Luiza was absolutely certain she had seen the little girl somewhere before, but couldn't quite place where. Nonetheless, she smiled broadly, picked up the pink ball, and got up from the bench. She walked over to the girl and knelt down, coming to her eye level.
Luiza - Is this yours?
The girl nodded shyly, confirming that it was.
Luiza - Here you go!
The little one took the ball and looked into Luiza's eyes.
Luiza - What's your name?
The girl remained silent.
Luiza - You're very beautiful!
Judy - I can't talk to you!
Luiza's eyebrows rose in confusion, but she just smiled at the comment.
Judy - You’re a stranger!
Luiza - You’re right, I am a stranger to you! (laughs)
Judy - My daddy doesn't like me talking to strangers or taking candies. Do you have any?
Luiza - What? Candies?
The girl nodded.
Luiza - No, I don’t have any! And your father is absolutely right, don’t talk to strangers and never accept anything from them.
Luiza turned her gaze back to the expanse of the park and closed her eyes, enjoying the fresh air. Then she stood up and sat back down on the bench.
Allan - JUDY?
He called out upon finding his daughter, a look of worry and relief on his face as he approached her and admonished her.
Allan - What do you think you’re doing? Trying to give me a heart attack, girl?
Judy - The wind did it, Daddy!
Allan - What wind?
Judy - It blew my ball over here.
At that moment, Luiza remembered where she had seen the girl before and looked at Allan awkwardly.
Judy - The lady gave me my ball back!
Allan - I've told you not to talk to strangers. You're grounded!
He took his daughter's hand and pulled her away, but Judy turned back to look at Luiza.
Judy - Bye, stranger!
Luiza smiled and waved back. Allan turned to see who his daughter was talking to and was taken aback by the unexpected sight of the woman from the diner.
He stood frozen for a moment, watching her. Luiza, embarrassed, averted her gaze to the ground. Just as he was about to say something, he was interrupted by teacher Helen who held a balloon in her hand.
Helen - There you are!
Allan - Hi, Helen!
The little girl hugged her teacher and received a balloon.
Allan - Say thank you, honey!
Judy - Thank you, it's beautiful!
Helen - I've got to go now, need to prepare for the parent-teacher meeting tomorrow morning. I just stepped out to grab a bite at the bakery.
She said her goodbyes to the two and hurried off, soon running into another teacher from the school at the hot dog stand.
Allan looked to the bench to see that Luiza had left, seizing the moment of his distraction to slip away. She was walking along the edge of the frozen lake in the distance, which was cordoned off with signs warning not to cross.
Ever curious, she took some pictures with her phone, tested the ice with the tip of her toe, and realized it was a thin sheet.
Ryan - Like the place!
She startled at the sound of his voice and turned around almost instantly.
Ryan - Hi, doll! (laughs)
Luiza - What do you want? We’re over!
Ryan - No, I didn’t break up with you!
Luiza - Please, Ryan, leave me be, I beg you...
He cut her off, grabbing her wrist.
Ryan - I’m very disappointed with you, leaving the hotel without my permission.
Luiza - Ow, you’re hurting me!
In his anger, he gripped her wrists tightly. Luiza closed her eyes and cried out, but her voice went unheard. Tears streamed from her eyes, and the pain she felt was not just physical but was tearing at her soul and dignity as a woman. She tried to escape his clasp, but he pulled her tighter and dragged her to the prohibited part of the frozen lake.
Not far away, Allan and Judy were sitting on the bench previously occupied by Luiza, enjoying a delicious hot dog and watching ducks.
Judy - Look, there she is!
The little girl spotted Luiza and pointed in her direction, but just then, Allan's phone rang, and he answered.
Allan 📱- Hello, Michael...
...
Luiza - Let go, Ryan! We mustn’t cross here, it’s dangerous! (crying)
Ryan - Shut your mouth, you whore!
Luiza - No...
Ryan - Who do you think you are, you idiot? You're just a simple librarian I met by chance in Sao Paulo! You are nobody.
Luiza - I am somebody, yes!
She struggled and broke free from his hold.
Ryan - You have nobody in this life, you damned orphan who was raised in a third-rate orphanage in Brazil.
Luiza - Stop it! (crying)
She covered her ears with her hands and closed her eyes. Ryan roughly pulled her hands away and looked around.
Ryan - Not even your parents wanted you, you starveling! I'm the only one in this life who loves you, and you reject me. (crying)
Luiza - That’s not love!
Ryan - I'm a man who can have any woman in the world, I'm wealthy, I could give you the stars, and still you cast me aside like insignificant trash. You ungrateful wretch.
Luiza - You know what?
He looked into her eyes.
Luiza - I don’t love you, and I never will!
Ryan's anger consumed him, malice ablaze in his eyes, and without a second thought or care for who might see, he struck her face. Luiza fell back, seated hard on the icy surface about two meters from him.
The violence of the impact caused the ice sheet to crack, echoing like splintering glass, extending to his feet. Luiza's eyes widened in terror as she held her breath, trying not to break the ice further.
Luiza - Help... help me! Don’t move, please!
She spoke haltingly.
Ryan looked at her in shock, then looked around before looking down, realizing the ice would give way if he moved, plunging Luiza into the freezing water.
Luiza - Please!
Her eyes begged for mercy.
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