by Jamila Mafra
“The DJ has started playing, let's go to the dance floor!”
The first song of the night could not have been more romantic: "Espelhos d'água", followed by a Brazilian funk: "Quero Te Encontrar". They danced for hours.
The clock struck two o'clock in the morning when they returned to the hotel room.
"Today was incredible, the best I've had since returning to Brazil," Ana Lucia assured him, with a radiant smile in front of her bedroom door.
“Ana Lucia, come with me to my room. We can talk some more, eat something.” He invited her, stroking her hair.
"Gabriel, I appreciate your invitation, but I'm very tired. I'm going in; my aunt must be worried already. I'll see you very early tomorrow.” She tried to dodge.
"Will you leave me alone?" He tried to make her pity him.
"Look, you know, it may be a bit out of date, very stupid, but I'm a practicing Catholic, and staying with you in your room now would not be cool. I'm like this, you know it, and we’ve dated before. This is what makes my conscience not weigh so much, knowing that I was your parallel girlfriend. If I had done more to you than kissed you, I would have felt very bad, the worst of lovers. I would never have forgiven myself, even though I was innocent, even though I was misled. You understand me?” She explained, lowering her head.
"Yes, I understand, I know very well how things are with you. That's why I'm sure you're the right woman for me. So we'll see each other tomorrow morning. Let's have a beautiful day at the beach.”
“Yeah, we'll see each other. Our days are always beautiful. Good evening.”
They kissed, he left, and Ana came into her room.
THE UNEXPECTED
That day was rainy in the city of Guarujá. Early in the morning it was possible to hear the sound of the sea waves.
It was late afternoon when Margareth gave the message to her niece, who had just arrived from Alice's house:
"Ana Lucia, you got a call from the United States.”
“From the United States? Who was it?”
"It was your ex-mistress Annette. She really wanted to talk to you. She seemed to be very anxious.”
"How does she have your number, Aunt?"
"First she called Alice, who gave me my number.”
“And you speak English?
“No, I do not speak fluently. There was an interpreter operator on the line.”
"Did Annette say what was the important thing she has to talk to me about?"
"No, she didn’t say anything on the subject. I asked her to call later.”
"What does she want with me?"
"She said she would call again."
"I'll stay here in the living room waiting for the call. Honestly, I have no idea.” Ana was intrigued by this unexpected phone call.
"Well, you'll know soon enough.”
The phone rang. Ana Lucia ran to answer:
“Hello!” She said anxious, certain that it was Annette on the other side of the line.
“Ana Lucia, it's me, Gabriel! Why did you say ‘hello’?”
“Gabriel! Is that you?”
“Of course it's me! Who did you think it was?”
"I said hi because of the habit. I got used to answering the phone like that in the United States.”
"I know force of habit. I couldn’t go by today to see you, I worked until late today, I'm very tired. But tomorrow you can have lunch together in my apartment. What do you think?” He made the invitation.
“Okay then, I’ll wait for you to pick me up.” She accepted.
“Well, see you tomorrow. I also called to say good night.” He showed his kindness.
“Goodnight My Love. Sleep tight.” She tried to be affectionate.
“Kisses”
“Kisses.” She hung up the phone.
"Well, it was just Gabriel wishing you good night." Margaret said.
"Yes, Auntie, it was just Gabriel wishing me good night.”
The phone rang again.
"It's her now, Aunt. Hello!” Ana Lucia was right. It was Annette on the other end.
"Ana Lucia, is that you?" Annette asked in anguish.
“Yes, Annette, it's me. I'm very surprised by your call. Did something happen?”
"It did."
“Tell me, what is it?”
"Ana Lucia, for God's sake, you have to come back to the United States as soon as possible.”
"Why do I have to go back?"
"Albert is very sick. The day of the engagement he felt his legs weak and he felt from the stairs, he was taken to the hospital.”
"And what does he have? Is it a serious disease?”
"Yes, it's a very serious illness.” Albert has sclerosis.
“Sclerosis?”
“Yes, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The doctor said that little by little he will lose all his movements. He runs the risk of dying in a few years.” Annette explained the situation to her.
“My God! This is horrible. I never imagined what Albert is the kind of disease. How is he now?” Ana asked, nervous and trembling.
“He's walking with a cane. It still looks good. But the worst you still do not know. It has been a month since he does not want to get out of bed anymore, he does not want to do anything else, he barely eats, and his life lost its purpose because he lost you. Albert does not want to live because he has lost your love forever, Ana Lucia.
"Annette, I've explained the reasons why I cannot stay with your son. He's going to be a father. Brianna's having a baby with him!”
"No Ana Lucia. Brianna is not pregnant! She never was!” She told the cruel truth.
"How come Brianna is not pregnant?"
"Brianna invented a pregnancy just to force Albert to marry her. In fact, a friend of hers, who is a doctor, faked the pregnancy test. And now, after all the lies, Brianna left Albert, gave up her marriage, and left for New York. She said that she does not have the psychological conditions to live with a crippled husband.”
"No, Annette! This can’t be true! For God's sake, tell me that this is not true! No! No! I cannot believe Brianna did such a thing! She is very cruel! It's an abomination!” Ana Lucia cried, her hands trembling on the phone.
“Unfortunately it's true. Brianna fooled Albert and so did you. She was able to separate you.”
“I'm in shock. I do not know what to say.”
"Ana Lucia, you need to come back and save my son's life. He loves you so much and I know you love him too. Please give him back a will to live. At this point Albert needs you a lot. Save my son, I beg you. If it goes on like this, he will die before the time. He needs to treat himself, do physical therapy and have you by his side.” Annette begged on behalf of her son.
“You're absolutely right. I love Albert; I love your son more than anything in this life. And I’m very sorry that he’s sick. But I can’t go back to the States.”
"Why cannot you come back?"
“Unfortunately, my student visa was denied by the consulate. They did not want to renew. I do not know why, I'm so sorry. My soul is desolate for everything you just told me.”
“Ana Lucia, listen to me, I'll find a way to get you a work visa. I'll make you a contract to sign, a letter with a special request for the consulate. I'm going to a lawyer friend of mine in Rio de Janeiro and he'll file your visa application. You can do everything at the consulate in Rio. The lawyer will give you all the advice you need to get you back. In the last case, I take my son to Brazil, but he needs to be close to you.”
"Alright, I'm going to Rio de Janeiro to talk to this lawyer.”
“Go as fast as you can. Go tomorrow. I'll give you all the information by email.”
“I'll wait.”
"I went ahead and transferred five thousand dollars to your international account. It is for your expenses with the visa procedures and for your trip back here. If you need more money let me know.”
“Annette you did not need to.”
<
br /> "Of course I needed it, Ana. I know things are difficult there in your country. It's the least I could do to bring you back here.”
“It's all right. Tomorrow I'll catch an afternoon flight to Rio de Janeiro. At night I call you to tell you how it all was.”
"Thank you, Ana Lucia. My mother's heart is more relieved to know that you’re willing to help save my son's life.”
"See you soon, Mrs. Annette. Goodbye.” Ana Lucia hung up the phone.
Ana Lucia collapsed in tears, bent down on the couch with her hands on her head.
"What happened so badly, my dear? What did your ex-boss say made you cry so much?” Margaret asked in agony.
"Auntie, something horrible has happened. Albert has a serious illness.”
“What disease?”
“Sclerosis, he's going to be stranded in a wheelchair.”
“Oh my God! This is horrible.”
“Albert was abandoned by the bride as soon as she discovered that he will be disabled.”
"What an evil woman! And the kid she waiting?”
"She does not have any kid. She is not pregnant. She was never pregnant. Auntie, that woman lied to Albert, she fooled us. She lied that she was pregnant just to force Albert to marry her. Now that he's sick, she abandoned him.”
"This woman played with the feelings of good people who did not deserve all this. And tell me, what does your ex-boss want you to do?”
"She wants me back in the States to save Albert's life. He is devastated, he doesn’t even eat because of his depression.
“I bet. After all, he lost you because of a lie.”
“I am really bad. God, I do not even know what to do.”
"Did you explain that they denied your visa?"
“I explained. She contacted a lawyer to advise me on the process of obtaining a work visa at the consulate of Rio de Janeiro. I'm going to Rio tomorrow, after having lunch with Gabriel and telling him everything.”
“I'm sorry. Just now that you were getting on so well with Gabriel this had to happen...”
"Auntie, Gabriel will have to understand the situation. I love Albert with all the strength of my heart and I cannot leave him there slowly fading alone. You understand me? As much as he does not survive and the future is uncertain, I have to stand by him and help him deal with the disease!”
"I understand, the situation is very serious, Albert has a degenerative disease. In a few years it will be completely invalid. You have to make him happy during this time that remains for him.”
"I'm going to; I'll stay by his side every minute.”
"I wish you good luck, my niece.”
“Thanks aunt.” They hugged each other.
"I'm going to my room to talk to your uncle about all this. I think he can accompany you to Rio de Janeiro.”
“Okay.”
Ana Lucia was devastated. She cried one more time. She needed to breathe, to feel the air in her lungs to try to understand what was happening. She could not be content. She went bewildered toward the beach.”
On her knees, she held handfuls of sand in her hand, waited for the sea darkened by that bitter night to bring her solace. That's when she said to herself:
"I left the man I loved because of a lie. I could be there, next to him now. I could have kissed him and been happy. Albert, forgive me for not being with you, forgive me.”
The next morning, Ana Lucia made a date with Alice at Gonzaga Beach. She needed to vent before she had lunch with Gabriel.
“Alice.”
“Cousin, what happened, huh? You look so sad.”
“Glad you came. I'm desperate. Something horrible happened.”
“Tell me, what happened?”
"I have to go back to the States."
“What? You said your visa was denied.”
"Yes, but I have to go back to Albert."
"I do not understand, you're getting on so well with Gabriel. Why run after that American?”
"Albert's mother called last night. She told me he's very sick. He has degenerative sclerosis. Albert's going to be crippled in a few years.”
“Oh my God! I'm sorry, Ana Lucia.”
"The most shocking thing is that his fiancée gave up on his marriage and left for New York. She abandoned him because of his illness.”
"What about pregnancy?"
"She lied, she was never pregnant. She falsified the pregnancy test to force Albert to marry her.”
“This is horrible! What this woman did is unforgivable. She separated you from him in a dirty way.”
"That's what hurts me the most. I could have stayed with him. I could have fought for my visa there and even applied for a work visa. But I came back here to stay away from Albert, since I believed he would have a child with another woman. I was the victim of a cruel and inhuman lie.”
"You love him very much, do not you?"
"I love him; I love Albert more than anything in this life.”
"What about Gabriel? How will he feel when you tell all this?”
"I have a passion for Gabriel, I like him. But my heart beats for Albert. It's Albert the one I love.”
“Talk to Gabriel quick. Tell him right away that you need to get back to the States.”
"I'll tell him, we’ll have lunch together today.
"Speak nicely so as not to hurt him."
"It's too late to avoid heartache."
MOMENT TO LOVE
“Ana Lucia! Come in, my love. At last you came to see my apartment. I prepared the pasta I told you about. It's my specialty.” Gabriel kissed her and hugged her affectionately.
"It must be a delight indeed."
“You can sit. I'll prepare the table.”
“I hope so.” She smiled.
Minutes later he came back.
“The table is ready. Are you alright? Seems tense, Ana Lucia.”
“I am fine. Let's have lunch? I'm anxious to taste your pasta.”
***
"Margaret, I'm very worried about Ana Lucia," Freddy commented.
“Me too.”
"The choice she has to make is very serious. I left her there at Gabriel's apartment for lunch. I'll go back to pick her up later. I do not know what that boy's reaction might be when he learns that she wants to return to the United States to help the man she truly loves.”
"It's a very complicated situation. I do not see how she can give such news without hurting Gabriel.”
“I'll go there now. If she calls me on the phone, I'll be around to help her out of some unforeseen situation. Maybe she needs me earlier there.”
"Are her bags already in the car?"
“Yes.”
“What time do you embark for Rio de Janeiro?”
“We’ll get on late afternoon flight. We'll go to the lawyer's office tomorrow.”
"I'll go with you to the airport to get the car back. Let's go get her then.”
“Let's go.”
***
"Gabriel, lunch was delicious. I loved your pasta.”
“I'm glad you liked it.”
"Now that we had lunch, I must have a very serious conversation with you.” She had a serious face.
"It must be serious, because the look in your face. What happened, Ana Lucia?” He asked, already worried.
"I have to go back to the States." she said.
"You have to go back to the States? You said that you would continue your college in São Paulo, USP!”
"Yes, I did." But it's not because of the faculty that I need to go back there.
"If it's not for college, what’s the reason?"
“For Albert.”
"For Albert? But he's going to marry another woman.”
"My ex-mistress called me.”
“What she wanted?”
"She told me something horrible. Albert is sick. He has degenerative sclerosis. He’ll be disabled in a wheelchair in a few years.”
“Wow! I'm sorry for him.”
“And that's not all. His fiancée dropped out of the marriage, she abandoned him, left for New York.”
"Is not she pregnant?"
"No. She lied about being pregnant and faked the pregnancy test just to force Albert to marry her."
"This woman is a viper, no character. She deceived you and him. He separated you from the man you love. This disease he has is the same as that cosmologist you admire, is not it?”
"Yes, it's the same disease of physicist Stephen Hawking. In a few years, Albert will be completely invalid.” She reinforced.
"And your ex-mistress wants you to go back there to make Albert have a little happiness in the years that still remain. After all, you're the woman he loves...” Gabriel deduced.
“Yes, that's right. It's a matter of life and death. He is depressed, doesn’t want to eat. He needs me. You understand?”
"I see, of course I understand. Albert is the man you love, is not he?”
"Yes, he is the man I love. I do not want to hurt you, Gabriel, I really like you, I had a passion for you, but it's not love. Maybe it would become love if we had more time together.”
"I know, I always knew of your love for him. I just think Albert might have taken a little longer to get sick, so I would have you more time here with me.
"I'm very sorry about all this.” She lowered her head with tears in her eyes.
"But they denied your visa."
“I am traveling to Rio de Janeiro today, I will make a work visa process there. My ex-boss hired a very good lawyer to advise me. I'll talk to him tomorrow.”
"Honestly, I know this is a horrible situation for you. I do not even know what I would do in your place.”
"I'm glad you understand. I'm not going back to have fun. I'm going back because there's a dying man who needs my help. I do not even know what my future will be, I do not even know how long he is going to live, I do not even know if Albert and I will be together, but the fact is that I have to go there and try to make him happy for as long as he lives.”
“Ana Lucia, listen to me. Go back to the United States, help Albert, and then we'll talk. Call me whenever you need to talk. Above all, I am your friend. And I know that when you get there, we will continue to be just good friends. That will be better. You can enjoy your stay there to finish your college.” Gabriel was sympathetic.