ABC OF LOVE

MARIA

Four years ago Annie faints during a fashion week show, stopping the event, immediately they called Dulce Maria who was her best friend and who shared an apartment together with Daniela, daughter of some idiot who abandoned her when she learned of her pregnancy. Annie and Dulce Maria had no one else but each other. Both were raised in a nun's orphanage and when they turned 18 they had to leave and fend for themselves.

Dulce arrived at the hospital all worried, imagining that her friend had done something crazy again, because when she was young she had anorexia, but she had medical and psychological treatment.

Dr Gabriel - Are you related to Annie de Jesus?

Maria - Here doctor, I am her sister, what happened?

Dr Gabriel - So she arrived, she fainted in a parade, we are waiting for some exams, but I feel that it is not good by the symptoms

Maria - Doctor, is there anything related to anorexia? In her adolescence she suffered with anorexia, but this was treated.

Dr. Gabriel - I don't think so, well she is going through some tests, but you can stay with her while she is not ready.

Maria - But what do you think she has?

Dr. Gabriel - It's better to wait for the exams and then we can talk about it, we can't keep talking about what we think, I take care of lives, I can only speak accurately. I will ask one of the nurses to take her to the patient and as soon as I have the results, I will look for her.

The hours never take as long to pass as on this day waiting for the results, Maria called her sister Cecilia to stay with Dani and explained the whole situation of Annie.

Annie - Maria, you are so serious, what did the doctor say?

Maria - That's the problem my blonde, he didn't say anything, you know how I am, I hate waiting and I hate hospitals. But don't worry everything will be fine

Annie - Where is Dani? This time class is already over

Maria - Don't worry, Sister Cecilia took her to the orphanage, as soon as we leave here we will pick her up.

Dr Gabriel - Good evening, sorry for the delay, but the hospital is crazy today

Maria - So Doctor, what's wrong with Annie?

Dr Gabriel - Well, you will have to spend the night here for observation on account of fainting, but tomorrow you can go home, I will give you some medication, your blood tests were altered.

Annie - Anemia ne? I have anemia since always doctor, when I had my daughter it was even worse, it was a risky pregnancy because of it.

Dr. Gabriel - Yes, now I would like to talk to your sister, to settle the paperwork for your hospitalization, meanwhile the nurse will medicate you - Maria and the doctor leave - Maria

Maria - Are you hiding something, what my sister has?

Dr. Gabriel - Look Miss, I'm afraid to say what your sister has is not simply anemia, it's something more alarming, and she won't be able to go home tomorrow, but first I need to talk to you before she does. I need to introduce you to a colleague at work. He will explain it to you better and he will take care of your sister's case - Poncho approaches - Miss, this is Dr. Rodrigo Soares, he will be the doctor in charge of your sister. I've already talked to him so I'll leave you two alone to talk more. - Dr Gabriel leaves -

Rodrigo - Good evening, well as you know my name is Dr. Rodrigo Soares, but you can call me Dr. Rodrigo, I think we will see a lot now and what is your name?

Maria - Maria, but you can call me Mah, but doctor, what my sister has, nobody talks about, it's just not a simple anemia.

Rodrigo - It really is something much more serious, let's go to my room where I can explain better - they go to the room and sit down. - Have you ever heard of Thalassemia or Mediterranean Anemia? - Maria nods no - everything indicates that your sister has Thalassemia, but I need more tests to confirm

Maria - Is it serious? Could she die?

Rodrigo - Stay calm Maria, no one is going to die, but it is serious and I will explain what it is ok? - nods - Thalassemia, also known as Mediterranean anemia, is a hereditary disease. Its main characteristic is the abnormal production of hemoglobin, a protein in the blood that is responsible for transporting oxygen to all tissues in the body. There are two types of thalassemia - alpha and beta - which can manifest themselves in the following forms: minor, intermediate, and major. The minor form, or thalassemia trait, produces a mild degree of anemia that is asymptomatic and may go completely unnoticed. In the intermediate form, the deficiency of hemoglobin synthesis is moderate and the consequences are less severe. Thalassemia major, or Cooley's anemia, is a severe form of the disease, caused by the transmission of two defective genes, one from the father and the other from the mother. This causes profound anemia and other important organic changes, such as increased body mass, growth retardation, and bone problems.

Maria- Does that mean that Daniela could have the same disease?

Rodrigo - Who is Daniela?

Maria - She is Annie's daughter, my goddaughter.

Rodrigo - Yes, it can, but if we find out from the beginning she can be treated and have a normal life, it could have been like this with your sister, by the way, you also need to be tested, since your sister has it and it is hereditary.

Maria - Sorry doctor, it is customary to say that she is my sister, but she is not.

Rodrigo - How come?

Maria - Annie and I grew up in an orphanage, we didn't know our parents, when we turned 18 we had to leave the orphanage and since then we live together and take care of each other as if we were sisters.

Rodrigo - I see, so you don't need to take this test, but since you don't know where you come from, if you want I can do it just in case, your friend, sorry your sister will need a blood transfusion and if you have the same as hers and everything is in order you can donate.

Maria - I can donate yes, my blood is universal, doctor, if you think it's better to do these exams I will

Rodrigo - Let's do the following, in addition to the medicine now, I'll put a bag of blood for her, I believe she will wake up better, tomorrow you bring Daniela and I'll make the necessary tests in both.

Rodrigo and Maria go to Annie's room and explain to her what she really has. Incredibly, she received the news well, because she has always been a hopeful and faith-filled girl. Immediately both she and Poncho fall in love with each other and this with time would go from a patient and doctor relationship to a love life.

Alex - Come on Miranda, get off my foot, how many times do I have to say that we are nothing to each other outside the professional field, we just fuck sometimes, but nothing too much, you know I do this with all the models that work with me or almost do not come wanting to regulate my life

Miranda - Don't talk to me like that, you know I like you and for me it is more than sex, I do everything for you and to you.

Alex - You do it because you want to, nobody forces you to do anything. Look, Miranda, you are too hot, a great woman. You're beautiful and intelligent, you have a lot of men at your feet, and we know that you date other guys just like I date a lot of women. I can't offer you anything more than sex, not to you and not to any other woman.

Miranda - You have to move on with your life, Leticia is not coming back, you are not the only person who misses her, your daughter misses her, I miss her and many people miss her.

Alex - Don't you dare open your mouth to talk about Leticia or Bella, everyone knows that you don't like my daughter and that you were jealous of Leticia, you wanted everything she had including me. The most you can get is sex with me because love my darling will not, I will NEVER love another woman.

Miranda - Look, Alex, you're drunk and impossible to talk to today, I'm out of here. One day you will fall in love and this woman will make you suffer everything you do to me and to all the women who fall for your lies.

Alex - Go away Miranda, leave me alone, get out of here - Miranda walks out slamming the door with all her strength and Alex throws the whiskey bottle on the door - A woman is about to be born to make me suffer. This woman is a spiteful one

CURRENT DAYS

MARIA

Today it has been three years since Annie was diagnosed with Thalassemia and unfortunately it has not been easy at all, in the beginning some medicines and blood transfusions were enough, but I don't know, it seems that her organism got used to these medicines and they don't work anymore. Dr Rodrigo, Annie's doctor and currently her boyfriend, has been doing everything to help, with experimental treatments to solve the problem. He found one that seems to be helping, but it is very expensive, each injection costs 15 thousand reais and we don't have that kind of money.

Our friend Christian, who takes care of Annie's career, suggested that I should also do fashion shows and publicity campaigns, but I couldn't do that working in one of the biggest nun's schools in Brazil. I have been teaching there since I graduated in pedagogy. How did I manage? Oh, the nuns raised me, Annie and I lived in their orphanage, so when I graduated I was already employed there. I know they wouldn't mind me parading around, but the parents of my students would. But I needed to do this Annie doesn't get that many jobs anymore. She does few jobs because of fatigue and treatment. So she with all her creativity decided to create a second identity for me.

I have been leading a double life for two years now, in the day to day life I am Maria, a teacher at Santa Clara School, and in the world of runways I am the redheaded Victoria Lamas. Christian is a great friend, he always finds a job for both of us and takes very good care of Annie while he works. I have been doing a thousand Marys to take care of the school, of Dani, of these campaigns, and to have a life. What wouldn't be of us if it weren't for the nuns helping us by always staying with Dani when she needs us, Rodrigo always taking care of Annie as a doctor and boyfriend, he almost lives here with us and the best of all is that he takes care of Dani as a father, the father she never had. Christian is another one that never leaves the house always helping us and not to mention his sister Sabrina, she is a teacher at the school with me and a great friend, she also helps us as much as she can.

ALEXANDER

Today Bella is turning 9 I asked her what she wanted for her birthday and she told me she wanted a day only with me, because I never have time for her. This hurts me because I know it is true, I never give attention to my little princess, it is so hard even after 9 years I miss Leticia so much and every time I look at her I remember her mother, Belinda is every day more like her mother. But I know she is not to blame. Most of the time she is at boarding school, well not exactly she can come home and go to school every day, but she almost always stays there, because I lead this bohemian life every day with a woman, I would never allow them to get close to my daughter. Today I decided to take the day off to celebrate the birthday with my princess even though I am sad because it is the anniversary of the death of my Leticia, I will make the effort to pick her up from school to have lunch and have a very special day - phone rings - please call me back.

Xx - Please is this Mr. Mesquita's house?

Alex - Is that really him, who am I speaking to?

XX - How nice Mr. Mesquita, this is Sister Fabiana from Santa Clara College, could you please come over?

Alex - Did something happen, Sister?

Sister Fabiana - It's just that your daughter is not feeling very well, she fainted in the middle of class, but rest assured it is nothing serious, the doctor has already seen her. But she is asking to see you and the doctor also needs to talk to you.

Alex - I'm coming right now sister," he takes the car keys and goes towards the school.

AUTHOR

At the school infirmary, Maria enters to see Bella.

Sister Cecilia - Could I stay with this princess for a while?

Sister Cecilia - But your students?

Maria - Sister Fabiana is there with them, I asked her to bring the singing class forward.

Sister Cecilia - There, my little saint, Fabiana and those children alone are going to set fire to this school, I am going there with them.

Maria - Don't exaggerate little sister - Sister Cecilia goes towards Maria's room - My princess, how are you feeling?

Bella - I am better now, Aunt Mah, but I want my daddy.

Bella - He will be here soon, they have already called him to come

Bella - I doubt it auntie, he never has time for me, I hardly ever see him

Maria - Oh princess don't talk like that, your father must be a very busy man, he must work a lot.

Bella - No auntie, he does not like me

Dulce - Don't talk like that Bella, he is your father of course he likes you - Alex arrives and listens to the conversation.

Belinda - No auntie he does not like me because I killed my mother

Maria - Don't talk nonsense princess, I am sure that your father loves you very much, he just works hard and you did not kill your mother, I have told you several times, what happened to your mother was an accident, it is not your fault, many mothers go to heaven when they have their little children.

Bella - Aunty did you know that today is my birthday?

Maria - Yes, I know, yours and Dani's, isn't it great that you and your best friend have the same birthday?

Bella - Yes, it is, very nice, it is as if we were twins, born on the same day, ne tia. Auntie, I wish I could spend my birthday with my dad, with you and Dani. Dani has been so sad since her mommy started getting sick

Alex - Daughter! How are you, Daddy's little princess?

Bella - Dad - gets up and runs to hug her father

Maria - I think there has been a miracle cure around here - laughs - pleasure my name is Maria, Bella's teacher

Alex - It is my pleasure, Alexander Mesquita, so you are Auntie Mah that my daughter talks so much about? Dani's aunt, her little friend?

Maria - Guilty - laughs - well, now that you have arrived I will leave you alone. Princess, your aunt is going back to the room, then I will deliver your gift together with Dani, we were going to deliver it at lunch, but since you are going with your father, then Dani and I will deliver it

Alex - Don't you and your niece want to have lunch with us? I don't want to hear my daughter saying that she would like to spend the day with you and that today is Dani's birthday too.

Maria - You don't need to call me ma'am, you can call me Mah, but I don't know, today is Dani's birthday, my sister is hospitalized but she will want to see her daughter.

Bella - Please auntie, shall we go? We will go to the hospital to see Aunt Annie, I know Dani can't stay there for long because she is a child, let's make her day a little bit happier, she is so sad.

Alex - Yeah let's go, I will take you to the hospital later, we can go wherever you girls want, today I have the whole day off to do whatever my princess wants.

Bella - Really? She jumps on her father's lap

Alex - Yes daughter, isn't this the gift you asked me for? I want you to know that I love you very much and that you are not to blame for what happened to your mother, I am sorry if sometimes I stay away from you, but your auntie over there is right, daddy works hard to give you everything.

Bella - And all those girlfriends in the magazines