oses adorned the altar, and the stained-glass windows cast multicolored sp

sly: Sebastián and Valentina wer

know what to do: he ran a hand across his forehead to wipe away the sweat and then rubbed both hands against his pants. Restless, he looked away, no

the end of a shift, the way she silently sought his gaze, the ta

n's distant expression, his lost eyes, and although she didn't

eated the question. "Do you accept th

ice... his

e pronounced t

g, celebrating the union. The bride smiled with relief,

: she radiated happiness

emony and, as always, on clinical cases and recent surgeries. Everyone respected the bride and groo

*

ate. I remember everything; the

e hospital, my hair damp, and my makeup crumbling. I crossed the entrance with my heart in my throat, tripping over everything in my path

tián's finger. The same man

ixing with the rainwater; I was soaked. I clutched the keys

But it didn't matter anymore. The decision w

wife. And he... the man who had said "yes" with h

aw me. Not the doctors, not the fam

e entrance. The white petals fell at my feet, wet, crushed against the groun

it all happened so fast that I struggle to remember the details. The engine roared with a metallic whine, and I felt a sense of relie

s, sometimes the one who loves the most i

*

rera, would get up before dawn to light the bakery ovens, and Isabel, his mother, spent h

lege loomed like an impossible wall to climb. Every time Sebastián finished a semester, the ord

lked beside Teresa, Valentina's mother, and between sighs and rosarie

l have years to pay, and we have nowhere to get more." Her eyes watered, and she prayed her friend would take t

short such a big dream. That same afternoon, at the family

h an anatomy textbook at the head

ey. I want Sebastián to

ro raised h

t it. I have to talk to your brother and explain;

iculous, he didn't miss a thing. His management was so successful that they went from

ulio can't know, Alejand

crossed

ur son pays for everything; I don't even know how much I have

uined. We have to put ourselves in Señora Isabel's shoes. If she was able to say that

rom the table. Valentina bit her nails

he house and Isabel's best friend. After all, they're h

remaining years of tuition. A silent act, sealed by the complicit gaze of both mothers. Sebastián never knew.

*

Isabel welcomed Valentina into her home with tend

good girl; you don't know how much I pray to Go

r-in-law repeated it to her every time they

nued studying. Valentina always visited that house, and now, with increasing frequency, she felt as if

e issue. During a visit to the Riva

g my son. I was so happy, Valentina...

he weight of a secret. A debt never repaid with their parents. Although neither she nor