"Manuela"

I didn't think this week would be so hectic, but fortunately, everything went well, and Catarina and Pedro were rescued and are safe. Now I needed to rush, because I'd missed two days of college classes, had material to catch up on, and assignments to turn in; I'd definitely be up all night. And then there was Cat and Alessandro's wedding on Saturday.

I rang the bell and got off the bus a block from my house. Now that I was studying at night, I was thinking about how practical and safe it would be to have a car, since I was getting home late and the streets were empty. Maybe it was time to dip into the money my grandfather left me when he passed away. I quickened my steps, almost running. I was afraid to walk the streets alone at night. I was raised in the countryside, with an overprotective and old-fashioned mother; everything scared me.

Even though I felt this fear of everything and didn't know how to handle myself without my mother's overprotective protection, I decided t