Susana meandered through the mall, slightly disheartened by her failure to find the "right" look for her upcoming audition. Since relocating to the new city five years ago, she had been vying to land the lead role in a major series, and this time she needed to make a strong impression, not least because they were in need of the money, too. Life in the big city was expensive, and her mother hadn't been able to secure any cleaning jobs like they had hoped. Although she had gained a bit of fame for a character she had played in a small online series—purely a comedic part—she knew that wouldn't be much help on her resume since her role had been to play dead throughout the script. With a sigh, she decided to enter the tenth clothing store that came into view, but as she meticulously examined each lovely garment, she was unable to make a decision. Immediately picking up her cellphone, she whined.
"Mom!!!" Susana gasped, pleading anxiously. "I desperately need help!"
"What's happened, my child?" Teresa jumped off the couch, dropping her cross-stitch immediately. "Tell me where you are??" Filled with panic, she grabbed her purse, rushing towards the door of their new home. "I'll be there in a minute!!!!"
"Yes, come…" Susana overdramatized once more, whimpering. "Without you, I can't decide which dress to buy."
"What?" Teresa halted in her tracks, staring at her phone in bewilderment. "SUSAN!!!!"
"JEEZ MOM!!!!" Susana pulled her phone away from her ear, grimacing. "Do you want to make me deaf?"
"AND YOU?????" Teresa grumbled irritably, clutching her chest. "Do you want to give me a heart attack?"
"Sorry!!!" Susana bit her lip, holding back a soft laugh. "I didn't mean to." Her mother still hadn't adjusted to the idea of living in a big city, always worrying about robberies and crimes, as if that only happened where they lived now. Deep down, she understood her mother's concerns—where they had lived before, it was such a small place, almost everyone knew each other. "Stop expecting the worst." Smiling at the care and concern her mother showed, she added, "I'm fine, but I really do need your help." Although she knew her mother couldn't see her, she pouted as she said the last words. "Pleeeease, Mommy!!!"
"Alright!!" Teresa rolled her eyes, sighing in frustration. "I was ready to run out the door anyway." Shaking her head, she locked the apartment door and immediately headed for the elevator. "What floor are you on?"
"On the third!" Susana declared cheerfully, knowing her mother always had good taste, which made decision-making much faster with another female's opinion. "This way you can give me a ride home and I save on a taxi."
"You do know I'm getting a bit old to be your chauffeur." Teresa huffed, shaking her head. "Don't you think it's time you got your driver's license?" Exiting the elevator, she made her way to the car parked in front of the apartment. She did feel more tired than usual but didn't want to show any signs of weakness to her daughter, who had overcome a trauma that could have left many psychological scars. The move had been difficult for Teresa, but it had done wonders for Susana, and that was enough for her. Yet both were very dependent on each other, and she worried that as the years went by, she would become more frail, causing her daughter suffering. She needed to start encouraging her to loosen those ties, to find someone to share her life with, before something happened. Sighing, she tried to push aside all her thoughts and concerns. In a light-hearted tone, she said, "I won't last forever, you know."
"Don't say that, Mom!!!" Susana retorted, swallowing hard. "You'll have to put up with me for a long time yet!!!"
"With all the pleasure, my child." Teresa said, smiling broadly before hanging up. "See you soon!"
"See you soon, Mom!" Susana hung up with her mother's words echoing in her mind.
Her mother was her safe harbor, and she couldn't even fathom losing her one day. Deep down, she knew that with her mother's advancing years, she wouldn't be around forever, but after suffering a great loss five years prior, the thought of another gaping hole in her heart was unbearable.
Wandering aimlessly, she became lost in her thoughts, in the pain that was beginning to emerge with certain memories, but suddenly something caught her attention. There was a peculiar sound that made her tense and her heart constrict. Stopping abruptly, she focused her gaze where the sound was strongest, immediately noticing a child crying behind one of the wooden benches in the mall. Looking around, she saw no one nearby who appeared to be the boy's mother or father, so she immediately approached, crouching down to where he was hiding.
"Hello!!" Susana assessed the boy's pale face, and her heart clenched. "Are you lost?"
"I don't know!!" Carlinhos looked around before answering.
"What's your name?" Susana was confused by the child's words but soon smiled, amused by the natural innocence of his age.
"My name is Carlinhos." The boy sniffled twice before setting his gaze on the kind woman.
"Did you come here alone, Carlinhos?" Susana asked, a bit apprehensively.
"No!" Carlinhos was slightly surprised by the strange sensation that washed over him when near this woman. "I came with Daddy!!"
"And he left you alone here in the mall?" Susana's mouth fell open in amazement. What kind of man would leave a child alone like this?
"I guess so..." Carlinhos whined.
"Then come with me." Susana immediately smiled, extending her hand to the lost boy. "I'll help you find him."
"Yes Mommieee!!" Carlinhos took a deep breath in Susana's direction and declared excitedly as he jumped from behind the bench to give her a hug.
"So adorable! But you know I'm not your mommy." Susana was moved by the encounter. Sighing, she took a moment to look at the boy, whose blond hair was like hers, but his eyes were peculiarly crystal blue. Firmly holding his hand, she smiled. "Let's go, Carlinhos, your daddy must be very worried."
"He deserves it..." Carlinhos sniffled again, wiping his tears with his shirt sleeve. "If he had given me the bunny, I wouldn't have run away."
"Oh, my God..." Susana shook her head, heading towards the mall's reception desk, understanding finally what had happened. "So that's it..."
Susana advanced with measured steps, appreciating the company, even as her tears threatened to fall. As much as she didn't want to remember the darkest period of her life, thoughts of her own son came flooding back to mind. He would be about Carlinhos' age now, and probably, if she had been with him in that place, would throw the very same tantrum... over a stuffed rabbit... or any other toy.
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Updated 83 Episodes
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments