes in through the cracks in the window. At least my head didn't hurt anymore. I go to the bathroom and take a quick shower. I wear old, worn-out clothing, reminding myself that I haven't bought a piece of clothing for myself in years. Furthermore, I leave the room and the house is silent. No sign of the two traitors. When I remember what happened that morning, my stomach turns. I walk towards my mom's room and the bed is messed up. I try not to imagine what happened there, but it's almost inevitable. Likewise, I look for my notebook and find it in one of the drawers. Not only that, but I catch him leaving, promising that I will throw that mattress away, as soon as I have the opportunity, so that my mother never sleeps in the same bed where my father's betrayal was consumed. I go to the kitchen and heat the food in the fridge. I have a quick lunch and when I look at the clock again it's almost two in the afternoo