l the signs that Sebastián had slept in the studio again-if she found o

my arms. I ran downstairs to the laundry room, where I threw the clothes in the hamper. "It doesn't cost you anythin

rank some water. The anxiety was killing me. I don't know why

ook a de

g to add to my strawberry ice cream. I didn't feel like it at all, so I closed the door. "A banana, yes!" I slic

strangers noticed any blunder, especially if it was someone who had worked with me for years. I even hid the book

sband had already left for the gym an hour earlier. I was so excited that she was taking

Fernanda commented behind me, in a mischievous tone.

nd smiled with my whole fac

ou come in-you really were in a very good

s changed in the kitchen." The pauses she made between sentences left me intrigued. I don't know what happened to her, because I couldn't find anything. "How was that woman happier

e was fat and ate a lot; her appetite

I'm sure she threw out a lot of stuf

t right was that she brought out all the good stuff she had stored away, and I came out on top. I took some things home. She

came to my house on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She only did the deep clea

ing breakfast. I'm hung

up, you'll scold me: strawberry ice c

own as if she were ima

l me you'r

ppy. That's why I don't buy it, because then I

for myself, since you got there first

ge and leave for the hospital. Sebastián will be here in a bit; he alre

ed to have her; talking to her was cathartic and stressful at the same time.

operate and we got along. Reality hit me with an unexpected harshness: I always believed that love wa

*

d like a child. He told me he'd been forced, that he never wanted to be with her, that one day he would separate from Valentina

shifts and hospital shifts, we fell in love and promised each other so many things. Impatience was taking over, and

; or during a meal. People could see that we loved each other; we were happy. The happy days faded away, the days when we had fun toge

reason, breaking all harmony. Immediately afterward

as leaving very early. I spoke softly to persuade him. I remembered his words: "I have to go,

to be here alone while I imagine y

ed me.

g with her; I'm

t enough

a div

amily. I don't want to live with her either. Instead, I'm doing everything I

How are you goin

e thing is to give them everyth

nly possession, my car, it won't be enough." I meant it; getting ri

they give you for that dinos

ause of what he said. "You're an idiot, boastful; you don't have any

t him more than necessary. "You see

ire wife; that's why you married

response I got; I would h

ckly toward his sports car, the same one the

but I didn't know if he heard me. Only the sound

was his whore, with no commitment, just this ring he gave me and tha

out and at the same time I didn't. Ideas came to my head in a jumble, none of them good. I felt

and figured I must alread

ive wife, the one who laughed at just the right moment, the one who listened without interrupting. Isabel adored her. And I hated her. Especially when Sebastián defended her: she's a good

se I'm not going to leave him. You're going to have to put up