Friday, 6:00 AM.
Allan awoke and headed straight to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, made some fresh coffee that sent its aroma wafting throughout the house, slipped two slices of bread into the toaster, and went to call his daughter in her room.
Allan - Wake up, honey, it's time!
He tapped lightly on the door and entered, only to trip over the toys scattered across the floor, hurting the sole of his foot on the hard plastic of the Barbie house.
Allan - Darn it!
He hopped on one foot and turned on the light to see what he had stepped on. At that moment, Judy woke up but stayed in bed, watching her dad as he bent his leg to check his foot.
Allan - How many times have I told you to pick up all your toys when you’re done playing, Judy?
Judy - Did it hurt, Daddy?
Allan - Yes! Come on, we’re running late again, go straight to the bathroom for your morning routine.
The little girl climbs out of bed and heads to the bathroom, first brushing her teeth, then taking a shower. Meanwhile, Allan gathers all the toys and puts them away in boxes, taking the opportunity to tidy up the room a bit.
After her shower, Judy emerges from the bathroom in a pink robe, Allan dresses her, and pulls out the desk chair for her to sit so he could comb her hair.
Judy - Make a French braid, Daddy!
Allan - A what now?
Judy - All my friends wear their hair that way.
Allan - I don’t know how to make that kind of hairstyle, Judy.
He combs her hair and ties it into a ponytail, but the girl looks in the mirror and complains.
Judy - It's not right, it’s wrong!
He scrunches his brow, losing patience.
Allan - And how's it supposed to be?
Judy - A French braid!
Allan - That’s it, I can’t do that! You’ll go as is, end of discussion.
Her eyes fill with tears. Allan was about to leave the room when he glanced back and saw, he sighed in defeat and pulled out his phone, looked up on YouTube to figure out what on earth the hairstyle was.
Allan - Let’s see how to do this!
He watches attentively to the video tutorial.
Allan - I think I've got it now.
The girl cheers up and wipes her tears with her forearm, Allan starts following the tutorial, and attempts the hairstyle haphazardly, trying about three times but not getting it quite right.
Judy - It’s pretty, Daddy!
He places his hands on his hips and smiles.
Allan - You’re just saying that to make me feel good, right?
Judy - No, I like it! It’s different!
She gets up from the chair and looks in the mirror of her small vanity, picks up some lip gloss and applies it to her lips, then raises both arms in the air and twirls around.
Judy - Ready!
Allan - You are beautiful, and you're my princess, the one I love most in this life.
He picks her up in his arms and carries her to the kitchen, seats her at the table. He gets a plate and places the toast on it.
Allan - Would you like peanut butter and strawberry jam?
She puts a finger to her chin and looks up thoughtfully.
Judy - Strawberry jam!
Allan - Excellent choice! (laughs)
He spreads a little jam on her toast and opens the fridge to get the milk, breaks the seal, and pours it into his daughter's cup.
Allan - Eat it all up!
He kisses the top of her head and prepares another snack for her lunchbox, places her backpack on the sofa, then sits down at the table to drink his black coffee.
Judy - Can we go to the park today? I want to see the ducks in the pond.
He takes another sip of coffee and looks at her over the rim of his cup.
Allan - Most of the pond is frozen, so it might not be such a good idea; only twenty percent of the pond isn't frozen.
Judy - Please, Daddy!
Allan - It's dangerous; the ice on the lake is too thin, they even put up a sign prohibiting crossing.
Judy - Is the ducks’ area frozen too?
He closes his eyes and opens them.
Allan - Alright, we won't stay long! Just so you can see the ducks.
The girl celebrates and hugs him.
Allan - Now off we go, you still have school today, funny girl.
The little one dashes to the living room to get her backpack and puts it on, then grabs her lunchbox. Allan quickly changes clothes and readies his backpack to take to the base.
...
The morning passed, and Luiza woke up a bit later thanks to a great night's sleep. However, her phone was swamped with messages and calls from Ryan, all of which she ignored.
At lunchtime, she went out to eat at a small restaurant on the same street, but returned to her room and spent most of the afternoon watching films in an attempt to distract herself from her fears that kept trying to thwart her.
It wasn’t until late in the afternoon that she decided to leave her room and enjoy the city. When she went down to the reception, Mr. Bartolomeu was napping in the rocking chair, so to avoid waking him, she gently opened the exit door, having her first encounter with the day outside. She looks up at the sky and around, it's such a peaceful place she thought this would be the perfect place to live her life peacefully.
A cold breeze hits her face, and she shrinks into herself, crossing her arms over her chest and walking slowly, taking in every little piece of the place, feeling so free and at peace she can't contain her immense happiness, smiling at nothing in particular all the while.
She continued her walk to the park, and upon arrival, she saw more than half of the pond frozen like an ice rink. However, there was a part that was habitable, and several ducks were swimming in it.
She pulls out a pair of gloves from the small purse slung over her shoulder, slips them on her hands, and sits on a bench to admire some children playing with the snow.
Luiza - What an amazing place!
She takes out her cellphone from her purse and starts to film and take pictures of the area, as well as snapping several selfies. A pink ball rolls towards her, bumping against her feet; she stands to pick it up and looks around for the owner.
A voice calls out, "It's my ball!"
Turning, Luiza hears the sweetest voice she’s ever heard in her life, faces the side, and meets Judy with her hand over her mouth, a bit embarrassed.
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