CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN

SEXUAL SOBRIETY

Lara was surprised that after her outburst at the microphone, nobody looked at her differently or criticised her. After all, she was going against their steps and principles, which involved sharing. But no, nobody criticised her, and when they took a break from sharing their stories, she joined them on the porch and enjoyed the delicious corn and cassava cakes, freshly harvested from the farm. She had coffee and talked to some of them. She went outside with Ciça, Murilo, and three other people who wanted to smoke cigarettes where there was no roof.

"Can I have one?" she asked Ciça. "I don't smoke, but I might as well start."

"Cursed addiction, this one too, but it's the lesser evil, right?" Ciça lit her cigarette with a lighter. "I've freed myself from one addiction, and this pleasure is what's left, for now."

"I'm not going to quit smoking, huh?" Flora said. "I'm already struggling to stay sober, without cigarettes, I'd go crazy for good."

Everyone laughed at that. La