I'll be there in half an hourThe days in the hospital pass and Desiree is finally discharged. She walks around the hospital clutching a pillow in a black dress with puffy sleeves. Her face is beaming, she has a fixed smile on her face. Claudio accompanies her. She takes one of her hands and I follow close behind her, relieved in my heart to finally get my mother back home.Before we get into the car waiting for us at the entrance to the medical clinic, my cell phone vibrates. Gene's message.“Hello Aurora, beautiful as the morning. I'm going to your house to see Aunt Desiree. I heard she was released from the hospital."How did she find out? I say out loud as soon as I sit down next to Mom.— Know what? – Desiree looks at me questioningly.— It's Geane – I sketched a dull smile – she says she's coming over to visit you.— What wonderful news, – he exults.— That's right, – I say and immediately shut up.I don't find it so amazing because she disappeared for almost a month. No messag

LukeA week has passed since I gave the book to Naldo and no response has been given after that. My anxiety was clear, so much so that Sandro himself was suspicious and even asked a few times what I was hiding so much from him.Perhaps revenge had a high price to pay. And my freedom was also at stake, because even if Gonçalo had given me back the funds, I was still tied to him.I picked up the cell phone and called Aurora, maybe she could help me find out what had happened to Naldo.“Hi” I said“Hi, Luke” she sounded excited as she spoke to me.“Are you alright? Is your mother?” I asked, not knowing how to act in cases like this.I could cut right to the chase, but I didn't want to be rude to her.“Okay, yes,” he replied, but didn't say anything else.“Have you heard from Naldo?” I finally asked, “I really need to talk to him”.“I spoke to him a few days ago,” he replied. “Are you all right, Luke? I can hear your worried tone.”Could it be that I couldn't disguise my anxiety even on t

That morning, I received a message from Naldo, telling me that Geane had scheduled another literary meeting. Would you make a mistake if you went on this date without her permission or without being invited? It took me just a few seconds to decide, as I had already showered, I just changed my clothes, determined to go there and show Geane that I was also part of all that. I always felt good when it came to thinking fast, even though I often made decisions on pure impulse, I wasn't the type of girl to be scared. I knew the consequences and assumed them before I even knew them. Not only that, but I smiled to myself when I saw my reflection in the mirror. I hadn't mentioned it, but Desirée also bought me new clothes. As much as Claudio denied it, she earned well-being a creative handicraft teacher, but he would never assume such a fact, not even to see her happy.Before going, I stopped by her room to see if I could go in peace. Desirée was lying on her stomach. He seemed to feel no pain

I couldn't sleep well that night and when the sun rose in the sky I was already awake, with an almost terrible headache. I couldn't stop thinking about my mother and the state she was in. It took me a while to get out of bed, I couldn't see her or take care of her. I couldn't do anything without being able to help save my mother's life. Still with my eyes closed, I felt the vibrated of my cell phone on the bed.Luke calling…A smile forms on my face.Before the third ring, I answer.“Hi, Aurora” says, he seems to be in one place, with a lot of noise “How is your mother?”“Hi”, I say this smiling, but that soon disappears as soon as I remember Desiree, “She is in the ICU, her condition is serious.”I swallow the cry.“I'm sorry,” there's silence on the other end, “If you need anything, you can call me.”“I know, and I appreciate it”Another silence, maybe for the moment I'm living, maybe for the day before. There is a strange air between us."Promise you'll call?" he insists, "I don't

Desiree is goneThere were still two days left before I said goodbye to my mother. Everything seemed like an endless nightmare. Maybe the penny hadn't dropped yet, even hugging her warm but lifeless body, I still didn't accept her departure. Geane tried to talk to me the day before, but I didn't answer. After that, she sent me several messages saying she was sorry and whatever else that didn't matter to me. Now it was easy to say I was sorry, that you cared, but as long as my mother was alive, no one cared about her.I confess that a revolt totally took hold of me. I felt angry at the hospital for neglecting her, angry at Claudio, who worked so hard but couldn't afford good treatment for her, angry at Geane who always claimed to be my friend, but never was.Furthermore, I woke up this morning and the first person that came to my mind was her, my mother. Even though I had kissed Luke the night before, my sadness kept my thoughts from anything other than Desiree's death. How would I liv