Chapter 3 Capítulo 2

sixteen years later...

The fine rain is the missing detail for that melancholy scenario that took place in the cemetery. It didn't take long for her to fall, taking everyone at the funeral by surprise. But Maria Luísa Braga de Almeida didn't care about the rain, about the people, or about the fact that her father was holding her shoulder, as if he were a person present in her life. She pushes him away and approaches the coffin, lilies in her hands, her mother's favorite flowers. Her long black hair fell like a cape over her face as she threw the flowers on top of the coffin, running her hand all over it, until she reached where the face of the one she loved would be: Anna Braga, her mother. Tears stream down the face of the sixteen–year–old who can't imagine what her life will be like from that moment on.

"You promised me, said you'd never leave me and now? Why do I feel so alone? Why don't I feel you close to me? Why are you leaving me with him? Say something! react! Show that this is all a lie! Get up from there! Give me a hug! Sing me to sleep! Do something! You said it was the two of us against the world, but you left me alone!" Malú thinks, closing her hands and lightly tapping the coffin while crying harder. The father takes her away from the coffin so that it could finally be buried.

As the gravedigger threw the earth into the ditch, Malú felt his life going with him. The pain was unbearable, when it finally ended, she no longer had the strength to continue standing, being supported by her father. The people who attended the funeral held his hand, offering their condolences. Some fast, some slow, but all with the word condolences at the end. Malú didn't pay attention to any of that, he just wanted his mother back.

-Let's go, Malú. – orders his father in a sad voice. He looks at the sky that is darker, looking like night - We need to go soon before the rain gets worse.

Malú doesn't answer, doesn't feel the slightest desire to make any decisions from now on. For her, he would stay there forever, just like his mother. Not receiving an answer, he ushers her out of the cemetery. He opens the door of his black Maseratti Quattroporte parked in the driveway, making Malú sit in the passenger seat. He enters through the driver's door and starts the car, driving through the streets of Belo Horizonte.

- Where would you like to go? – asks the father as he is standing at the light.

- Six feet off the ground – Malú replies, looking out the window. She looks at him with her big blue eyes - Or as far away from you as possible, Thiago.

***

Thiago de Almeida, that's the name of Maria Luísa's father, also known for bad tongues, as the playboy who ran away when he discovered his girlfriend's pregnancy. Son of an important judge from Curitiba, he came to Minas Gerais to study Law at the federal government of the state. There he met the academic of Letters, Anna Braga and from that love, Maria Luísa emerged. Rejected by her father before she was born, being raised by Anna, who stopped college and went to work as a receptionist at a hotel to support her daughter, alone, as her parents were already deceased.

Despite everything, Maria Luísa grew up in a happy home, even without her father's presence. Anna never spoke of him to her daughter, as she didn't think it necessary for her to know what kind of person her father was. Malú already knew the story since she was seven years old, when she got home from school she heard Anna's best friend, Aline, talking about Thiago. She knew he'd been a coward and run away when his mother needed him most.

Aside from the fact that he sent money monthly as a way of preventing Anna from revealing that secret to the media, he had no contact with him. Only when the mother forgot some newspaper clipping from Curitiba showing that he had run for state senator, or some magazine talking about his engagement to a lawyer, but nothing about her. Malú always believed that she was the secret unwanted by her father, despite her mother's efforts to get that idea out of her head. Anna used the money to pay Maria Luísa a good school, clothes, food and everything else the girl wanted, which in this case, always had a book addiction. Heavily influenced by Ícaro who became a longtime friend of her mother and Aline's "complicated relationship".

Although he was a figure present in the lives of the three, none of them knew much about this mysterious man's life, except that his work required him to travel every week. Over the years, that was no longer important, as he did everything for them, including getting them a job at the most renowned hotel in Belo Horizonte, among other things whenever they needed it. He ended up becoming the father figure Malú needed.

The years passed quietly, until a year ago, when Anna passed out on the job, being taken to the doctor, where she discovered that she had an inoperable brain tumor and little time to live. When he told Malú, he knew it was time to tell him about her father and call him out.

- You need to be strong. – asks his mother - For both of us.

- But I don't want to be strong. – Malú retorts crying - I want you to stay with me.

- I will always be with you, my dear. – Anna claims hugging her daughter.

- But I want you, here with me, alive. – Maria Luisa replies, walking away.

- It won't be possible. – Anna denies with a sad smile - God wanted me to have to go so you can meet your father and be with him.

- I hate him, I prefer that he die instead of you. – shouts Malú, angry.

- Don't ever say that again! – Anna exclaims angry - He's not bad, as you think. Once you meet him, you'll change your mind. – She touches her daughter's long hair - You have the same hair color as your father, the same eyes, the same mouth and the same temperament. Don't be angry with him. Love him as I do, for he gave you to me.

- I can't. – Malú refuses, closing her eyes.

- Do it for me. – asks Anna touching her daughter's face - When I'm gone, I want you to love him as I love you, promise?

- I'll try. – Malú replies, hugging her mother again.

Thiago did not appear in the first months of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Much less when Anna lost her blond hair. It hurt in Malú, to see his mother waiting anxiously every time his door opened, or when a man with Thiago's characteristics passed by. After a while, Ícaro told them that he needed to travel, this time he wasn't sure if he would come back.

- Goodbye, my dear friend – says goodbye Anna, struggling to smile. Her voice is getting weaker and weaker -Thank you so much for all you've done for us.

- I thank you Anna. You are an angel, I'm sure you'll go to a better place. – says Ícaro kissing her hands - Forgive me for everything I've done... Forgive me for any harm I've done to your family.

- You were an angel in my life. – praises Anna, letting a tear fall down her face - And in the life of my Malú. You are a good man, Ícaro. I'm sure about that. I have no reason to forgive you, because there is nothing to forgive.

He lets go of Anna's hands and leaves the room practically running. He leans against the wall, crying.

-So, you're really leaving? – Aline asks, approaching the one to whom she gave her heart all these years. She holds back all her tears, because she doesn't think he deserves any of them - Will you leave Malú when she needs you most?

- It's needed. – Answers Ícaro controlling himself - It's harder for me than any of you can imagine. If I stay, it will be worse. But believe me, I will always be on Malú's side in some way.

- What about me? – Asks Aline approaching - As for us? Did you think about it too?

- Aline. – calls Ícaro, hugging her - You're the best thing that ever happened to me, but we can't be together. One day you will understand the reason and I hope you understand my reasons... I hope your love overcomes... Everything...

- There's no reason when you love... That's what you told me... Or have you forgotten?

- I'm so sorry. – Ask for Ícaro.

Before Aline could answer, he walks away towards Malú who has just arrived at the hospital, still dressed in her school uniform. He hugs her.

- Don't go. – whispers Malú leaning her head on Ícaro' chest - How am I going to get through this without you?

-You're stronger than you look. – argues Ícaro. He opens his suit, taking a book out of it - I hope you like it.

- I hope to see you again one day. – Malú comments sadly.

-This will happen sooner than you can imagine. – comments Ícaro, giving Malú a kiss on the forehead. - even young lady

- See you. – says Malú, seeing Ícaro walk away. She runs to him and hugs him once more - I wish you were my father, because I already love you as if you were.

- I love you as if you were my daughter, since the first day. – reveals Ícaro, moved. After a few minutes, he pushes the young woman away and walks away saying - See you soon.

***

Anna no longer got out of bed and was barely awake when Thiago appeared. That week had been the happiest for Anna, making Maria Luisa forget her anger at him. One night, Anna asked him to let Thiago be alone with her, leaving Malú worried. The next morning, Anna asked to speak with Aline. As soon as the woman entered the room, she felt that it would be her farewell.

- Hello, my sister. – greets Anna with a weak smile. -I will miss you, my great life companion.

- Hello, my dear sister. – Aline returns holding the hand of the one who has been her friend for over a decade -I will miss you much more than you can imagine.

- It's the end. – Anna confesses sadly - But I can't leave without asking you for a favor first... I promise it will be the last.

-I never bothered to do anything for you. I would do it all over again, a thousand times – comments Aline, feeling the tears roll down her tired face. Can't remember the last time he slept that week.

- I know, but this favor will demand a lot of you. – Anna claims, as she settles in bed. The morphine was no longer effective at that point - I need you to help Thiago be Malú's father.

- No... Not that Anna. – refuses Aline, unhappy - He doesn't deserve it. Ask me for anything but helping that bastard.

- You don't understand now, but one day...you'll know...the whole truth." I talked... With him... And I know everything... About Ícaro... About him... About us...

- What do you know? – Aline asks curiously.

- I can't tell you now, because we have company – explains Anna looking at the door. She takes a deep breath and says aloud - Enter Malú, we need to talk.

Malú enters the room, wondering how her mother knew she was listening near the door.

- Hi, my love. – Anna says trying to get ready in bed - How beautiful you look.

- Thank you. – murmurs Malú - How are you?

- Happy. – Anna replies with a weak smile - You know... We need to talk.

- I'm not ready, Mom. – reveals Malú crying.

- Don't cry, my baby. – asks Anna, trying not to cry - The time has come. You know this would happen... I need to tell you something.

-You can talk. – Malú says, head down.

- I talked to Thiago. – begins Anna slowly - He will take care of you. Don't look at me like that... It's the best thing to do... I know one day you'll understand... He will need you... As much as you will need him...

- Leave me with Aunt Aline, mother. – argues Malú, desperate - I don't even know him.

- But you'll know... I know they'll get along well... – Anna claims, holding Malú's hand. - He's your family now... He'll make a good father. I just want you to know that I will love you forever and I will always be with you. Whenever you need me, I'll be by your side. And in the name of that love, I want you to promise to be nice to him... Promise...?

- Mom... If I promise... You'll leave. – Malú claims nervously crying - I don't want you to go, I won't be able to be nice to him.

- Please, my angel... – she asks in a weak voice - Please... Promise... Promise...

The device fires next to Malú, her mother was without a heartbeat. A team quickly enters the room, trying to revive her, in vain. Anna had died. Maria Luísa crosses the hospital behind Thiago when she finds him and punches him in the chest.

-You killed my mother! I hate you! I hate you! You should have died! – explodes being held by him who hugs her.

***

Now they are in Maria Luísa's house, in her living room. Thiago stretches, taking off his black suit and looks at her seriously.

- Tomorrow morning, we will go to Curitiba, I already spoke with your grandmother and she already got a place in the best school, besides seeing that your room is the best. – Informs Thiago, trying to bring up the subject. He smiles slightly pointing to his daughter's hair and confesses - You remind me a little of your mother... Your haircut... It's the same one she used...

-When did you abandon her? – Malú interrupts harshly.

- Sorry if I've been away all these years. – asks Thiago with his head down.

-It was sixteen years, to be exact. – Corrects an angry Malú. - My life without a father was great. I do not need you! Do yourself a favor: Don't talk to me.

Before Thiago could argue, Malú runs up the stairs. She locks the door to her mother's room and looks into the mirror. It really did remind her a little of her mother, but instead of being happy, she was angry at the image. She takes the scissors from the dresser drawer and looks in the mirror once more.

She holds a lock of her hair and cuts it, while crying. He didn't want to remember his mother... He takes another bunch of his hair and cuts it angrily, not caring if it would be uneven... He didn't want Thiago to say that anymore... He takes his bangs and cuts them mercilessly. Every time she remembers the day she had, she feels more like cutting her hair, being overcome by anger. Strand after strand falls onto the bedroom carpet, along with the young woman's tears. When he finished, his hair was very short and in some spots his scalp showed. She drops the scissors on the dresser and goes to her mother's bed, where she cries herself to sleep.

***

Malú wakes up to a knock on her door, she opens it letting Aline in. As soon as her aunt sees her, she was perplexed.

- What did you do with your hair, Malú? – Asks Aline irritated. She touches Malú's head - You ruined your hair, girl. Why did it?

Maria Luísa opens her lips to answer her aunt, but something is wrong. She doesn't hear anything coming out of her mouth. Aline continues to stare at her, making the young woman more nervous. His voice didn't come out despairing.

- Malú? Are you okay? – Aline asks nervously, holding Malú by the shoulders - Answer! Say something! Come on.

But nothing came out even if Maria Luisa tried. She tries her best, but no grunt comes out, nothing. I was voiceless. She panics, breathing harder. The young woman begins to see the room spin more and more. He feels his strength fading and the last thing he sees is the portrait of his mother on the nightstand.

- Thiago! Help! – shouts Aline holding Malú already fainted. - Malú is not well! Help me! Someone help me!