Episode 11

Sara: Adam terrifies me with his ferocity. He recounts everything, and I keep quiet; it’s a miracle he’s not dragging me away. Every time a man tries to talk to me, he firmly slides his hands around my waist, and in a way, it's a relief; it would be terrible to be unattended at an event where I know no one. He introduces me to several people. I’m squeezing myself, needing the restroom, trying to mask it because Laura just left to dance, and I don’t want to pull her off the floor.

Adam: What's going on, Sara?

Sara is very restless.

Sara: Can you lean in close to my mouth? I don’t want anyone to overhear.

Adam: I take a deep breath and lean towards Sara’s mouth.

Sara: I need to pee.

Adam: What's that?

Sara: Pee, Adam.

Adam: Just ask me directly when it’s something like this, Sara.

Sara: Adam takes my hand and we walk. He tells me to wait, and I hear some unusual commotion; some women pass by, complaining.

Unknown Woman: As handsome as he is rude.

Unknown Woman II: I was startled by how he chased everyone out of the restroom.

Adam: I take Sara's hand and lead her to the restroom.

We're in the ladies' room, Sara.

Sara: You cleared the ladies' room out?

Adam: Sara, do you need to pee or not?

I say, impatiently.

Sara: I smile.

Yes, I need to pee, Adam. Help me to the stall and show me where the toilet paper is, please.

Adam: Sara goes in, and I wait at the door. She comes out smiling, and I’m just staring at her. I must be a real idiot! Sara washes her hands and asks me to check if her dress is all right. I scan her from head to toe and we leave the restroom.

Sara: Thanks, Adam. Can we dance?

Adam: Didn’t you say you couldn’t dance?

Sara: And I can’t. The wedding was the first time I danced, and it was nice.

Adam: I stay silent, and Sara sighs in disappointment.

Sara: Can you get me some water?

Adam: I'll get it; the bar is right over here. I can see you from there, don’t move from this spot.

Sara: I wouldn’t know where to go anyway.

Adam leaves, and I just listen to the people passing by.

(Claiton, 20 years old)

Claiton: Sara...

Sara: Tom?

Claiton: My goodness, it's you!

Sara: Tom, I’m blind, I can't see where you are; I'll reach out my hand.

Claiton: Sara, I'm sorry.

Sara: I’m surprised with a hug.

Lara: I see someone hugging Sara and Adam moving in furiously towards them.

It's Adam, sweetheart.

Marcos: Son!

Adam doesn't hear me.

Lara: Dear Sara.

I approach and move the young man away from Sara.

Sara: Tom, this is my mother-in-law, Lara.

Claiton: Mother-in-law? You're dating, Sara?

Adam: She’s married!

Sara: This is my husband, Tom, Adam.

Claiton: You got married at twenty, Sara?

Lara: For love, there’s no age, young man.

I say while stepping between Adam and Tom.

Claiton: Adam, right? My name's Claiton.

Adam: Claiton extends his hand, and I grasp it tightly. He winces in pain.

Claiton: If you don't mind, I'd like to take Sara for a dance.

Adam: That’s not possible; we were about to dance just now.

Sara: We were?

Adam: We are.

Sara: Adam yanks me by my waist abruptly; I don’t even have time to say goodbye to Claiton. He guides me to what I assume is the dance floor.

Adam: To the world, we are married, Sara. Dancing with your ex at an event of this magnitude could end up on every magazine's front page.

Sara: For the first time, Adam speaks softly to me, I can feel him trying to be calm.

Adam, he’s not my ex-boyfriend. He was my best friend; I never had a boyfriend. At the wedding, that was my first kiss.

Adam: I look at Sara intently, note she blushes as she speaks of the kiss, and am convinced she's not lying. I stop in the middle of the dance floor, place Sara's hands on my neck, and wrap my hands around her slender waist. She rests her face against mine, and we dance. The music ends; I'm unsettled by this closeness and push Sara away.

Sara: It was nice to dance a bit. Adam seems to struggle to end the dance, his breathing betrays his strain. I would have loved to dance more, but Adam pulls away.

Adam: I pull away, and Sara looks downhearted.

Want to dance more?

Sara: Only if you want to as well.

Adam stays silent, inhales deeply and exhales as if burdened by the prospect. He approaches, and I feel his hand clench on my back as if he's balling his fists. I don't understand why he agreed to dance if it bothers him so much.

Adam: We keep dancing; I try to control the anger I feel for standing here like a fool, indulging Sara's wishes.

Sara: We stay like that for a while.

Adam, I don't want to bother you, I’m sorry for that, but I’m really thirsty.

Adam: I remember I didn’t get the water for Sara. I take her hand, head to the bar, and ask for a glass of water for her. The water comes, and I hand it to her.

Sara: Adam gives me the water; I drink it all in one go, parched.

Adam: Sara downs the water and seems to breathe a sigh of relief.

Sara: Thanks, Adam.

As usual, Adam does not respond.

Adam: We return to our table, and Claiton is no longer around. Sara sits with my mother for a while as I speak with some businessmen. Claiton keeps glancing over at Sara.

Claiton: Adam.

Adam: I usually don't warn anyone, but we’re at an important event, so I'll be blunt. I don’t want you near Sara!

Claiton: Hey man! Sara and I are just friends.

Adam: Consider yourself warned. She might believe that because she truly sees you as a friend, but it’s clear you want more.

Claiton: Well, I’ll be straightforward too; I’ve always been in love with Sara, but I’ve known her for many years and I know she'd never give me a chance while she's married. Sara is not just any woman, and I imagine you know that. You’re lucky to be married to her. Don’t worry about me, out of respect for Sara I’ll keep my distance while you’re married.

Adam: Claiton leaves, and I wrestle with the urge to punch his face. I watch Sara smiling with my mother for a few seconds and then continue networking, not taking my eyes off her. Multiple jerks try approaching, and I see my mother cutting them off even before they can speak to Sara. I can’t deny, there’s not a single woman in this hall who stands out like Sara does; she's beautiful, and it’s bothering me more than it should!

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