“Aurora, wake up!” my mother shouted in my room.“It's still five in the morning, it's not my time to leave.” I said, startled, looking at the time on my phone.“You're not going out today. Alice has a fever, you'll stay with her, because Sandro alone can't handle her when she's sick.”“But I was supposed to meet Isa today.”“You can meet her next week. Alice is more important.” She said it as if what I had said didn't matter.“Mom, it's just that—”“Listen here.” She came at me, grabbing my neck. “You're going to stay with your sister and you're not leaving her room for anything, understood?”“I understand,” I whispered, barely able to speak from the lack of air in my lungs, as her hands tightened around my neck.“I don't want you and Sandro talking about anything that isn't Alice. No funny business, girl!”“It seems like you like him more than me.”“This is not the time for arguments or drama. Go to her room and lie down next to her bed.”“You want me to lie on the floor?” I knew my

At that moment, my heart froze, missing its beats. I would be a witness to a suicide if I did nothing. My instinct made me call out to that man and try to stop him from doing something foolish.“Sir!” I shouted so he could hear me. “Please, don't do this!” At that same moment, I saw him turn his face toward me.It was all dark and the rain had weakened, but it was still falling. Even so, through the darkness, from time to time I could only see the silhouette of his body, since he was wearing a hood.“Who are you?” At that moment, I got chills all over. That man shouted so loudly, with such a sharp voice, that it sent shivers down my spine.“I'm no one, but I know that no matter what you're going through, this is not the solution!”“How can you be so sure?” he continued, loudly and angrily.“I'm not!” In truth, I didn't know what to say. “But I know that what you're planning won't solve your problems either.”“What the hell... where did you come from?”Quickly, he climbed down from whe

At six in the morning, I got up and got dressed.I was organizing some drawers when someone knocked on the bedroom door. I quickly opened it. It was the man who had unloaded the car yesterday when I arrived from the capital with the baby and Oliver.“Good morning, Miss Aurora. My name is Joaquim. I am Mr. Oliver's driver, and I came to tell you that the car is ready for us to go to the capital whenever you wish to leave. I will be in charge of taking you to the hospital to carry out all the baby's exams.”“Oh, Mr. Oliver isn't going?” I asked curiously.“No, today he left very early.”“All right, I'll get the baby ready and come downstairs so we can go.”I closed the bedroom door and went to give the baby a bath. He seemed very comfortable in the tub.“You seem so comfortable now, little one. If you were mine, I would call you Noah.”After getting that tiny little being ready, I organized his bag, went downstairs, and had breakfast while the baby stayed in the stroller. After that, I

I woke up the next day feeling sore, like I had slept on stones.Noah had woken up more than three times during the night and didn't want to sleep the last time he woke up. Since there wasn't much to do and he was still sleeping, I decided to call my friend Isa, who was surely worried sick about me.The day before, I had bought a new SIM card for my phone. Even knowing my mother wouldn't call me, I was afraid that that shameless man Sandro might try to come after me or make threats. Sandro was very strict at home and also vain. That plate of food must have left him with a scar on his face, and knowing how he was, I knew he wouldn't let that go. Besides, he hadn't told my mother anything. He was probably planning to get revenge on me by himself, and who knows what method he would use. As a public employee, he had access to a lot of information and knew important people too. It would be very easy for him to find me if I stayed in the city, although I still run that risk here.“Hello, wh

“Leaving? What do you mean?” Saulo asked, not understanding anything.It seemed Oliver hadn't told his friend about the last conversation we had.“I'm underage. Mr. Oliver fired me.”“How long until you turn eighteen?”“Just two months, but that's not it.” I kept crying.“Then what is it?”“Even when I turn eighteen, I can't stay here because I can't work officially.” I ended up blurting out my concern, the one that had been on my mind. Sandro would find out where I was. He would come after me, ruin my life, or who knows what else he might do.“Aurora, do you owe something to the law? What are you running from?” Saulo asked, confused.“That's not it. Just forget it. You wouldn't understand.” At that moment, I realized how fragile I was. I had almost told Saulo my whole story. I pulled myself together, picked up the glass of water, and stood up.“Excuse me, I need to stay with Noah.”“Wait, just one more thing. Does Oliver know you're here?”“Of course not. That idio—” I almost insulte