Episode 4

After calming down, Mel stepped out. She was determined to find at least a mattress to sleep on. In the neighborhood, she found a small furniture store. The prices were affordable, and she decided to use the last limit of her credit card to buy a bed, but as she looked at the piece of furniture, it felt as if Mel relived the previous night when she found her husband with another woman in their bed.

“What’s the price of that sofa?” she asked the salesperson, pointing to the couch next to the bed.

“This sofa is on sale. It and the bed are being sold for the same price. Are you going to take both, miss?” the seller asked with a smile.

“I only have enough money for one of the two…” Mel pondered for a moment. The memory of the betrayal was too strong to allow her to feel comfortable buying a bed at that moment. “I’ll take the sofa,” Mel decided firmly.

The seller agreed and quickly prepared the purchase. Mel knew she was making a practical decision that was emotionally easier to handle. As the seller took care of the final details, Mel took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.

Besides the sofa, Mel bought some kitchen utensils, bed linens, and a pillow. It was all she could afford at that moment, but she knew this would be a great relief to start organizing her new life.

The sofa was delivered that afternoon, and Mel arranged it in the small room, feeling a bit more comfortable. It was a new beginning, albeit humble, and each small step was important.

Meanwhile, Eduardo was at home immersed in reading a book, which helped him forget, at least temporarily, the everyday problems. The sound of his cellphone vibrating on the table beside the armchair he was sitting in interrupted his concentration. He picked up the device to see his mother’s name flashing on the screen.

“Hi, Mom, how are you?” Eduardo answered the call, trying to sound cheerful.

“Hi, son! Everything’s great. I’m calling to invite you for lunch here tomorrow. You know how I love having everyone gathered for Sunday lunch.” His mother’s tone was warm.

Eduardo hesitated, already anticipating where this conversation would lead.

“I know, Mom, but who did you invite for lunch?” he asked, probing who would be present.

“I invited your uncles, Rodrigo and Julia, Ellen and her fiance…” His mother’s voice overflowed with enthusiasm. “And speaking of your sister, she and Rafael are eager to share their wedding plans; it won’t be long before they tie the knot.”

Eduardo felt a tightening in his chest upon hearing his mother’s words. The presence of his brother and sister-in-law was something he wanted to avoid at all costs, especially now that Julia was pregnant. The thought of seeing her pregnant only made the situation more unbearable. And while he loved his sister, her happiness with her fiance was also a painful reminder of how his own love life was in shambles.

“You know, Mom, I think I can’t make it this time. I have a lot of work piled up, and I need to use the weekend to catch up.” Eduardo tried to come up with a quick excuse.

“Oh, Eduardo, you’re always working so much…” his mother said, disappointed. “I really want you to come to lunch, son, especially since your sister invited some friends; you might meet someone special tomorrow.”

“You’re still trying to find a girlfriend for me, but I don’t want to…”

“Your sister’s friends are beautiful, well-mannered, from good families; you could easily fall for one of them. So, will you come?”

“Sorry, Mom, but I really can’t have lunch with you tomorrow. I promise to make it up another Sunday.”

“Oh, son, it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other…”

“We can have lunch during the week,” he suggested, trying to soften her disappointment.

“Alright, dear. I’ll call to arrange a day, then. Take care.”

“Don’t worry, Mom. I love you! Give Dad and Ellen a hug for me.” Eduardo ended the call feeling a strange sensation in his chest.

He leaned back in the armchair, trying to resume his reading, but he couldn’t. The betrayal from the past still hurt, and the sight of happy lives built upon his ruins was a constant reminder of that pain.

He was determined to keep his distance from this situation, at least until he felt strong enough to face it all without being affected. He knew this choice was driving a wedge between him and his family, but for now, it seemed like the only way to protect his heart.

By late afternoon, as Eduardo attempted to return to his book, a message from Henry, a longtime friend, popped up, catching his attention.

“Hey, Eduardo! How about going out tonight? Let’s relax, have some drinks, flirt a little, and catch up with some friends. It’ll be good! I’ve already invited a few people.”

Henry was inviting him.

“Sounds like a good idea. Where are you guys thinking of going? To that club where the red-haired bartender works?”

Henry smiled as he read the message, recalling how interested Eduardo had been in the bartender the last time they went to the club. However, he knew he had some bad news to deliver.

“Dude, that club closed down. The owner was involved in drug trafficking, prostitution, and money laundering. It was a scandal; you didn’t hear about it?” he asked.

“No, I've been working a lot. I left the office at nine last night.”

“On a Friday? Wow! I’m out... Today we’re going to a new bar that opened near my place; I’ve heard it’s good in every way.”

Eduardo hesitated for a moment, thinking about the exhausting week he’d had and the accumulated stress.

“Henry, I think I’m going to pass on tonight. I’m really tired. I’ll stay home and rest. Let’s save it for next time!”

“Alright. Take care and rest up; you need to work less and have more fun. If you need anything, just call.”

“I know, Henry. Good night.”

Eduardo sighed, setting the phone and the book aside, glancing around him. He felt as though the silence of the house was unsettling. He felt exhausted, not just physically, but emotionally as well. He picked up his book again, determined to lose himself in its pages and forget, at least for a while, what troubled him.

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