I nodded, although the fear grew.
What if you don’t understand it?
What if he thinks I betrayed him?
But why had his family’s responsibility always been mine?
When the taxi stopped in front of the building, my heart was pounding.
I didn’t know what awaited me behind that door.
Chaos?
A fight?
A frozen silence?…
I opened the door slowly, prepared for anything.
The first thing that hit me was the smell. Not freshly made food or cleaning, but something burnt, mixed with detergent and trapped air. The shoes were lying down the hallway, a jacket was hanging from the doorknob, and there were crumbs on the floor.
— Valeria? —I heard Diego’s voice from the living room—. You’ve arrived…
I entered.
The chair was covered with blankets thrown out of order. On the table were dirty plates, empty glasses and remains of dry food. Mathew and Camila they were sitting on the floor with the tablets. Mariana he was on the couch, as always, with his cell phone in his hand. Lupita and Raul they watched television without even turning around.
Mrs. Carmen he left the kitchen and stopped dead when he saw me.
— Ah, you’re back… —he said coldly—. Finally.
I left the suitcase on the floor calmly.
— Good morning —I said quietly.
Diego approached. He looked exhausted: his shirt was wrinkled, his dark circles were deep.
— Can we talk? —he asked quietly.
— We can —I responded—. But not now.
— Valeria, my mom was very angry. Said that…
— Diego —I interrupted him—, I’m not interested in what your mother said. I returned after five days in which I slept, ate and breathed normally. Don’t start.
Mariana looked up from her cell phone.
— How dramatic… —he murmured.
I turned to her.
