And at that moment, the door to my room opened.
Javier entered with the rehearsed smile of an exemplary husband, a folder under his arm and his face carefully wrinkled by a sadness that no longer deceived me.
Hearing the door click, Maria immediately fell silent on the other end of the line.
I reacted by pure instinct.
“Yes, Mom,” I said into the landline, forcing my voice to sound weak. No… I don’t know if it feels better. Then I’ll call you.
I hung up slowly.
Javier looked at me a second too long.
“Your mother?” he asked, approaching the bed.
I nodded.
“He wanted to pray with me.
He put the folder down on the table and adjusted my pillow with such a false delicacy that it turned my stomach.
“That’s good. It will do you good to be at peace.
In peace.
I almost laughed.
Instead, I closed my eyes for a moment, as if exhausted. When I opened them again, Javier had already changed his gesture. There was no tenderness. Just hurry.
“The doctor says you might start to feel more confused in a few hours,” she said. So I brought some papers. Nothing complicated. Just in case you want to leave everything in order.
I looked at the folder without touching it.
“What kind of papers?”
“House stuff.” Accounts. Permits. Don’t worry, I can explain.
The very imbecile didn’t even want to wait for him to die.
He wanted to manage me.
“Not now,” I whispered. I feel dizzy.
I felt the small spasm of irritation that crossed his jaw before he retrieved his mask.
“As you wish, my love.
My love.
After hearing it in the hallway, those words sounded like cockroaches walking on the plates.
Maria answered the first ring.
“He’s still here,” I said, very quietly.
“I’m on my way, ma’am,” she answered. But listen to me well. I did hear what he said. And that’s not the only thing.
The cold climbed up my arms.
“What do you mean?”
Maria took a deep breath.
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