- Julia!?

I was straining the coffee when I heard her scream and ended up getting scared.

Julia: Geez…

I burned myself with the coffee, but I didn't even have time to look at the burn on my hand.

Julia: Yes, Mrs. Marisa.

Marisa: Where's my coffee?

Julia: I'm finishing up, five minutes and everything will be on the table.

Marisa: So hurry up.

Julia: Excuse me.

I left the three of them at the breakfast table and went back to the kitchen.

I've lived in this place for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, my mother died in childbirth and Mrs. Marisa decided to stay with me. I grew up, I have a home, food and I study, I can't complain… But I confess that my life is tiring, this job is too much for me alone.

I always liked Marcos, he is the only child of Mrs. Marisa and Mr. Paulo, but he never even introduced me to anyone when we studied together, he pretended not to know me at school and now that I am officially the cook/maid of the house, Marcos treats me with even less interest.

I finished everything and took it to the table. I arranged each item in its proper place and served their cake. I stood in the corner, waiting for Mrs. Marisa, Mr. Paulo or Marcos to ask me to serve something else. It's always been like this, during every meal I have to wait for them to finish and if they want more, I'll go there and serve them.

Paulo: Marisa…

He had a strange look on his face.

Marisa: Honey, did something happen?

Paulo: This cheese bread is awful.

She looked at me and I went to the table.

Julia: Excuse me, Mr. Paulo, I just made it, everything is fresh and made to order.

Marisa: Then try the bread.

I take a cheese bread and feel a slightly sweet taste, it wasn't spoiled, I probably swapped the salt for the sugar.

Julia: I'm sorry, I think I accidentally swapped the salt for the sugar.

She made that face she always makes. Even if I step on an ant inside this house, she gets offended.

Marisa: Take this crap out of here, go.

Julia: I apologize again, excuse me…

Marisa: You can stay there.

I take the plate of bread and head to the kitchen.

I arrive in the kitchen and I can already hear the argument, I put my ear to the wall to listen better.

Marisa: I already told you, Paulo, this girl is sneaky, on top of being incompetent! I put up with it for 19 years, I can't take it psychologically anymore.

Paulo: Marisa, what did she do that was so wrong?

I couldn't hear Marcos' voice, but just knowing they were arguing because of me made me sick.

I take the cheese breads and start eating, I don't like to throw food away and it's not that bad to go in the trash, it's just a whim of his.

I clean everything in the kitchen, go out to clear the table and then clean the furniture with the duster.

I sing softly so Mrs. Marisa doesn't hear me and go back to the kitchen to get the cleaning supplies in the cupboard, it's time to clean the floor. I finish the floor and go to the garden to pick some flowers.

Joao: Good morning, Ju.

Julia: Good morning, Mr. Joao, any mail?

Joao: No girl, just today's newspaper and a magazine I brought for you.

Julia: A magazine for me?

I take the magazine from his hands.

Julia: It's a recipe magazine… I loved it!

Joao: I knew you would like it, my wife has several repeats, she donated some and since I know you like it, I separated this one for you.

Julia: Thank you very much for remembering me, Mr. Joao, I'm very happy.

Joao: You're welcome, girl, have a nice day.

Julia: I wish you the same!

He drives off on his bicycle and I walk in with the flowers, the newspaper and my newest magazine.

I leave Mr. Paulo's newspaper with him in the office and go to arrange the flowers in the vases.

Marisa: Oh, you're here.

Julia: Mrs. Marisa.

I approach her.

Marisa: Are you done with your duties?

Julia: Only the bedrooms and bathrooms are left.

Marisa: I'll give you an hour to finish and I'll wait for you in the maid's room.

Julia: One hour?

Marisa: Are you having trouble hearing?

Julia: No, I'm going now.

I go up to the bedroom floor and speed everything up as fast as I can. I finish in an hour and a few minutes, put away the cleaning supplies and go to the maid's room.

Julia: You're already here…

Marisa: You're late.

Julia: I'm sorry, I swear I tried to be as quick as possible and deliver a good result.

She shakes her head.

Marisa: Julia, I've been thinking about talking to you for a while… the truth is that you must have already realized this.

Julia: I don't know what you're talking about… Did something happen?

Marisa: We've been paying for all your expenses since you were born, in fact, since your mother arrived here at my house.

I didn't know where she was going with telling me those things.

Marisa: Paulo and I have decided that it's time for you to go your own way, we can't keep you here anymore.

For a few seconds I was speechless.

Julia: Mrs. Marisa, did I do something to upset you? Is it because of the cheese bread? I'm sorry, I won't make that mistake again.

Marisa: Julia, I don't think you understood very well… I want you to leave my house, I don't owe you an explanation for anything.

Julia: I just wanted to fix my mistake…

Marisa: No dear, the only one who was wrong was me. I agreed to stay with you when everyone told me that I would end up getting screwed… And look at you today, doing things on purpose to hurt us.

By this time tears were streaming involuntarily down my face.

Julia: If you're saying this because of the cheese bread, I didn't mean it, it's just…

I ended up choking.

Marisa: Speak.

Julia: It's just that I had a bad night's sleep, and since I have to wake up very early every day to prepare breakfast, I ended up mixing up the ingredients…

Marisa: “I have to wake up very early”… So you mean we're disturbing the princess's sleep?

Julia: What? No, that's not what I meant, Mrs. Marisa…

Marisa: Julia, you have half an hour to pack your things and get out of this house.

She walked to the door.

Julia: Mrs. Marisa, where am I going?

She turned to me again.

Marisa: From now on, you're on your own, Julia, and please don't come back to us asking for anything! Put it in your head once and for all, that you are a burden that no one is obliged to carry, if we helped you it was because we are good-hearted people, but kindness has a limit and mine has been reached.

She left the room and I stood there paralyzed. Where would I go? I don't even know this city well, I don't have friends, let alone family.

I open the chest with the few clothes I have and put everything in a bag. I take the picture of my mother with Lila and put it with the clothes.

I go out the back with my heart in my hand, there was no one else here, the employees were on their lunch break and I wasn't even close enough to any of them to say goodbye or ask for help.

I stop on a busier street and sit on a bench. Even helpless, with nowhere to go, this is the first time I feel free, after I finished school the only places I went were the market to buy groceries and the pharmacy.

Joao: Julia, is that you?

I open my eyes and realize that I fell asleep on the bench of that avenue, it was already getting dark and Mr. Joao was standing in front of me.

Julia: Mr. Joao!

John: Girl, what are you doing sleeping in the middle of the street? This place is dangerous, there are robberies frequently.

Julia: But, what would they take from me, John?

He sat next to me.

John: What happened, girl, why are you in the middle of the street? I've never seen you leave that house.

Julia: Mrs. Marisa dismissed me, she asked me to leave and not look for them again.

John: What do you mean? Just like that, out of nowhere?

Julia: No, John, it wasn't out of nowhere… they've done a lot during all these years.

John: Look, girl, Lila was always the only one who really cared about you in that house, those people just made you their servant all these years.

Julia: John, I've lived there since I left the hospital, I had access to school, food, they really did a lot for me, what I do is nothing compared to what they gave me.

He shakes his head.

Julia: What is it, John?

John: You're very innocent, Julia… they deprived you of the world, you lived all these years for them, cooking and cleaning their house from Monday to Sunday.

Julia: It's okay, John, I don't mind… maybe you're right, but what can I do?

John: Well, daughter, but I'm sure you'll recover and get your things here outside. Are you going to a relative of Lila's?

Julia: No, John, I don't know any of Lila's relatives, she passed away when I was very young, don't you remember? Even if she told me about someone, I don't remember.

Lila was a former employee of the mansion, when she died I was twelve years old, and after her departure I was completely alone, things only got worse.

I became the house cleaner and as I grew up, I became the cook too. I was the only employee inside the house, the other three were two security guards and a gardener, the cleaning and organization was up to me.

Lila was 60 years old when she passed away, she told me how happy my mother was when she arrived at Mrs. Marisa's house to work. A few months later she said she was pregnant and Mrs. Marisa accepted her anyway, since my father didn't want anything to do with her and she was alone in the world.

The pregnancy was smooth, but unfortunately she did not survive the cesarean section. It was then that Mrs. Marisa and Mr. Paulo decided to keep me, that's why I'm grateful to them, not everyone is as lucky as me.

John: Well, Julia, I want to help you… I can't leave you alone on the street.

Julia: Are you serious, John? Look, I promise I'll help you with whatever you need! With the letters, I'll clean the house, I'll cook.

I get up and say it all at once.

John: Calm down, girl, I'm going to call my wife, first I have to let her know we're coming.

He picked up the phone and walked away a bit, I watched and it didn't seem like he had a fight with her. When he hung up the phone, I turned my face so he wouldn't notice my nervousness.

John: Ready, we can go.

Julia: John, I don't even know how to thank you!

We went to the bus stop and soon one passed, he even had the kindness to pay my fare.

When we arrived at his street it was already night, my stomach was rumbling with hunger and there was a time when even I was startled by the noise. I had only eaten those cheese breads in the morning.

John: We're almost there, Julia.

I nodded my head, embarrassed.

When we arrived, he knocked on the door and a very beautiful woman opened.

John: Virginia, this is Julia.

Julia: Hello, good evening...

Virginia: Nice to meet you, I'm Virginia, you're very pretty, Julia.

Julia: You too, Virginia, the pleasure is all mine.

Virginia: Come in, my mother is finishing dinner.

We enter and Virginia asks me to sit on the couch. The two go to the kitchen and I sit there like a statue.

Soon, the two of them and an older woman come back to the living room, she looks at me a little suspiciously and I get up to greet her.

Julia: Hello, good evening.

John: Julia, this is my wife, Gloria.

Gloria: Hello, Julia.

I shake her hand.

Julia: Mrs. Gloria, thank you so much for having me here, I promise not to disturb or stay too long.

Gloria: It's okay, shall we have dinner?

We follow to the kitchen and everything on the table looked very appetizing.

John: Help yourself, Julia, make yourself comfortable.

I put some soup in my plate, and then take some toast.

Julia: I'm going to eat in the living room, leave you alone.

Virginia: Julia, why don't you eat here with us?

Julia: Can I?

Gloria: What a silly question, girl, sit down.

I sit down a little awkwardly and we all have dinner together. It was beautiful to see the loving way they treated each other, a true family.

After dinner, Virginia called me into the room.

Virginia: You can sleep in my bed, I'll sleep on the mattress.

Julia: No way, let me sleep on the mattress.

Virginia: But you're a guest, it's no trouble.

Julia: No, please…

Virginia: Okay, but if you want to switch, just let me know, there's still time.

Julia: Don't worry about it, Virginia, if it wasn't for you I'd be sleeping on the street right now.

She smiled sideways.

Virginia: Everything will be fine, it's just a phase.

Julia: I think so too, Virginia, it's just a phase…

She gave me a towel and showed me where the bathroom was, I went to take a shower and left all my tears in that bathroom, I hated the feeling of bothering a family, the feeling of never having anywhere to run in difficult times… of always being a burden in everyone's life.

After showering I come out of the bathroom and go straight to the mattress, Virginia was already sleeping in her bed and I kept as quiet as I could so as not to wake her up, I was so tired I didn't even see the night go by, I slept like a rock.

I wake up early as usual, it's been years of waking up at dawn to prepare the impeccable breakfast before Mr. Paulo and Mrs. Marisa leave for work.

I wonder if it would be too invasive to go into the kitchen and prepare breakfast for Mr. Joao's family, but I'd rather take the risk and leave a very nice table waiting for them.

The house was clean, even so I did what needed to be done, always taking care not to wake anyone. When everything was ready, Mr. Joao and Mrs. Gloria came down.

Gloria: Smell of coffee…

Joao: Good morning, Julia.

Julia: Good morning, Mr. Joao, good morning, Mrs. Gloria… I made a simple breakfast, I hope you don't mind me using your kitchen, but I guarantee I left everything spotless.

They look at each other.

Joao: Julia, I don't know what to say… We don't mind you using the kitchen, but you didn't have to do this, girl…

Dona Gloria didn't answer, just went to the kitchen. We follow her and she was standing there looking at the table.

Julia: I'm sorry, Mrs. Gloria, I just wanted to repay your help somehow.

She looks at me with a half smile.

Gloria: I'm not upset with you, girl, I was just planning on waking up and making you breakfast, not finding the table already set.

Joao: Julia, I know you're used to doing this every day, but you don't have to do this at our house.

Gloria: That's right, Julia, you should be asleep at this hour, I just came to make my husband's coffee and I'm going back to bed.

We laughed.

Julia: I promise not to do this again, but I'll make it clear, I'm not the kind of person who can sit still, so while I'm here I'll help with whatever is necessary.

Gloria: It's all right, girl, I also have to admit that this kitchen smells great and this table looks appetizing, I won't deny your help.

Joao: That's true!

They sit down.

Julia: I'm going to strain this coffee and I'll join you.

While I'm making the coffee, Virginia arrives and joins us at the table. It was a totally different morning than I used to have.

Julia: Mrs. Gloria, what does Virginia do for a living?

Gloria: She works as a maid in a madame's house, do you plan to stay in the same area?

Julia: It's what I know how to do, Mrs. Gloria, cook and clean.

She smiled.

Gloria: It's a good thing you have some time before you start looking for a job, take the opportunity to rest a little and save your money.

Julia: What do you mean, Mrs. Gloria? I want to get a job as soon as possible, I didn't leave today because I have low immunity and with this rain I'll end up catching a cold, but tomorrow I'm going out! If it's raining, can you lend me an umbrella, ma'am?

I smile at her.

Gloria: Calm down, girl, what's the rush? With the years you've worked at that house, you're going to get good money… you can even save it during the time you spend here at my house, you won't have any expenses at my house.

I still don't understand.

Julia: What money are you talking about, Mrs. Gloria? I didn't have a penny to pay for yesterday's ticket… I was so embarrassed when Mr. Joao said he would pay.

Gloria: Wait a minute, girl, they didn't pay you anything? What about the time you worked? Didn't you do two jobs?

Julia: At the end of each month, Mrs. Marisa would write down all my expenses with food, housing and some things I needed to buy, like sanitary pads, hair oil…

Gloria: Wait a minute, Julia, you paid to work!? Is that what I'm hearing?

Julia: It's just that I lived there too…

Gloria: It was their obligation, girl! Stop talking as if that family was doing you a favor, don't you see that they used you all these years?

She speaks very loudly.

Julia: I know that Mrs. Marisa and Mr. Paulo are a bit difficult, but I owe my life to them, Mrs. Gloria, my life…

She shakes her head and puts her hand on her forehead.

Gloria: My husband was right, you're not all there, girl.

Julia: Of course I'm all there, look.

I get up and spin around, she starts laughing and so do I.

Gloria: Julia, you're so funny.

...***Virginia…***...

I leave the house with my father and at the bus stop I'm surprised by my boss's brother.

Kaique: Virginia?

It's a good thing my father had already left, Mr. Kaique has been hitting on me ever since he got back from the United States, what's worse is that he's handsome and I'm not stupid or anything to refuse a piece of that.

Virginia: Mr. Kaique, hi… what are you doing here?

Kaique: Well, what a coincidence, right? I'm on my way home, get in and I'll give you a ride.

Virginia: Mr. Kaique, my bus is coming and I'm not late.

Kaique: With this rain, you're going to refuse my ride?

He smiles at me and I can't resist.

Virginia: Okay, you convinced me.

He opens the car door and I get in quickly.

Virginia: Thank you very much, with this rain the city can get bottled up.

Kaique: Don't worry, Vi, you're practically family already.

He puts his hand on my thigh and I smile a little shakily. We drive the whole way in silence, but sometimes he would look at me and I would smile awkwardly.

Kaique: Vi, I'm going to have to stop by the company to resolve something urgent, can you walk up? I'm sorry.

Virginia: No problem, Mr. Kaique, go ahead and solve your problem, you helped me a lot.

He smiled and I got out of the car.

He dropped me off at the entrance to the condominium; I would have had to walk anyway if I had taken the bus.

Virginia: Good morning.

I say good morning to the doormen and head to Mrs. Emily's house.

Mrs. Emily is Kaique's older sister and my boss, she lived only with her daughter (Lua), separated from her husband almost a year ago, and now her brother came to live with them, but I don't even know why, he always liked the United States so much.

I arrive at the mansion, I talk to the security guards and go inside.

Virginia: Good morning, Mrs. Emily, good morning, beautiful Lua.

Lua: Good morning, Giginia.

Emily: Good morning, Virginia! I wanted to ask you something.

Virginia: You can tell me, ma'am.

Emily: Can you start with my office today? I'm expecting a friend today.

Virginia: Is it the handsome neighbor?

Emily: Virginia…

I wink at her and go to the kitchen. I talk to my colleagues and go straight to the bathroom to put on my uniform.

After tidying Mrs. Emily's office, I leave and come face to face with the handsome neighbor in the living room, Lua must be with the nanny and Mrs. Emily will surely enjoy the free time with the handsome neighbor.

I walk past them and they go into the office afterwards. I go to the kitchen to get a drink of water and end up getting into a conversation about Julia with the girls.

Virginia: Look, I swear that if there was a place here, I would ask Mrs. Emily to take the girl in, she's so nice.

Emily: Who are you talking about, Virginia?

Virginia: Oh, you scared me, Mrs. Emily… I was just telling the girls that there's a young woman at my house who needs a job, that if you needed someone, I'd talk to you… Mrs. Emily, the woman has magic hands, she cooks like no one else.

Emily: I see.

Virginia: But what about the neighbor? Did he leave so soon?

Emily: Yes, he received an important call.

Virginia: Oh, I see…

Over her shoulder, I see Kaique walk by.

Virginia: Speaking of important calls…

I whisper.

Emily: What did you say?

Virginia: Nothing… let me get back to work.

I grab the broom and head for the living room.