Othon
I could barely believe my own eyes as I witnessed the shocking scene of Valquíria firing a shot. Chaos ensued, but Valquíria stared back at me with cold eyes and a satisfied smile on her face. I was too bewildered to form a coherent sentence as I knelt beside Colin, trying to contain the damage and administer first aid.
"Someone call an ambulance!" I shouted, struggling to make my voice heard over the reigning chaos in the room. "Dad, Noah, restrain her! And also call the police."
I didn't need to specify what I was talking about. They understood perfectly that it was Valquíria, who remained still, as if contemplating her dark deed with a macabre satisfaction.
Acting with the serenity my profession granted me, I knelt beside Colin
KarenThe last three months have been like an emotional rollercoaster for all of us since Colin was shot by Valquíria. His health remained delicate for weeks as he fought in a coma. We all waited anxiously, praying and bearing the heavy weight of seeing such a brave friend in that state.As a nurse in the same ward where Colin was hospitalized at the central hospital, I walked slowly to the room where he was staying. When I arrived for my usual visit, my heart raced as I realized Colin was awake, his eyes scanning the room in an attempt to understand what was happening. A shock of joy ran through my body, an overwhelming urge to shout and jump for happiness. But I held back, knowing that wouldn't be appropriate.I took a deep breath to calm my agitation and approached Colin with a gentle smile.
KarenI hurried into the women's restroom, every step echoing down the hospital corridor. My breath came fast and shallow, my stomach twisting with a familiar sense of nausea. Anxiety consumed me, fearing I wouldn't make it to the stall in time.Finally, I reached the privacy of the stall and let myself empty everything into the toilet. The sound of my retching was deafening, echoing against the white bathroom walls. I squeezed my eyes shut tightly, trying to block out the overwhelming sensations.When it finally stopped, my body felt a momentary relief, but my ears still buzzed with the intensity of the moment. I took several deep breaths, trying to calm my heart which seemed to want to leap out of my chest.That's when I noticed the sound coming from the stal
OthonMy steps echoed through the hospital corridor as I made my way to the wing where Karen was. My mind was swirling with thoughts about what could have brought Karen to the lab.When her secretary mentioned seeing her in that hospital wing, worry flooded through me. Was she sick and didn't tell me? That seemed quite probable, considering Colin had just woken up from a three-month coma and was still undergoing rehabilitation before he could be discharged.With great anxiety, I entered the room where Karen was awaiting the results of her blood test, only to find her with an expression of pure nervousness. Before I could say anything, she approached me, her eyes shining with emotion."Othon, I... we..." Karen began, her voice choked with emotion. "We're expecting a baby."An incredulous smile spread across my face as I processed her words. I could hardly believe the wonderful news I was receiving. In a burst of pure happiness, I hugged her tightly, feeling a wave of warmth and love fl
KarenI looked out the window of the room we were staying in, and the view was truly spectacular. The sea was right there, so close, and the entire pool complex was inviting for a swim. But I was too nervous to enjoy these wonders. It was my wedding day. The big day had finally arrived.I returned to the front of the mirror and stared at myself. Was I really beautiful or were my friends just trying to please me? I let the question slip out loud, and I saw Letícia and Camila rolling their eyes simultaneously. It's amazing how they seem to be in sync as if they've known each other for much longer than they have.These moments of relaxation are a relief for the nerves that are on edge. After all, today is the day I take one of the most important steps of my life, alongside the man I love. But even with all the anxiety, I feel blessed to have so many special people with me on that day.After finding out that I was indeed pregnant, I sought out Dr. Letícia Bernardi and shared the news with
KarenFatigue enveloped me completely after long hours on duty at the hospital. The smell of clean corridors, permeated by the antiseptic odor, became suffocating. My head throbbed, and a growing sense of malaise began to overwhelm me. Ignoring the signs wasn't an option, so finally, I succumbed to weakness and sought help in the same place where I used to offer it: the hospital.The doctor, solemn and thoughtful, explained the stress overload and the need for immediate rest. I understood the gravity of the situation, but my mind insisted on focusing on another concern. Max, my fiancé, wasn't answering my calls. Where could he be? Why wasn't he answering just when I needed him the most?I decided to go straight to Max's apartment, ignoring the advice to rest, longing for the comforting embrace of my fiancé. Upon arriving at the apartment and turning the key in the lock, the scene before my eyes was confusing. Clothes scattered on the floor, and a heavy silence hung in the air, despite
KarenI had no idea how long I had been sprawled on the couch, still wearing the same clothes I had worn to leave the hospital and go to Max's apartment, something that seemed to have happened centuries ago. The pain of betrayal cuts deeper than I could imagine. The tears had dried up, but I still hadn't fully processed the scene in that damned traitor's living room.At that moment, the annoying sound of the doorbell began to echo through the apartment. Initially, I ignored it, hoping that the person on the other side would understand that I wasn't willing to receive visitors. However, the insistence only grew, and the doorbell continued to ring, tirelessly. I glanced at the clock on the wall, hoping that time had passed faster than I realized, but each second seemed like an eternity.With no notification from the front desk about visitors, I finally realized it could only be one person: Camila, my best friend and apartment neighbor. The thought of facing someone in the sorry state I
OthonThe night is progressing, and how much I've already drunk is a mystery to me. I'm in a state of relaxation that only vacations can provide. I still maintain enough sobriety to admire the natural beauty before me. And when I talk about natural beauty, I'm not exactly thinking about nature itself. I make this observation to my friends, who laugh in response."The problem is you only keep looking, Othon," Colin complains."And I don't understand why. Are you saving yourself for the love of your life?" The question comes from Noah, who grimaces just at the mention of the word "love.""Maybe…" I give the same answer as always.The atmosphere is quite lively on another day of vacation in Fernando de Noronha. Colin, Noah, and I are making the most of this paradise of sun and sea. We're completely different, but from the moment we met, we became inseparable friends, always choosing the same destination for our vacations.I continue sipping my drink calmly when I notice the entrance of a
KarenUpon opening my eyes in an unfamiliar setting, confusion immediately settled into my mind. I tried to move, but I noticed the presence of a strange arm around me. A shiver ran down my spine; after all, the vivid memory is that I no longer have a fiancé. So whose arm could it be?Moving cautiously, the evident presence of someone behind me revealed itself, warm breath blowing on my neck, which I only noticed at that moment. With caution, I managed to turn around and came face to face with the man who was embracing me. The memory of the moments at the bar flooded back all at once. The man sharing the bed with me was Othon, a handsome and kind man I met when he helped me out of an uncomfortable situation with a drunkard at the bar.As I sighed, frustration overcame me as I realized I had spent the night in bed with a stranger. The fact that I now knew his name didn't change the reality that I met him yesterday and now I'm sharing a bed with him. I surveyed the hotel room Othon had