Episode 5

Three months later

“Did he really wake up, doctor?”

“Yes, he did. He is undergoing some exams right now.”

“Does he know everything already?”

“No. He was very confused at first, and since he just woke up from a coma, everything has to be told very calmly.”

“Will I be able to see him?”

“Soon.”

I couldn't take this agony anymore. For three months I could barely focus on working, seeing my best friend fighting for his life every day. And I didn't know how it would be when he found out everything that had happened.

What he feared most did not actually happen. Caique did not lose the Presidency of AGM Construtora, the empire he had inherited from his father. The vice president was very fond of my friend and, along with other partners, did not allow him to be removed from office despite all the effort from his own mother, who was not even moved by her son's accident. Aurelio Fontes would remain in the Presidency until Caique could or even wanted to return, as I didn't know what his life would be like from now on.

When I heard on the phone everything that had happened three months ago, I thought I would die from the amount of despair I felt. At that moment I learned that Caique had been involved in a serious accident and I could only think about going to him.

Except for everything that was happening, as the company's main lawyer, I had to clear up a lot of information that was spread around. I had to have the presence of mind to control the pain I felt for him and fight for everything he loved.

With great difficulty, I convinced Mrs. Branca Montenegro to make a statement stating that the issue of dubious materials that would be used in the construction of the mall in Sao Conrado was nothing more than a conversation, a bluff, and I had her show the invoices for everything that had already been ordered for the project. Aurelio was following everything Caique had envisioned.

So that story was denied and dropped. One less thing.

Beatriz Montenegro, Caique's sister, spoke out in an interview she gave and talked about her brother's forced outing. Beatriz was brilliant and rebuked those people who walked all over other people's feelings to grow and show off. As she was a successful model, her speech went around the world and on the internet, you could already see several reports and celebrities defending my friend.

But that wasn't enough for me and I went after the person who caused all this.

I didn't rest until the police were called and all employees were questioned. First I filed a lawsuit against the vehicle that used one of its employees to seduce and expose Caique. During the hearing, the owner of the magazine said he was unaware of his employees' methods, and I demanded to be face to face with Natanael, and that's when I discovered yet another lie: the scoundrel used a false name. Not even his theatrical crying convinced me. I sued him too.

Finally, all that remained was the pain I carried from seeing my friend in that condition. A handsome, powerful, kind, intelligent man who dreamed of being happy being who he really was, was now going through the worst situation of his life. I couldn't accept it, I couldn't get over it. But when the doctor was blunt, there was nothing I could argue.

Caique suffered an incomplete spinal cord injury. It was a miracle it wasn’t worse. He lost movement and sensation from the waist down. My best friend was paraplegic and I didn't know how he would face it, how he would live with it. Doubts upon doubts assailed me, and I imagined it would be worse for him. I was inert for days when I found out. When despair hit, I cried like a baby and just prayed for a miracle.

Now I was here, sitting in this hospital waiting room, waiting for the opportunity to see him with his eyes open. But at the same time I was scared to death, I was a coward, not knowing how to tell him about his new condition.

“Saulo, are you okay?” I looked to the side and Beatriz sat down close to me. “Can we see him now? When they called me from here I dropped everything and came running.”