Lily was both fascinated and alarmed to find the eggs beneath her bed. She had no idea what they were or where they had come from. Her parents quickly decided to get them removed by a specialist. The expert examined the eggs closely as soon as he arrived. As he studied them, his terrified eyes enlarged and his face turned pale.
“These are not regular eggs,” he added, turning to face Lilly’s parents. We had to get out of your house right away.
Lilly’s parents were not happy with the invasion of their privacy, particularly since their little daughter Lilly was present. They tried to discuss the evacuation, but soon found there was nothing to talk about. This was a serious situation, and they had to get out as soon as possible.
None of them said anything when they realized what it was. At first glance, these seemed like just strange eggs, but a closer look showed that they were much more than that. The family was taken aback and asked the expert to explain himself right away.
They didn’t even have time to pack their bags before they had to leave immediately. Lilly observed her parents being led by the expert and his team out of the house. Lilly felt like a totally different person after this encounter.
What exactly about these strange-looking eggs was deadly, then? Why had the specialist left the house in such a panic at that precise moment?
Lilly, like most little girls, is afraid of everything that could lurk under her bed. She therefore checks under her bed every morning. The same happened on Sunday morning when she happened to notice a bunch of pretty strange eggs out of the blue. She was unaware of what was going to happen, and this was just the beginning of the scenario.
Startled, Lilly bolts downstairs. When she calls out for her parents, they don’t respond at first. When she gets her parents’ attention, she tells them about the eggs. They don’t believe her at first, but as soon as they see the fear in her eyes, they follow her upstairs.
And Lilly wasn’t the only one who was shocked now. By this point, her parents, Hilly and Oscar, were equally shocked. They question Lilly about whether or not she actually placed them there, but they quickly realize that she is innocent. Oscar feels that the eggs are really warm as he attempts to touch one carefully. Oscar, be careful…
In addition to phoning an expert to comfort Lily, Oscar and Hilly agreed to get the eggs taken out as soon as possible. It appeared that the eggs would hatch soon because they were warm. That would have been the best case scenario, in retrospect.
The specialist was on his way to the terrified family’s home in less than fifteen minutes after making his phone call. Strangely enough, he was reluctant to head upstairs straight away. Taking out a photo book, he initially displayed some images to Oscar and Hilly before asking if those were the eggs from upstairs. The eggs in question were then spotted in a picture.
The expert was taken aback when they indicated the photo. He didn’t respond to them. With limited time, he requested right away if he might go upstairs. How on earth could it be? Lily was terrified because she could tell from the expert that something major was happening. She was perfectly entitled to…
The specialist bravely entered the room and used a flashlight to carefully examine under the bed. The family watched in anxiety for several minutes while he searched under the bed silently. They were desperate for clarification, if not answers. Before they heard a tremendous sound out of nowhere, there was no response!
The specialist was yelling in terror! He had been working so quietly and intently, when all of a sudden, he yelled as though confronting his worst nightmare. Oscar gave Lily a tight squeeze in the hopes that she wouldn’t overreact. How could that be? Furthermore, why did the expert yell in such way?
However, the expert remained seated. He remained on the ground, keeping Oscar and Lily in the dark as he double-checked everything. Oscar pondered over the possible situation. He needed to know right away if it was that horrible, therefore he was gradually running out of patience! But could he really just ask the knowledgeable person?
When the expert finally stood up, he did not look the family in the eye! It’s ridiculous, Oscar thought. He became enraged and walked over, insisting that he tell him what he saw and why he screamed! But before leaving, the expert angrily said to Oscar, “I need backup! Give me some space!”
However, this just made Oscar’s side question more! Did he not care more about this than the expert himself, since this was his home? Hilly also joined at this time. She asked the expert politely what was going on and whether they could help, seeming a little more composed than Oscar. However, his response would only heighten their concerns.
This got a better response from the expert. He was obviously trying to talk to the parents, as he glanced worriedly in Lily’s direction. But no matter how hard he searched, he could scarcely find the perfect words. He stumbled over his words and stammered. Were these eggs indeed that uncommon or harmful?
In the interim, the specialist contacted his contingency. He made a good effort to explain everything to them, but it seemed like he had to say it more than once. That could only indicate that not much of it was understood by his backup! The expert finally hung up, waiting for their backup to arrive.
Lily, Oscar, and Hilly were instructed to wait in the living room for the backup. They reluctantly complied, but they weren’t sure what the expert meant when he said “backup.” Did he call his supervisor? perhaps one of his associates? And should they show up, what would happen? They are so full of inquiries.
Soon after, the backup showed up in the form of an entire team! They hardly acknowledged the family, giving young Lily a fleeting nod. They proceeded directly to Lily’s bedroom and started to gently remove the bed. The procedure had started, and it wasn’t a simple one.
White-suit-wearing men crowded Lily’s chamber. As the men tore up the room, Oscar and Hilly stood horrified by their daughter’s door. They moved every piece of furniture out of the way and gathered around Lily’s bed, gently raising it. Beneath their masks, they could hear the men murmuring something very serious.
However, the expert’s colleagues were equally shocked when the bed was shifted! Now that Oscar, Hilly, and Lily could see, they could also tell that there were at least five big eggs! Furthermore, it turned out that the eggs might hatch sooner than they had originally anticipated.
The group examined the eggs closely and then had a brief discussion. Oscar attempted to listen in on them, but he was unable. Still, he could tell that they were clearly upset about the state of affairs. Soon afterward, the group proceeded. They abruptly worked in a resolute manner after coming to a decision.
While some remained and taped off Lily’s room, others went with samples of the eggs. Oscar, Hilly, and Lily felt terribly left out since no one was allowed in anymore. Even though they were all aware that these eggs were unusual, nobody was taking the time to explain what it was.
The group ultimately chose to contact the police! Oscar was taken aback! Was it really that bad? Were the cops really necessary? He was afraid for his own innocence now that he had never seen the police in his neighborhood! Even though he knew he had nothing to do with it, the thought of cops still gave him the creeps.
He attempted to dissuade the expert by saying him it couldn’t be that difficult and that they could work together to find a solution. However, the expert was too busy to consider his advice. The incessant queries from the family had started to bother him. He insisted that they remain in the living room so that his staff may finish their work.
Soon later, there were cops and professionals everywhere in the house! The terrified family tried to comfort one another, but it was an unbelievable circumstance. Oscar and Hilly started to feel concerned since they were becoming less and less active in the investigation. It quickly became apparent that those worries were well-founded.
The commanding police officer showed up in the interim. He took a serious look around the room and struck up a conversation with Hilly and Oscar. Sadly, he was at a loss for words as he attempted to reassure them. He soon joined the other experts and agents. There had been a revelation.
Oscar made an effort to get closer to Hilly and little Lily. However, because the specialists and police officers were whispering, they were still unable to hear anything! It was obvious that they could not tell the family directly about this knowledge. Oscar then noticed an odd expression on one of the officers’ cheeks.
He observed how shocked he was, with his eyes wide open! This officer’s expression made it obvious that he had heard some news that he had never heard before! Oscar eventually lost patience as a result, and he joined the group. The officers quit whispering right away. Oscar didn’t care, though. He insisted on an explanation!
Oscar pressed the officers for an explanation. But as he was speaking to them, every police officer took an unexpected action that Oscar never saw coming. With great surprise, they said, “Sir, stay there,” as they took a step back. You must remain still as you lay on the ground!”What’s happening?” Oscar wondered.
Oscar was unable to object to an instruction even though he didn’t know why he was supposed to lie on the ground. He then dropped to his knees and slowly raised his hands in the air. Inside the house, Hilly and Lily gazed with wide eyes. Oscar was being taken into custody? Why would they take such action?
The police claimed that they might be infected. Oscar was astonished by what he saw. Suddenly, though, he noticed his little Lily sobbing outside their home. Oscar lost it as he saw the police pulling out their firearms and rushed in their direction. Did they really think that they were crazy?
However, Oscar was pushed to the ground right away. But Oscar was relieved that Lily was taken into custody by a rather typical police officer who handled her with kindness. Subsequently, Lily and his spouse Hilly were placed in another police car together with Oscar. but everyone parted ways. What is happening?
A few minutes later, Oscar saw a big group of people walking in wearing white suits and going inside the house. Oscar waited for hours without receiving any approach, leaving him perplexed. At last, someone approached Oscar and said, “Sir, we have to take you and your family with us.” What the hell? Was there an arrest taking place?
From the other car, Oscar could hear his daughter crying. It was bizarre to see his house surrounded by police and men dressed in hazmat suits since the situation had gotten out of control. All of the items they removed from his house were hidden inside airtight ziplock bags. It appeared bizarre.
Oscar saw that the driver of the automobile was a man wearing a white suit rather than a police officer as it drove away. He tried to inquire, feeling confused and concerned, but they said nothing. Why were they dressed that way, and where were they taking him? The mystery got even more complex.
They reached their destination—an airport—after a two-hour trip. Oscar didn’t know what was going on and was perplexed. Abruptly, he was led aboard a chopper that was already there and carried away. His heart raced with anxiety and uncertainty, even though he had no idea where they were heading or why.
“Where are my spouse and daughter?He made an attempt to inquire. The sound of his words could hardly be heard over the propeller of the helicopter. There was no indication of Hilly and Lilly in the other car, but he was belted in and given ear protection. Where do you intend to take me?He attempted to inquire again, but nobody responded.
Oscar’s head was buzzing with questions as he flew into the air. Had his relatives already arrived? He was curious, but he knew it wouldn’t work to inquire. “We’re almost there, just five minutes away,” a man suddenly said.
Oscar peered out of the chopper, trying in vain to identify the land below. There was no sign of life, and the countryside appeared parched and lifeless. He felt the helicopter drop suddenly. He peered down, seeing little to distinguish the creatures below. What was this location?
Oscar landed at a base camp that had the appearance of a military camp, but it was unique in some way. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. He felt apprehensive around the strange technology and unknown faces. Why was he transported here, and what could this place be?
Oscar was seized by the arms by a second group of individuals dressed in white suits as soon as the helicopter touched down. After escorting him into a neighboring building, they imprisoned him in a cell. He felt alone and imprisoned in the cold, clinical environs. What was to become of him, and why had he been brought here?
Oscar had been having a quiet supper with his family only the day before. He was now imprisoned in a cell, unsure of what would happen to him. Was there another reason for his detention, or was he under arrest? His family, especially his small daughter Lilly, was his top priority. The abrupt upheaval must terrify her.
Two hours later, a man wearing a white suit and once more completely packed entered Oscar’s cell. Identifying himself as Alex, he said he was employed by a squad of covert forces. He expressed regret for the circumstances but maintained that their actions had been required. Oscar pressed for explanations, but Alex stayed evasive.
Oscar’s primary concern was for his family, particularly Lilly, his daughter. He made a forceful demand to find out where they were being taken. Alex hesitated before answering, casting a worried glance at him. At last, he whispered, “I must share with you something.”
Oscar yelled, “What? ” as his heart raced. How come? How come?Was Lilly having any problems? His heart pounded in his temples as he tried to gather himself. He waited for Alex to answer, and a sense of impending doom filled the air. It was almost too much to withstand the tension.
Oscar was having trouble regaining his composure, so Alex gave him a drink of water. Oscar had never felt so powerless and was humiliated that he had let go of control in that way. Then, like a dense fog, Alex’s words lingered in the atmosphere. It has to do with your daughter.
Alex told Oscar in a somber voice that he had to gather himself since his daughter had been quite sick after they had arrived at the clinic. With concern engraved on his face, Alex clarified that it was the eggs. However, what did that actually mean? Oscar’s thoughts was full of inquiries.
Oscar struggled to accept the news of his daughter’s sickness, his head buzzing with questions. And what kind of eggs might have been the cause? Was she truly ill, and if so, to what extent? His thirst for answers was growing as the uncertainty consumed him.
Alex insisted that the virus was highly secret and continued to be evasive about it. Oscar wanted to meet his daughter right away because she was his top priority. But Alex told him it could only happen if he had tested positive for the virus himself. Oscar had to comply even though it made him nervous and terrified.
Oscar was tested by a different man who came in. They got the results an hour later, and happily Oscar was not afflicted with the virus. He was happy to see his daughter and felt comforted. He prayed to God for her well-being.
Oscar was informed by Alex that he needed to follow certain procedures. He was required to don a hazmat suit like everyone else and was not permitted to touch his daughter. They informed him that Hilly, his wife, was still awaiting the results of the test and that she would be joining him in their daughter’s room if she had a negative result as well.
Desperate for an answer, Oscar barraged Alex with questions as he went down the corridor. Where did the virus come from? Did it originate from the enigmatic eggs? What kind of animal may live inside of them? Oscar was warned by Alex to keep quiet about several matters, but Alex remained evasive.
There was stillness for some minutes until Alex eventually spoke. “While your daughter is severely affected, I can’t reveal everything, but I’ll give you some information.” Oscar’s pulse pounded as he attempted to put the puzzle pieces together. What on earth possibly be ailing his daughter so severely?
“But let’s do some testing to be sure before I tell you more,” Alex added, guiding Oscar to his daughter’s room. “Everything we can to support her is being done. Ready to see her now?”
Oscar entered the room and was astounded to see his daughter, who appeared very exhausted and pallid, laying in bed. He couldn’t shake the question in his mind about whether she would survive this trauma.
Alex did not say anything, unable to comfort Oscar. The virus was poorly known, and there was a low survival rate, especially in youngsters. Now, all they could do was keep a careful eye on Lilly and pray for the best.
Alex went on. There are just three examples of this virus that are known to exist worldwide, making it very new. He paused and glanced at Oscar. “We’re still testing a lot of potential cures, but one really stands out.” Oscar was getting too used to the overwhelming silence. “Alex, tell me what’s going to happen to my daughter please.”
As Alex spoke, Oscar’s heart raced. “What is it?”He enquired earnestly. Alex stated, “It’s risky, but there’s a chance it could work,” with a determined yet unsure expression. “We must move quickly.”
Alex hypothesized that if his daughter received Oscar’s blood, her blood cells may mix with his healthy ones and thus save her life. Oscar accepted the blood transfer without hesitation and sat down to wait for the process to be completed.
They needed to draw blood and fill a large bag. However, they needed to confirm that their blood types were compatible before they could begin the transfusion. This could not function unless their blood types were the same. They did, in fact, have the same blood type, as tests revealed. Oscar was relieved.
Following the transfusion, they went into Lilly’s room and hung the blood bag so that the blood would seep into her veins. This was now a waiting game. Oscar had to ask whether they knew anything more about the unusual eggs that carried the virus.
They had to keep a tight eye on Lilly. In the event that something went wrong, they had to stop the transfusion right away. Oscar observed his daughter while seated near her bed. How did things reach to this point so quickly? He pondered in his head. His daughter’s survival was uncertain, and her life was in jeopardy.
At last, Hilly showed up. Like the others, she was dressed in a white suit. However, it was comforting to know that she tested negative for the virus as well because of her presence. Oscar gave his wife a strong hug before they took a seat near to their daughter. Without even being certain that she could hear, I comforted her.
Hilly’s spouse was asking the same questions as her. However, Alex’s responses were as ambiguous. Nobody knew with confidence what fate had in store for Lilly. They also didn’t want to give false assurances. Alex and the other specialists left the room after a short while, but Oscar wasn’t finished yet. He decided to follow them.
Alex eventually gave in to Oscar’s curiosity about the eggs and told him more about them, but only after he signed a contract committing him to keep the information private. Oscar nodded, astonished at what he was going to discover.
Desperate to preserve his daughter, Oscar signs the deal without hesitation. Oscar feels there’s more to the story as Alex starts to divulge details about the enigmatic eggs and the virus they contain. What other secrets are being withheld from him, he wonders? Will he later regret agreeing to this contract?
Oscar was taken aback when Alex disclosed that the virus originated from the eggs of an odd, potentially extraterrestrial, organism. How it might have gotten into Lilly’s chamber was beyond him. Though he had a lot of questions, he realized he had to remain composed and figure out how to save his kid.
Oscar’s shock gave way to acceptance when he realized he could rely on the legitimacy of the agreement he had signed. Now that he was thinking about his daughter, he wanted to know how she was doing. “How is she faring?With trepidation, he asked, hoping for good news.
Oscar’s daughter had finally awakened from her profound sleep, and he was ecstatic to hear that his blood had worked. Eager to see his little girl again, he asked Alex if he might see her.
Lilly questioned what had happened as they embraced. Her appearance had improved significantly in just a few hours. She was to remain overnight for observation, but tomorrow she would be free to return home if things continued to get better. In order to make their daughter feel comfortable, Hilly and Oscar stayed with her.
They asked whether they may finally go home the following day. But Alex informed them that was a challenging circumstance. because they needed to clean their house thoroughly and it was still under lockdown. Rather, they furnished Oscar and his family with a makeshift residence where they might remain until it was time for them to return home. The conclusion.
Eu pensava que meu marido corria todas as manhãs – um dia, decidi segui-lo
Você já teve um pressentimento de que algo não estava certo? Ignorei o meu por semanas. Meu marido, Eric, disse que começou a correr todas as manhãs, e eu acreditei nele. Mas uma manhã, a curiosidade levou a melhor, e decidi segui-lo. O que descobri virou meu mundo de cabeça para baixo.
Meu marido Eric começou suas corridas matinais há cerca de um mês. No começo, eu achei ótimo — ele sempre trabalha muitas horas no seu negócio, e eu sabia que ele raramente tinha tempo para si mesmo. Eu estava realmente orgulhosa dele. Afinal, não é isso que encorajamos nossos cônjuges a fazer? A cuidar de si mesmos?
Um homem correndo | Fonte: Unsplash
Eric e eu estamos casados há 14 anos. Temos dois meninos — Max, que tem 13 anos, e o pequeno Stuart, que acabou de fazer 8. Na superfície, éramos uma família perfeita. Eric era dono de um negócio pequeno, mas bem-sucedido, e, embora não estivéssemos nadando em dinheiro, estávamos confortáveis.
Trabalho meio período em uma boutique local e passo a maior parte do meu tempo livre cuidando da casa e cuidando dos meninos.
A vida era boa — ou assim eu pensava. Mas então comecei a notar algumas… esquisitices.
Foto em close-up em tons de cinza de um casal de mãos dadas | Fonte: Unsplash
Para começar, Max continuou perguntando a Eric se ele poderia acompanhá-lo em suas corridas matinais. Max sempre idolatrava seu pai, e a ideia de pai e filho se unirem em uma corrida parecia óbvia. Mas Eric continuou ignorando-o.
Não apenas um simples “Talvez na próxima vez, amigo”, mas um firme, quase ríspido, “NÃO, MAX. EU QUERO CORRER SOZINHO”.
“Eu só quero passar um tempo com você, pai”, Max implorou uma manhã, seus olhos arregalados e esperançosos. O desespero em sua voz fez meu coração doer.
O maxilar de Eric ficou tenso. “Agora não, Max”, ele disse.
Um homem carrancudo | Fonte: Midjourney
Lembro-me da cara confusa de Max na primeira vez que Eric disse isso. “Por que não posso ir com você, pai?”, ele perguntou.
Eric bagunçou o cabelo e murmurou algo sobre precisar de suas corridas para clarear a cabeça. Eu não pensei muito sobre isso na época, mas olhando para trás, queria ter prestado mais atenção.
Naquela noite, observei Eric cuidadosamente. Ele estava distante e distraído. Quando tentei tocar seu braço, ele se encolheu… algo que nunca havia feito em 14 anos de casamento.
Uma mulher duvidosa olhando para alguém | Fonte: Midjourney
“Está tudo bem?”, perguntei.
Ele sorriu, mas não chegou aos olhos. “Está tudo bem.” Uma mentira tão suave, tão praticada, que me deu um arrepio na espinha.
Poucos dias depois, comecei a notar “outras” coisas. Suas roupas de ginástica — normalmente jogadas no chão quando ele chegava em casa — estavam estranhamente impecáveis. Seus tênis de corrida, que deveriam estar arranhados e gastos de tanto “correr”, pareciam quase novos.
“Algo não está certo”, gritou uma voz dentro de mim. “Algo está muito, muito errado, Anna.”
Um par de sapatos | Fonte: Pexels
Meu instinto me sussurrou que algo não estava batendo. Mas em vez de perguntar diretamente ao Eric, decidi ficar de olho nele.
Eu mal sabia o quanto meu mundo estava prestes a mudar.
Uma manhã, levantei cedo, tomando cuidado para não acordar os meninos. Fiquei perto da janela, observando enquanto Eric amarrava seus tênis de corrida imaculados e pegava sua garrafa de água.
Um homem amarrando o cadarço do sapato | Fonte: Pexels
“Vai correr?”, perguntei casualmente, encostando-me na porta, com a voz deliberadamente leve.
“É”, ele disse, mal olhando para mim. A frieza em seu tom era inconfundível.
Dei um pequeno sorriso, mesmo que meu estômago parecesse estar embrulhado. “Fique seguro”, sussurrei. Ele assentiu e saiu pela porta, sem olhar para trás.
Uma mulher sorrindo | Fonte: Midjourney
Esperei alguns minutos antes de pegar as chaves do meu carro e segui-lo. Minhas mãos tremiam levemente no volante. “O que estou fazendo?” A parte racional da minha mente gritou. “Esta não sou eu. Não sou o tipo de mulher que segue o marido.”
Mas algo mais profundo e primitivo me impulsionou adiante.
No começo, tudo parecia normal. Ele correu pela rua, seu passo firme e normal. Fiquei longe o suficiente para que ele não me notasse. Eu era culpado, mas não tinha escolha. Depois de dois quarteirões, ele diminuiu o ritmo. Então, ele virou em uma rua residencial tranquila.
Foi aí que as coisas ficaram ESTRANHAS.
Um homem correndo na estrada | Fonte: Pexels
Eric parou em frente a uma modesta casa azul — nada extravagante, mas bem conservada. Ele olhou ao redor, como se estivesse checando se alguém estava observando, então tirou uma chave do bolso e entrou.
Fiquei sentado no meu carro, CONGELADO. “Que diabos?”, sussurrei para mim mesmo, um medo frio se espalhando por minhas veias.
Depois de alguns momentos, saí e caminhei silenciosamente até a casa. Eu me senti ridículo, como um detetive amador, mas eu tinha que saber o que estava acontecendo. Minha mente correu com mil possibilidades, cada uma mais aterrorizante que a anterior.
Uma casa azul perto da estrada | Fonte: Pexels
Dei uma espiada pela janela e meu estômago embrulhou.
Lá estava ele — meu marido — enrolado nela.
Lucy. Sua nova secretária. A mulher que eu tinha acolhido em nossa casa. A mulher em quem eu confiava.
Eu assisti em silêncio atordoado enquanto eles se beijavam, rindo como duas pessoas sem nenhuma preocupação no mundo. A intimidade deles era casual e confortável… como se isso não fosse um caso novo. Isso era algo que já vinha acontecendo há algum tempo.
Um casal romântico | Fonte: Unsplash
Minhas mãos tremiam quando peguei meu telefone e tirei algumas fotos deles. A traição queimou através de mim como ácido. Memórias passaram rapidamente: o dia do nosso casamento, o nascimento dos nossos filhos e os momentos tranquilos de risadas compartilhadas.
Eu queria gritar, invadir e exigir uma explicação. Mas me forcei a ficar calmo e voltei para o meu carro.
“Ainda não”, eu disse a mim mesmo. “Ainda não, Anna. Não é hora para confrontos.”
Minhas mãos tremiam, e meu rosto estava quente de raiva. Eu não conseguia parar de relembrar o que tinha visto — o jeito como ele a tocou, o jeito como ele olhou para ela… o jeito como os dois… Oh meu Deus.
Uma mulher abalada até o âmago | Fonte: Midjourney
“Quatorze anos”, pensei. “Quatorze anos reduzidos a este momento de traição.”
Mas eu não ia desmoronar. Se Eric quisesse me trair, eu ia garantir que ele SE ARREPENDESE… MUITO.
Minhas mãos tremiam quando parei e entrei em uma pequena loja de impressão, as fotos queimando um buraco na galeria do meu telefone. O homem atrás do balcão me cumprimentou com um sorriso educado, mas eu mal consegui acenar de volta.
“Você pode imprimir isso?”, perguntei enquanto deslizava meu telefone sobre o balcão.
Ele olhou rapidamente para as imagens, suas sobrancelhas erguendo-se ligeiramente, mas não disse uma palavra. Apenas assentiu e começou a trabalhar.
Uma mulher em uma loja | Fonte: Midjourney
Cada clique da impressora parecia uma bala de vingança. Meu coração batia forte enquanto as imagens começavam a deslizar para fora, vívidas e condenatórias. Olhei para as impressões brilhantes, a raiva correndo por mim como fogo.
“Ele acha que pode fazer isso comigo? Com a nossa família?”, pensei.
Quando o homem me entregou a pilha de fotos, meu aperto era firme, e minha resolução, inabalável. “Obrigada”, eu disse secamente, colocando as impressões na minha bolsa.
Saindo da loja, não pude deixar de sorrir para mim mesmo. “Isso vai doer, Eric. E você merece cada segundo disso.”
Peguei as fotos que tirei e fui direto para o escritório dele.
Uma mulher dirigindo um carro | Fonte: Unsplash
Não fui sutil sobre isso. Entrei, ignorando os olhares assustados de seus funcionários, e comecei a prender cópias das fotos em cada mesa. Cada uma tinha uma legenda rabiscada em letras vermelhas em negrito:
“É ASSIM QUE VOCÊ PODE CONSEGUIR UM AUMENTO NESTA EMPRESA!”
“Olhe para o seu chefe perfeito”, murmurei baixinho. “Olhe para o homem que você respeita. Ele está na casa dela agora mesmo!”
Suspiros encheram a sala enquanto as pessoas olhavam para as imagens, seus sussurros ficando mais altos a cada segundo que passava. Eu vi choque, desgosto e descrença se espalhando por seus rostos. Alguns desviaram o olhar. Alguns olharam, paralisados. E alguns começaram a sussurrar coisas.
Trabalhadores de escritório atordoados | Fonte: Pexels
Dez minutos depois, ouvi o som da porta batendo e abrindo, e lá estava ele — Eric, seu rosto vermelho de fúria. “Anna, o que diabos você está fazendo?”
“Ah, não se faça de boba”, eu disse, cruzando os braços. “Seus funcionários merecem saber para que tipo de chefe estão trabalhando. O tipo de marido que você é.”
Seus olhos dispararam para as fotos e, por um momento, ele pareceu em pânico. O homem confiante da casa azul tinha sumido. Agora, ele parecia uma criança pega em uma mentira.
Mas então ele se recompôs, sua voz baixando perigosamente. “Precisamos conversar. Agora.”
Eu sorri, jogando as chaves do meu carro para ele. “Ah, com certeza.”
Um homem assustado em seu escritório | Fonte: Midjourney
Nós discutimos durante todo o caminho para casa.
“Você não tinha o direito de…” Eric começou, sua voz desesperada.
“Não, certo? Você não tinha o direito de destruir nossa família. O que você estava pensando, Eric? Você ao menos pensou em Max e Stuart?”
Lágrimas ameaçaram cair, mas eu as segurei. Eu não daria a ele a satisfação de me ver quebrar.
Uma mulher sentada em um carro | Fonte: Midjourney
“Não era para ser assim”, ele murmurou, segurando o volante com tanta força que os nós dos dedos ficaram brancos.
“Não era para ser como o quê?” Eu gritei. “Um marido mentiroso e traidor? Um pai que trai a família?”
“Não, Anna —”
“Então como é que era para ser, Eric? Você me trai, mente para os nossos filhos e anda escondido com sua secretária, mas ei, contanto que você esteja feliz, certo? Você é livre para fazer o que quiser… só porque você é um homem, certo?”
Um homem dirigindo um carro | Fonte: Unsplash
Um lampejo de vergonha cruzou seu rosto. Por um momento, vi o homem com quem me casei — o homem que costumava olhar para mim como se eu fosse seu mundo inteiro.
Ele não respondeu. O silêncio era ensurdecedor.
Quando chegamos em casa, peguei minhas coisas e me tranquei no quarto, ignorando seus apelos para conversar. Cada batida na porta parecia outra traição.
Eu não estava pronto para ouvir… ainda não. Não quando meu mundo inteiro tinha acabado de se despedaçar em um milhão de pedaços.
Um homem parado do lado de fora de uma sala | Fonte: Midjourney
Recusei-me a falar com ele depois disso. E nos próximos dias, o negócio de Eric estava em frangalhos.
Quando a notícia de seu encontro com sua secretária se tornou pública, os funcionários começaram a pedir demissão em grande número. Ninguém queria trabalhar para um homem que promovia amantes em vez de mérito. Cada demissão era outro prego no caixão de sua reputação profissional.
Dei entrada com o pedido de divórcio uma semana depois. A papelada parecia uma libertação — cada assinatura um passo em direção à cura.
Papéis de divórcio sobre uma mesa | Fonte: Pexels
Quando contei aos meninos, Max ficou quieto por um longo tempo. O silêncio era pesado, carregado de decepção e confusão. Finalmente, ele olhou para cima, seus olhos cheios de uma dor que nenhuma criança de 13 anos deveria ter que sentir.
“Eu sempre pensei que o papai era um herói”, ele disse suavemente. “Acho que eu estava errado.”
Essas palavras destruíram algo dentro de mim. Não por causa de Eric, mas por causa da inocência que meu filho havia perdido.
Ouvir essas palavras partiu meu coração, mas eu sabia que tinha feito a coisa certa.
Uma mulher de coração partido | Fonte: Midjourney
A última vez que vi Eric, ele parecia uma casca de si mesmo. Seu negócio tinha acabado, sua reputação estava arruinada, e Lucy? Ela o havia deixado por alguém com uma conta bancária maior.
Foi-se o homem confiante que costumava caminhar pela vida. Em seu lugar, havia um estranho quebrado e desesperado.
“Anna”, ele implorou na estrada. “Eu cometi um erro. Por favor… podemos consertar isso?”
A audácia. A audácia absoluta daquele pedido.
Um homem desesperado | Fonte: Midjourney
Olhei para ele por um longo momento, deixando suas palavras pairarem no ar. Cada memória do nosso casamento — as boas e as ruins — passou pela minha mente como um rolo de filme antigo.
Então eu sorri… um sorriso frio e vazio que não alcançou meus olhos. “Sabe, Eric, você estava certo sobre uma coisa. Correr realmente limpa sua cabeça.”
E com isso, me virei e fui embora para meu novo apartamento, deixando-o para lidar com a bagunça que ele tinha feito.
Uma mulher indo embora | Fonte: Midjourney
Nicole começou a receber notificações misteriosas da balança digital de banheiro que seu marido trouxe para casa recentemente. Quando ela cavou mais fundo, a descoberta a abalou de dentro para fora.
Este trabalho é inspirado em eventos e pessoas reais, mas foi ficcionalizado para fins criativos. Nomes, personagens e detalhes foram alterados para proteger a privacidade e melhorar a narrativa. Qualquer semelhança com pessoas reais, vivas ou mortas, ou eventos reais é mera coincidência e não intencional do autor.
O autor e a editora não fazem nenhuma reivindicação quanto à precisão dos eventos ou à representação dos personagens e não são responsáveis por nenhuma interpretação errônea. Esta história é fornecida “como está”, e quaisquer opiniões expressas são as dos personagens e não refletem as opiniões do autor ou da editora.
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