Episode 2

In Brazil, another day was beginning for Isabela, a beautiful young woman with a striking presence. Her dark skin contrasted with her light eyes that seemed to capture and reflect light in a mesmerizing way. Her long, slightly wavy hair cascaded down, framing her face. Isabela exuded a natural beauty that drew attention wherever she went.

She had just turned 24 and hadn't even had time to celebrate. Since childhood, Isabela had had a tumultuous life. Her parents separated when she was still little, and her father became an absent figure in her life when he left her mother to live with his mistress, contributing to a sense of abandonment and mistrust.

And the situation worsened when her mother remarried. Her stepfather had been eyeing her with desire from the beginning, creating an unbearable environment within the home where they lived. Her stepfather's constant harassment made Isabela feel insecure and always on alert, making her uncomfortable whenever she was at home, and she could only think about moving out, but she didn't have the financial means to do so yet.

Determined to escape this situation, Isabela dedicated herself to her studies and work with tenacity.

"It's going to work out..." Isabela said as she left college, feeling exhaustion take over after a sleepless night.

Isabela was studying business administration and was only one semester away from graduating. She saw the course as a path to financial independence and a stable career. She studied in the morning and in the afternoon worked in an office as an administrative assistant, where she was known for her competence and dedication, but the salary she received was not enough to cover all her basic needs and college expenses.

To supplement her income, Isabela worked as a bartender at a nightclub. The second job was exhausting, but she faced it as a necessity to raise money and leave her mother's house as soon as possible. At the nightclub, she had to deal with diverse and often difficult customers. She hated being harassed, but her ability to remain calm under pressure helped her face the difficulties of the nightlife environment.

In the middle of that night, during a short break. The pulsating lights of the dance floor hurt her eyes, and the vibrant music that echoed loudly bothered her ears. Isabela was visibly exhausted, sitting on a bench. Mel, a coworker, saw Isabela's state and approached with two bottles of water.

"Here, Isa. You look like you're going to pass out at any moment," Mel said, handing a bottle of water to Isabela, who accepted.

"Thank you, Mel. I really needed that." Mel sat beside Isabela, rubbing her back, trying to give her colleague strength.

"What happened today? You're more tired than usual."

"Don't even get me started... I have college in the morning, work at the office in the afternoon, and now I'm working here at the club. It feels like I don't have a second to rest."

"And you're still standing? How do you do it?"

"Honestly, I don't even know. I just know that I need the money to get out of my mother's house. The harassment from my stepfather is becoming unbearable... Yesterday when I got home, I just wanted to take a shower and lie down, but when I entered the bathroom, I forgot to lock the door, and when I started to undress, he came in... I can't keep living like this..."

Mel placed her hand on Isabela's shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Isa. I can't imagine how difficult it must be. Have you tried talking to your mother about this?"

"I have, but she doesn't believe me. She thinks I'm exaggerating or trying to turn her against her husband. It's frustrating... She says that I'm the one provoking that man." Isabela vented, on the verge of tears. "That man is a bum... How many times have I had to drop out of college and use the tuition money to support the house because, according to him, he couldn't find a job? Mel, I should have graduated two years ago... I love my siblings, they are so little... it's not their fault they are that jerk's children, and I also love my mother, but she is blind, she doesn't believe me..."

"It must be terrible. And at college, how are things?" she asked, trying to change the subject so as not to see her colleague despair further.

"I think college is the only thing keeping me sane. It's tiring, but at least I feel like I'm building a future."

"You're a warrior, Isa. I don't know how you manage to do all of this. But please, take care of yourself. I don't want to see you crumble... If I could, I would take you to my house, but there's no way, you know I live in an apartment that looks more like a studio with my husband, we still haven't been able to move."

"Thank you, Mel. I really appreciate your support, and don't worry, I will achieve everything I want. My life will change... I will try to rest a little more... if I can find the time."

"Rest? In what parallel universe? Soon, Paulo, the creep, will come looking for you." Mel mentioned the owner of the nightclub, and Isabela grimaced, remembering him and the way he treated her, the indecent proposals he made.

"Don't even get me started on that man..."

"But seriously, if you need anything, I'm here for you."

"Thanks, Mel." Isabela hugged her colleague, grateful for the strength she gave her.

"Let's go, girl! We still have a long night ahead of us."

"Let's go, then. Another night, another battle."

The two stood up and returned to work.

"I feel like something is going to happen, that something is going to change in my life..." Isabela had a sudden premonition.

"Really?" Mel asked, looking at her with interest. "What kind of change do you feel is going to happen?"

"I don't know for sure... It's just a premonition, a strange feeling that I can't explain. But I feel like I'm on the verge of something big, something that will change the course of my life... This is strange..."

"Maybe it's the universe preparing something good for you, Isa." Isabela smiled.

"I hope you're right, Mel. I just want this change to bring me something good, something worthwhile," Isabela said, feeling her heart race.

"Who knows, you might find a boyfriend... The love of your life..."

"And who said I want that? After what happened with Gustavo? After being abandoned by my father and having to put up with my stepfather and Paulo... I prefer to be alone," she said, returning to the nightclub bar.

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