“Manuela”

I had just arrived at the office, I hadn't even sat down in my chair yet when Rick appeared behind me like a ghost, making me jump in fright.

- Manu. – He spoke in a cavernous voice and I screamed in fright.

- Aaaaaiiiii.... – I looked back and saw him with dark circles under his eyes and his hair a little disheveled. – What a scare, Rick!

- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. – He said with his head down.

- Hey, what's wrong? – I asked, lifting his chin with my finger.

- Want to have coffee with me? – He asked like a child.

- Come on, let's have coffee. – I took him to the break room and served him coffee. – What's going on?

- Taís is leaving. – He said all at once.

- What do you mean she's leaving? – I asked.

- She said she's not happy, that she needs time and distance to decide if she still loves me. She's going to live with her parents. – He said, wiping away a tear that had rolled down his face.

- What do you mean? – I asked, shocked.

- I don't know either, Manu. But