Chapter 6: He says he doesn't remember that night 

Chapter 6: He says he doesn't remember that night 

Part 1

September 30

The echo of Sofía's laughter still resonated in Adolfo's mind, an relentless melody he couldn't get out of his head. Everything that had happened last night in the garden felt so vivid, so real, that the pain of hearing her cold words the next day was unbearable.

He was standing in the empty corridor in front of the classroom. His heart was racing, not because of the sprint he had just made, but because of the confusion that engulfed him.

"How is it possible?" he whispered to himself as the cool air in the hallway chilled his skin.

Everything he felt so sure about was crumbling before his eyes. The connection he thought he had with Sofía, the magic of dancing under the moon, the smiles they shared... all had vanished in an instant.

"Maybe it was a misunderstanding," he thought, trying to rationalize what had just happened. But the expression on Sofía's face, her distant gaze, and the coldness in her voice left no room for doubt.

Adolfo placed a trembling hand on the wall, trying to calm himself. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to remember the piano and its melodies.

But instead of finding comfort in the melody that always reassured him, a painful silence settled in his chest, growing with every passing second. It was as if his piano had disappeared along with the reality he knew.

"It can't be true..." he murmured, almost as a desperate plea.

The footsteps of other students began to echo in the hallway, approaching. He didn't want anyone to see him like this, so vulnerable, so lost.

Before anyone could see him in that state, Adolfo turned on his heels and ran out of the classroom, leaving behind the questions and curious glances. The corridor seemed endless as he headed to a place where he could be alone, where he could try to make sense of it all.

He ended up in front of the infirmary, the only place where he could take refuge, at least for a moment. He pushed the door open cautiously, hoping it was empty.

The infirmary was quiet, with dim light coming in through the window. He dropped onto one of the beds, his mind still spinning in search of answers he couldn't find.

He covered his eyes with his hands, wishing he could wake up from this nightmare, to understand what had happened between the night before and this morning.

The footsteps outside grew louder, approaching the door.

"You can leave me here."

"Are you sure? Can you get down on your own?"

Two girls' voices were heard, speaking softly.

"Yes, I'll be fine. I just need to rest a bit."

The door opened gently, and one of the girls entered, immediately noticing Adolfo.

"It's you, Adolfo. What's wrong? What are you doing here?"

Recognizing the voice, Adolfo knew it was Matilda.

"Matilda, this is the second time we've met here."

He turned to her and noticed something different, maybe... did she cut her hair?

"Mmm! What's up?" she looked herself up and down. "Oh, this? What, does a girl in a wheelchair surprise you that much?"

...

Matilda broke the tension with a light smile.

"Are you going to keep staring, boy? Aren't you going to help this beautiful lady get into bed?"

"Oh, of course, sorry."

He picked her up and carefully laid her on the bed.

"First, I want to apologize for not showing up last night. I had an unforeseen event and arrived later than I thought."

Her gaze softened.

"So, you did arrive... although that doesn't matter anymore. Thank you for that."

Adolfo carefully left Matilda on the bed, his thoughts still caught in the confusion of what had happened with Sofía. As Matilda sat up, she looked at him with curiosity and concern.

"You look like a lost soul," she commented as she settled into the bed. "What's bothering you so much?"

Adolfo tried to hide it, but the weight on his chest was evident. He collapsed into the chair next to the bed and let out a long, defeated sigh.

"I don't even know where to start," he finally admitted. "Yesterday, I thought I had one of the best nights of my life, but today... Sofía acts like nothing happened. Like she doesn't know me, like everything we experienced together was just a dream..."

Matilda listened attentively, her face serious as she absorbed every word.

"What exactly happened last night?" she asked softly, with the firmness of someone seeking to understand.

Adolfo closed his eyes for a moment, trying to find the right words. He had replayed the night in his mind so many times since Sofía had rejected him that morning, but every time he did, the situation seemed to become more unreal.

"We danced... under the moonlight. We talked about things I never thought I'd share with anyone," his voice trembled as he remembered how close they had been. "It was... special, Matilda. I felt it; she felt it too. I'm sure. But today... when I saw her, she treated me like a stranger. She said she doesn't know me, that she had never spoken to me before."

Matilda let out a sigh, and her gaze became more intense.

"That sounds... strange, Adolfo. Are you sure everything happened as you remember? Wasn't there something odd, something out of place?"

Adolfo shook his head, but his expression showed doubt.

"I don't know, everything felt so real. But... now I'm lost. I don't know what to believe."

Matilda leaned forward and, with a serious look, said:

"Maybe there's more to this. Don't jump to conclusions, and before you do anything, try to find out the truth. Sometimes, things aren't what they seem at first glance."

----------------------

October 1

The door burst open. Adolfo entered with tears on his face.

"Matilda, help me. I... I've lost."

"What happened? What are you talking about? Calm down, what did you lose?"

He fell to his knees, looking utterly miserable.

"I lost my reason to play the piano," there was silence. "It's not that I've lost the ability to play. I just can't talk to it anymore. It's like I've lost my piano..."

...

"¡Help me! ¡Please!"