The boys roll around the apartment, exchanging punches and kicks. Although she is scared and terrified, screaming for them to stop, Emanuele realizes that both of them are not beating around the bush. Apparently, both Joshua and Johnny know how to fight for real.This only makes things worse, actually, since they both know how to neutralize an aggressor. Things could get completely out of hand, I mean, more than they already were.Emanuele yells once again for them to stop, but the two do not listen. Unable to think straight, the redhead goes to the kitchen and fills a jug with water. In Porto Feliz, when stray dogs and cats would start fighting, the residents would separate them by pouring water over them.This is exactly what she does when she returns to the living room. They don't run off like puppies, but stop hitting each other and look at her, frightened and confused."For God's sake, you guys could end up killing each other! Johnny, I think you'd better go."The boy looks hurt

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Emanuele is lying on her old, musty bed. The peeling, unplastered walls smell like wet bricks; the broken glass window is partially closed, as usual. The day is cloudy and dull, like all the others. The girl looks at the door to her own room.The little redhead never had privacy for anything. Ever since she was a child she was told by her mother that nothing she had, from the clothes on her body to the (disgusting) food on her plate, belonged to her. Until she was fifteen, Emanuele thought this behavior was normal. Until a lecturer from another city came to her school, and explained to the students several issues about mental health.That day was crucial for her to understand that, deep down, she was right. And that her mother was not a normal mother; she was not like the others.Since the age of fifteen, Emanuele had studied various scientific articles and school documents, as well as books by health professionals and psychologists. It didn

Emanuele feels her heart racing, her fingers turning to butter. Did she hear right? Was she imagining or daydreaming again?Joshua raises one of his eyebrows. He is waiting for her answer. It was not imagination.He had really asked if her feelings for Johnny were stronger than her feelings for him.But... What did Emanuele feel for Joshua?"I...," Emanuele begins, feeling her cheeks heat up from embarrassment."Relax. If you don't want to answer, don't answer.""But-""It's not like it's going to interfere with anything.""I... What?"Joshua sits down on the couch, looking at Emanuele. The girl remains standing leaning against the wall."Even if you feel something for me, and I'm not saying you do, you and I couldn't be together.""Why not?" The indignation in her tone of voice catches the attention of the current owner of the apartment.He seems nervous as he answers, though he disguises it as best he can."I don't know. Maybe because I just ended a three-year relationship and becau

Johnny takes a deep breath. It was never easy to remember this person, much less talk about him. It took him three months before he could leave his room and eat and talk like a human being. His parents had tried everything by then: psychological counseling, self-help books, and even spiritual help from the pastor of a nearby church.But what really impelled Johnny to try to recover the flame of his life was none of these things.Sitting in the park, the young man didn't try to disguise his tears or the look of weeping and pain he felt when remembering that very special person. Looking up, he began to speak."She was my best friend."Emanuele almost has a jump. Yes, he had a best friend, and their friendship was shattered because of Thabata's manipulation! He had told her that at the meeting a few weeks ago.He continued:"We met when I was ten and she was eleven. At first, both my parents and her parents thought we would have some kind of romance when we got older. But that never happ

Emanuele was in the living room of Johnny's house. It was the first time she had been there. The girl was feeling strange, but she couldn't exactly say why. Maybe it was because she had never been welcomed anywhere, always having to deal with insults and nasty comments from others. Deep down, maybe she was expecting more attacks.After hearing the story of Johnny's friend, Emanuele couldn't simply refuse the request to meet his parents. It was obvious that the redhead meant a great deal to him. That feeling was so strange. Usually she had to make an effort to seem useful or have her opinion validated, but he listened to her and respected her unconditionally.The girl heard the sound of footsteps. It was Johnny's sister, the teenager with the blue hair. She smiled at Emanuele:"Hi!""Hi," Emanuele smiled back."I'm glad you're here. My brother won't stop talking about you for a minute, I was beginning to doubt that you were real."The two exchange giggles. Then Johnny's youngest says,