Gabriela Macedo

24 years old

Libra ♎

In her last year of college (Gastronomy 👩🏻‍🍳)

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...Gabriela is a young woman full of dreams, and her biggest one is to get her mother out of the community where she lives with her stepfather Paulo, aka (Dog), and her half-sister Fernanda. Her mother is a victim of assault almost every day. And that makes her very sad, she always talks to her mother about reporting it, but her mother is afraid because he is involved in drug trafficking. Her sister Fernanda doesn't even care, as she is obsessed with Rodrigo, aka (Joker), the drug lord of the slum, and does everything her father tells her to. So much so that it was he who put in her head that she doesn't need to study, she just needs to marry Joker and she'll have everything. She met her best friend here in the community when he came with a friend to a funk party and because he is gay, one of Joker's men beat him up. She found Diego lying in an alley badly injured and helped him. And since then, they became best friends, Diego's parents are very grateful to her for saving their son's life. As a way of thanking her, they paid for her college.

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Mother - Daughter, you're up so early?

Gabriela - Yes, I have a project to present at college. Since it's my last year, I can't slack off.

Mother - I understand, daughter! I wish your sister would follow your example. But no, all she wants is to be after that boy. (She speaks, looking depressed)

Gabriela - I know, Mom, don't be like that! I will always make you proud and one day I will get you out of this sad life. (She says, hugging her mother)

Gabriela - Now let me go, or I'll be late, bye, Mom! Your blessing!

Mother - God bless you, my daughter! Go with God and have a good class!

Gabriela - Thank you, Mom, I love you! (She says as she leaves)

I'm going to college and when I arrive, Diego is already waiting for me at the entrance as he does every day.

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Diego Portela

25 years old

Gemini ♋

Last year of college (Accounting)

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Diego - Good morning, my Goddess!

Gabriela - Good morning, my love! Can I know the reason for this big smile?

Diego - Of course! I was going to tell you anyway! (He says with a smile)

Diego - So, you know that exchange program I wanted to do?

Gabriela - Of course, I remember! You're going to abandon me and go live in the United States! (She says dramatically)

Diego - Stop the drama, my Goddess, I already told you to come with me! I'll pay for your ticket and you can live with me in my apartment, you'll be graduating soon and you can work in restaurants there!

Gabriela - I know, Di, but I can't leave my mother alone in the hands of that jerk, and I'm sure she won't want to go with me so as not to leave Fernanda with her father! Even though Fernanda doesn't care about her, she's a mother and she'll never want to abandon a daughter!

Diego - I understand, Goddess! (He says, looking down)

Gabriela - Don't be like that! But tell me what you wanted to tell me?

Diego - So, I'm going this week, my course here is over so I'm going on Friday!

Gabriela - But you're not even staying for graduation?

Diego - No, my diva, I'm going to focus on my postgraduate studies there and it starts next week!

Gabriela - So these are our last days together?

Diego - I believe so! But that doesn't mean it's goodbye, but rather see you soon!

Diego - I will always come visit you!

Gabriela - I hope so! (She says with tears in her eyes)

Diego - Hey, don't be like that! Where's that beautiful smile of my friend?

Gabriela smiles, and they walk arm in arm into college. The bell rings and they go to their classrooms. As soon as all the classes are over, Diego invites her to go to the mall, he has to buy some things to take on the trip. She agrees and they go shopping, Diego buys several things and also buys a beautiful dress and a pair of earrings for Gabriela, she refuses but he insists. After shopping they went to eat something, then Diego took her to the entrance of the slum, as he doesn't have the courage to return to that place after everything that happened to him there.

Gabriela says goodbye to her friend and goes up the hill until she reaches her house, when she arrives home there is no one there, she enters and goes to her room, keeps the gifts she got from her friend and goes to take a shower...

After the Bath, Gabriela puts on comfortable clothes and heads to the kitchen to prepare dinner since her mother is not home and she loves to cook. She plays a song (*Intuition* *Mary Fernandes*) on her phone, puts on her headphones, and starts making a lasagna with four cheese sauce and a fruit salad for dessert.

She was so engrossed in preparing dinner that she didn’t even notice when her stepfather arrived, drunk and high.

He watched her, singing and dancing, lost in her own world...

Paulo(dog)- 💭This girl is getting sexier by the day!🤤 Look at those perfect curves; she'll be mine, whether she likes it or not, or I’m not called dog😈💭

Suddenly, Gabriela turns to grab something and is startled to see Paulo looking at her strangely...

Gabriela- Oh! Hi Paulo, good evening! Have you been here long? I didn't see you arrive, I was distracted making dinner!

Paulo- I just got here!

Gabriela- And where's my mom?

Paulo (dog)- She's cleaning at the joker's house; she'll be back soon!

Gabriela- Hum, okay!

Paulo goes back to the living room, turns on the TV, and slumps on the couch to watch. He went to the kitchen, opened the fridge, grabbed a beer, and spent a while staring at Gabriela as she bent down to put the lasagna in the oven. He went back to the living room but was restless. Noticing that he was frequently going to the kitchen, Gabriela turned off the oven and went to her room, closing the door, but since it didn’t lock, she didn’t secure it. She started texting Diego because she was scared. Hours passed; it was almost (10:00 PM), and her mom still hadn’t come back. She stepped out of her room to have dinner and saw Paulo asleep on the couch, or at least she thought he was. She tiptoed to the kitchen, not wanting to wake him. As she was serving her plate, she suddenly felt a blow to her head and everything went black.

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Mom- I just got back from the joker's house where I was cleaning; his place is huge, that’s why I took so long. And I see Paulo sneaking out of my daughter’s room. My heart raced, for a mother’s instinct never lies. So I confront him.

Mom- What were you doing in Gabriela's room, Paulo?

Paulo(dog)- I just came to see if she was going to have dinner; she made food and hasn't come out; I wanted to see if she needed anything. But she's sleeping! And by now you’ve arrived!

Mom- I see! You never cared about Fernanda, who shares your blood, let alone Gabriela, who isn’t even your daughter. Saying that sent my heart racing. I ran to my daughter's room, and she was in bed, strangely wrapped up in her blankets. I pull the sheet, and she’s fully dressed, but my sixth sense doesn’t lie, and something is wrong. I rush back to the living room...

Mom- What did you do to her, you bastard? I’m reporting you right now. If you dared to touch my daughter, I’ll kill you, you bastard!

Paulo approaches her and slaps her across the face, causing her to fall. He grabs her by the hair and begins to beat her.

Paulo(dog)- Are you crazy, woman? You've lost your sense of danger challenging me under my roof. If it weren’t for me, you and your daughter would be begging on the streets. You know that! (He says while hitting her).

Not satisfied, he pushes the woman, making her hit her head on the coffee table. She breaks her head and collapses right there...

He goes to check if she’s breathing, but no, she isn’t.

Paulo(dog)- Damn it, she had to die just now! (He says, running his hands through his hair)

He leaves the house, agitated, heading toward the top of the hill where the joker lives...

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...In Gabriela's room...

I woke up in my room with a body that ached as if I had been beaten, a headache pounding at the back of my skull. I ran my hand over my head and felt a bump. I was dizzy; every time I tried to get up, my head spun, and everything turned dark. I paused, took a deep breath, and heard arguing. From the voices, I recognized that it was my mother and that monster Paulo. Once everything fell silent, I began to feel better from the dizziness. I stepped out of my room and was met with the worst scene of my life. My mother lay on the living room floor, bloodied and hurt. I ran to her, but she wasn’t breathing anymore.

*Gabriela* - No, no, no! Mom, talk to me! Please, don’t leave me! (crying😭)

Mom, wake up, please! Who is going to take care of me? (crying desperately😭)

I didn’t know what to do. I went back to my room, grabbed my phone, and dialed Diego. On the second ring, he answered; it was already past 11:30 PM.

📲 Hello, Di, I’m sorry for the hour, but please help me! (crying😭)

📱 Oh hey, my diva! Don’t worry about that, why are you crying? What happened? (voice filled with concern*)

📲 He killed my mom, Di! (sobbing😭) My mom is dead on the floor, Di! Get me out of here! (crying😭)

📱 Calm down, my goddess! I’m on my way!

...End of call......

Gabriela packed some clothes, personal belongings, and her documents into a backpack and descended the hill weeping. Her mind was disturbed, thoughts racing; what would become of her life now without her mother? She wouldn’t even be able to give her a proper funeral...

As Diego came down the hill, he was already waiting for her. When she saw him, she ran to him and hugged him tightly...

*Gabriela* - Di, get me out of here! Please!

*Diego* - Of course, my diva, let's go!

They get in the car, Gabriela is in shock, crying a lot. Diego drove to his house. When they arrived, he opened the car door and hugged her again...

*Diego* - Let's go inside!

*Gabriela* - Yes, let's go!

They enter, Diego's parents were in the living room, when they were going to ask something Diego shook his head. They understood and remained silent. Diego took her to his room and sat her on the bed...

*Diego* - I'll be right back, I'm going to have a calming tea prepared for you!

*Gabriela* - Thank you!

It doesn't take long for Diego to come with a tray of tea and some more things for her to eat...

*Gabriela* - Thanks, Di, but I'm not hungry!

*Diego* - None of that, you're going to eat at least a little!

Gabriela ate some cookies and had some tea. The tea had a calming effect so she soon fell asleep. Diego adjusted her on the bed and went down with the tray...

*Claudia (D's mother)* - What happened, son, why did Gabriela arrive here in shock?

*Diego* - I don't really know, Mom, she hasn't explained anything to me yet! She just asked me for help and said that her stepfather killed her mother! 😢

*Claudia (D's mother)* - My God! Son, why didn't she go to the police?

*Diego* - Because she's in no condition to talk, and on top of that, they live in that place.

*Claudia (D's mother)* - I understand, and now son, what's going to be of her?

*Diego* - I'm going to convince her to come with me to the United States! There she will be safe and away from all this sadness!

*Claudia (D's mother)* - It will be good for her! She can count on us for whatever she needs!

*Diego* - Thank you, Mom! (he says hugging her)

Diego returns to the room, lies down next to his friend and watches over her sleep and caresses her hair...

*Diego* - 💭What have they done to you, my friend, you are so good, sweet, kind and you don't deserve to suffer ever. I don't know what happened exactly, but I will take care of you as if you were my little sister!💭

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The next day Diego woke up early, got up and went to do his hygiene, and went down to have coffee with his parents. Today is his last day in Brazil, so he wanted to enjoy the day with his parents...

*Diego* - Good morning, Mom, good morning, Dad!

*Claudia (D's mother)* - Good morning, my son! Have you packed your bags?

*Fernando (D's father)* - Good morning, son! How is Gabriela?

*Diego* - Still sleeping, Dad! I had to give her a tea with a sedative yesterday. And she hasn't woken up yet!

*Diego* - Maria, prepare a tray with a hearty breakfast, I'm going to take it to my diva! (he says smiling)

*Maria* - Leave it to me, boy, I'll get it ready!

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Diego is an only child, and ever since he came out as gay he has had the support of his parents. He is a sweetheart to the maids and to his parents. He became reserved after being beaten up in the slum, and never wanted to be in a relationship with anyone again, he was traumatized, he is afraid of committing and suffering aggression again.

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As soon as they finished their coffee, his parents went to work and he went up with Gabriela's breakfast tray. When he arrived at the room Gabriela was already awake, with an empty look, dull, lifeless...

*Diego* - Good morning, my Goddess! I brought you your breakfast, eat it all up, it's all delicious!

*Gabriela* - Good morning, Di! Thank you, I don't know what I would do without you!

*Diego* - You don't need to thank me! I owe you my life. And if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here today!

*Diego* - Now enough of this downer talk! It's even bad luck to talk about it! (laughs)

*Gabriela* - Kkkk only you to make me smile!

*Diego* - Diva, I know it's very painful, everything you're going through, but I need to know what happened so I can help you!

*Gabriela* - I don't know, Di, but I don't remember much. Just flashes as if it were a nightmare!

Gabriela tells Diego everything she remembers, and he is clearly horrified and speechless. He pulls her in for a hug...

*Diego* - Hey, don't cry, everything will be alright! I'll take care of you! I promise.

*Gabriela* - Thank you! I never get tired of thanking you!

*Diego* - Now, how about you come with me abroad?

*Gabriela* - I don't know, I don't have money for a ticket, how am I going to buy clothes suitable for the weather there...

*Diego* - Don't worry about that, my parents will pay for your ticket, my flower! And I'll buy you some clothes.

*Gabriela* - And where are we going to live, I don't have much money to help you pay for a room!

*Diego* - kkk I told you not to worry! My parents bought me an apartment in downtown New York. Close to my college!

*Gabriela* - Wow, your parents are the best kkk!

*Diego* - Yes, they are! So, do you agree to travel with me?

*Gabriela* - I have nothing left to hold me here! Just one thing, I'm in the final stretch of college, how am I going to get my diploma?

*Diego* - Let's go to college, you ask to take the rest of the exams online, and explain that you're going to travel and live abroad 😉!

*Gabriela* - All right!

*Diego* - Let's go, get ready to solve this!

Diego is all excited now that Gabriela has agreed to travel with him. It will be good for both of them to start their lives over in another place. He leaves the room carrying the breakfast tray as she had already finished. Gabriela went to the bathroom. She took a long shower, got dressed and went downstairs. Diego was waiting for her, they got into the car and went to college. After sorting everything out there, they went to buy her some clothes to take with her. They had lunch at the mall and when they were about to go back to Diego's house. Gabriela asked him to take her somewhere...

When they arrived she watched from afar, she was in front of the cemetery, but she didn't get out of the car, as the glass is dark you couldn't tell it was her inside...

*Diego* - Do you want to go there?

*Gabriela* - No, at this hour they must be saying that it was me who did this to my mother! (she says crying 😭).

*Diego* - What do you mean, you're as much a victim as she is!

*Gabriela* - But there are no witnesses and me leaving the crime scene, it's going to be my word against theirs, and besides, I'll be risking my life by going there. (she says crying in despair 😭)

*Diego* - Right, then let's go! We have a bag to pack!

*Gabriela* - Let's go!

They continued to Diego's house, it was being a very difficult time for Gabriela, her life had never been easy, she only had her mother for her. She doesn't even know who her father is, she doesn't even know his name, she doesn't know if he's alive or dead. And now, what will her future be like in another country? What does fate have in store for her?