Chapter Eighteen Part 2/2

Lucas Narrating:

We're on the school walk, and suddenly my girlfriend asks to go to the bathroom and I'm waiting for her near a painting.

It's very old. From the nineteenth century, of a very important family by the way. They wear very formal clothes and the woman wears a very puffy outfit.

I wonder what it would be like if I had been born in that century, but I snap out of it when I feel something is wrong.

I'm not sure what it is, but I have a bad feeling and I start to wonder why Marina hasn't left the bathroom yet and it's been twenty minutes since she went in there.

Since I can't go into a women's restroom, I try to observe only through the door and I'm startled to see her lying on the floor unconscious.

I quickly call the teacher and she calls a local doctor and they take her to the infirmary in the Museum.

I am desperate and feel guilty for not telling her about my son, but I was very afraid of her leaving me. I know I was very immature to have hidden something like that, but I didn't know it could happen.

She wakes up after a few minutes, tries to get up but can't and she smiles when she sees me and it's the most beautiful smile in the world.

The nurse tells me that I better take her to the hospital, because she has a cut on her head.

I accompany her to the hospital and they take us inside an ambulance and put an oxygen balloon on her.

Normal Narration:

Marina wakes up after a few minutes and realizes she is in a hospital bed and on her side she spots her parents and Lucas.

The doctor then enters and says:

"You just had a drop in pressure from not eating. You just need to take this vitamin here in your vein and you will be released in a few minutes."

"What about the cut on your head, doctor?" Lucas asks.

"It was just a crack and she will need to use these medications mentioned in the prescription"-he hands the prescription to his mother and says-"How are you feeling Marina?"

"I'm feeling much better. It's just the cut that's a bit sore."

"It will soon pass and follow my recommendations. In 30 minutes I will ask the nurse to take you off the IV and you will be released."

"Okay. Thank you Doctor"-Miguel looks at the name tag-"Edmundo."

The doctor leaves the room and Lucas approaches her and says:

"I was so worried about you my love."

"I'm fine Lucas. Thank you for saving me, but I'm not cool to see you right now."

"I understand."

"Mom, Dad, would you let me talk to him alone?"

"Sure honey"-Sandra says-"Anything just call us. Come on, love.

The two of them leave and Marina says:

"I'm really hurt by this Lucas and it's not going to work anymore."

"What do you mean? What are you talking about?"

"I want to break up with you. You kept something so serious from me. And I don't have the mind for it. I'm sorry, but no more."

"I'll let you think as long as you want, but don't do it."

"I already did. It'll be better this way. I like you, but I don't love you and you know it. I don't want to keep stringing you along."

"I'll be able to win your trust again. We'll be happy together and..."-she interrupts him

"Don't get your hopes up, please. Take care of your son and your son's wife. I'm not ready for that."

"Fine, but I'm not giving up on you. Bye."

He leaves the hospital room closing the door behind him and she bursts into tears thinking how she could have let herself be fooled like that.

But Marina thinks it over and says, "I'll get the one I really love as soon as I get to Sete Lagoas."

Marina leaves the hospital after a few hours and returns home with her parents. She only spent a few hours in that place, but it was enough for her to reflect on her relationship with Lucas.

During the whole journey, she remains silent, thinking about everything that has happened and ends up dozing off.

When she wakes up, the car is stopped in front of her house and she gets off the vehicle and goes to the kitchen to eat a soup that her mother is preparing, because she says it will do her good and even without hunger because of the serum, she decides to eat, since technically she has not eaten since yesterday.

After that, she goes up to her room and takes a relaxed shower, wearing a plaid sleeve blouse and jeans.

As she was about to leave the room, her cell phone beeps indicating that she has a new message:

"Mari are you better?"

"Lucas I'm fine. Thank you for caring."

"You know I love you."

"And you know very well what you did to me. Let's forget about it please. Then we'll talk, I want to be alone for a while."

She stops answering his messages and picks up her headset, putting it on random mode and starts playing a song.

She decides to take a picture with the caption of the song and posted on Facebook an excerpt from the Song: This Strong Wind by the Singer: Nayara Yamamoto:

[...] This wind left me like this, without strength to fight, without believing. Took my faith, took my peace, left me distressed, just makes me cry.

Will it pass, I don't think I can stand it. If God in heaven does not look at me, the storm will take me[...]

After posting the photo came several comments:

"Are you alright little sis?-Ester"

"What happened? Tell me-Aline"

"God will comfort your heart Mari. I miss you-Jura"

And several other messages, but the one she liked the most was the one from Jura. Her heart started racing and her hands were shaking.

In a few minutes he called her on Messenger and said:

"Mari, tell me what happened."

"When I get there I'll tell you. Next week I'm going to Sete Lagoas. I need to distract my mind."

"Got it. I miss you. I want to tell you something, but when you get here I'll tell you."

Okay. I'm going to dinner, then we'll talk. Bye, bye.

She leaves the Messenger and goes to the kitchen to have dinner with her parents.

Miguel finds her behavior strange, but decides not to say anything, but Sandra says:

"Honey is everything OK, you seem a bit distant."

"It's nothing mom. I'm just looking forward to visiting my friend and my brothers."

"Where's Lucas? He left the hospital without saying a word and looked very sad."

"He's probably just tired mom. Don't worry, if you'll excuse me I'll go to my room. I have an early class tomorrow."

"Good night daughter-says Miguel and Sandra together."

"Good night-she hugs her parents and goes up to her room."

She brushes her teeth, lies down on her bed and thinks about life and decides to send an SMS to Jurandir:

"I finished with Luke-22:43"

"But why? -22:45"

"It wasn't working out anymore and I don't even really know how I feel about him-22:49"

"Got it. When you get here I'll tell you all the news-22:55"

"Okay. Have a good night. I have class tomorrow.-22:57"

"Ok. Good night and take care. Anything just call me-23:00"

She gets off her cell phone and falls asleep a few moments later and ends up dreaming.

She is walking down a long road and when she realizes she sees Lucas holding his baby in his arms and there is a woman by his side. She hugs him and kisses him. He returns the kiss and she feels a sadness in her heart, but decides to move on and continues her walk when she sees Jurandir walking hand in hand with a girl all smiling and he watches her and says:

"Mari, I'm going to be a father."

Marina goes into a state of shock and runs off and ends up tripping and falling.

When she looks closer she sees that the woman who was with Lucas is behind her and pulls her by the arm and says:

If you think you are going to stay with him you are mistaken, because he is mine. He only used you, but you never realized it."

She wakes up scared and feels her cell phone vibrating. When she sees it, Lucas says:

"Marina, I love you. Forgive me-03:15"

"Why are you asking me for forgiveness? -03:16"

"For I have returned with the mother of my child-03:17"

"I understand. I wish you happiness. You woke me up-03:18"

He doesn't answer and she goes back to sleep thinking about how she could let herself be fooled by him, but anxious to get to Sete Lagoas soon and see her family.