Episode 2

John: Girl, what are you doing sleeping in the middle of the street? This place is dangerous, there are robberies frequently.

Julia: But, what would they take from me, John?

He sat next to me.

John: What happened, girl, why are you in the middle of the street? I've never seen you leave that house.

Julia: Mrs. Marisa dismissed me, she asked me to leave and not look for them again.

John: What do you mean? Just like that, out of nowhere?

Julia: No, John, it wasn't out of nowhere… they've done a lot during all these years.

John: Look, girl, Lila was always the only one who really cared about you in that house, those people just made you their servant all these years.

Julia: John, I've lived there since I left the hospital, I had access to school, food, they really did a lot for me, what I do is nothing compared to what they gave me.

He shakes his head.

Julia: What is it, John?

John: You're very innocent, Julia… they deprived you of the world, you lived all these years for them, cooking and cleaning their house from Monday to Sunday.

Julia: It's okay, John, I don't mind… maybe you're right, but what can I do?

John: Well, daughter, but I'm sure you'll recover and get your things here outside. Are you going to a relative of Lila's?

Julia: No, John, I don't know any of Lila's relatives, she passed away when I was very young, don't you remember? Even if she told me about someone, I don't remember.

Lila was a former employee of the mansion, when she died I was twelve years old, and after her departure I was completely alone, things only got worse.

I became the house cleaner and as I grew up, I became the cook too. I was the only employee inside the house, the other three were two security guards and a gardener, the cleaning and organization was up to me.

Lila was 60 years old when she passed away, she told me how happy my mother was when she arrived at Mrs. Marisa's house to work. A few months later she said she was pregnant and Mrs. Marisa accepted her anyway, since my father didn't want anything to do with her and she was alone in the world.

The pregnancy was smooth, but unfortunately she did not survive the cesarean section. It was then that Mrs. Marisa and Mr. Paulo decided to keep me, that's why I'm grateful to them, not everyone is as lucky as me.

John: Well, Julia, I want to help you… I can't leave you alone on the street.

Julia: Are you serious, John? Look, I promise I'll help you with whatever you need! With the letters, I'll clean the house, I'll cook.

I get up and say it all at once.

John: Calm down, girl, I'm going to call my wife, first I have to let her know we're coming.

He picked up the phone and walked away a bit, I watched and it didn't seem like he had a fight with her. When he hung up the phone, I turned my face so he wouldn't notice my nervousness.

John: Ready, we can go.

Julia: John, I don't even know how to thank you!

We went to the bus stop and soon one passed, he even had the kindness to pay my fare.

When we arrived at his street it was already night, my stomach was rumbling with hunger and there was a time when even I was startled by the noise. I had only eaten those cheese breads in the morning.

John: We're almost there, Julia.

I nodded my head, embarrassed.

When we arrived, he knocked on the door and a very beautiful woman opened.

John: Virginia, this is Julia.

Julia: Hello, good evening...

Virginia: Nice to meet you, I'm Virginia, you're very pretty, Julia.

Julia: You too, Virginia, the pleasure is all mine.

Virginia: Come in, my mother is finishing dinner.

We enter and Virginia asks me to sit on the couch. The two go to the kitchen and I sit there like a statue.

Soon, the two of them and an older woman come back to the living room, she looks at me a little suspiciously and I get up to greet her.

Julia: Hello, good evening.

John: Julia, this is my wife, Gloria.

Gloria: Hello, Julia.

I shake her hand.

Julia: Mrs. Gloria, thank you so much for having me here, I promise not to disturb or stay too long.

Gloria: It's okay, shall we have dinner?

We follow to the kitchen and everything on the table looked very appetizing.

John: Help yourself, Julia, make yourself comfortable.

I put some soup in my plate, and then take some toast.

Julia: I'm going to eat in the living room, leave you alone.

Virginia: Julia, why don't you eat here with us?

Julia: Can I?

Gloria: What a silly question, girl, sit down.

I sit down a little awkwardly and we all have dinner together. It was beautiful to see the loving way they treated each other, a true family.

After dinner, Virginia called me into the room.

Virginia: You can sleep in my bed, I'll sleep on the mattress.

Julia: No way, let me sleep on the mattress.

Virginia: But you're a guest, it's no trouble.

Julia: No, please…

Virginia: Okay, but if you want to switch, just let me know, there's still time.

Julia: Don't worry about it, Virginia, if it wasn't for you I'd be sleeping on the street right now.

She smiled sideways.

Virginia: Everything will be fine, it's just a phase.

Julia: I think so too, Virginia, it's just a phase…

She gave me a towel and showed me where the bathroom was, I went to take a shower and left all my tears in that bathroom, I hated the feeling of bothering a family, the feeling of never having anywhere to run in difficult times… of always being a burden in everyone's life.

After showering I come out of the bathroom and go straight to the mattress, Virginia was already sleeping in her bed and I kept as quiet as I could so as not to wake her up, I was so tired I didn't even see the night go by, I slept like a rock.

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