Denise walked around the room, euphoric, because Saulo had bought her several new clothes and shoes. Now she said she would have a new outfit for each day of the festival. She had also received a gold necklace with emeralds, which left her speechless. When she showed me the piece, all I could think about was how much Saulo liked her—and she, no matter how much she claimed to be grounded, was completely falling for him.

[...]

It had been two weeks since I returned from the hospital, and I had al