The car stopped in front of the gate.The landlord was already there, practically tapping his foot on the ground from so much anticipation.When he saw me, his whole face lit up with a huge smile.
"So? Well? What did the doctor say?"
I rested my hand on the car door to get out, but before I could balance myself, Rafael was already beside me, holding my elbow like it was something precious.
"Next week I'm going back to the university," I said, feeling my chest fill with warmth. "And… I'm free from the crutches."
The landlord clapped loudly, like someone celebrating a championship goal.
"I knew it! I knew it was going to get better faster than we thought!"
I laughed. It was impossible not to.
We walked through the gate slowly, following the short path to the wooden bench on the porch.The landlord talked excitedly, and all I could do was enjoy the lightness of the moment.
When we sat down, he looked at Rafael with a mischievous smile.
"So, Rafael. Are you going to your afternoon classes, or did you decide to take the day off to keep looking after Helena?"
My face burned instantly.My heart sped up.I looked at the floor.
Rafael tucked his hair behind his ear in a calm, practiced motion.
"I'm going to the university after lunch," he said — simple, the way he always spoke when he wanted to avoid interpretation.
I took a breath.I knew I needed to say it.
"Thank you for going with me today," I said, meeting his eyes directly. "For skipping your morning classes to be there."
He didn't look away, but he didn't smile either.
"I just wanted to make sure you were actually going to the doctor."
My chest warmed — slowly, almost painfully.
"I was going," I whispered.
"I know," he said.
And he did know.But he still went.
The landlord pretended to adjust a flower pot on the porch, though it was painfully obvious he was listening to every word.
I took a deeper breath.
"I think I'm going to go upstairs," I said as I stood up slowly.
The landlord glanced at me, still beaming.
"You're staying for lunch, right? I'm making chicken with herbs today. It's been marinating since early this morning."
I smiled.
"I'm staying. I just want to go up for a bit and then I'll come down."
"Great!" he said, delighted. "It'll be good having you at the table again."
I started toward the stairs.
One step.
And suddenly, Rafael was beside me.
He didn't say anything, didn't ask, didn't wait for permission.
He was just… there.
His hand landed on my back with such naturalness that I didn't even notice the exact moment it happened.It was firm, but gentle.
My chest tightened… it wasn't about necessity anymore, wasn't because I couldn't go up alone.It was habit.Reflex.
He noticed it a second later.His hand pulled away quickly, as if he'd touched something he shouldn't have.
"Can you do it?" he asked, voice low, almost too careful.
I nodded.
"I can."
And I really could.
I climbed the first step.Then the second.
Every step carried a long stretch of silence — as if the sound of the world had stayed down there on the floor where he stood.
Midway up the stairs, something hit me — too clearly, almost cruelly…I no longer had an excuse to be close to him.And Rafael no longer had an excuse to take care of me.
I kept climbing.
When I reached the last step, I turned just a little — like someone testing their own courage.
Rafael was exactly where he'd stayed.Still.Hands loose at his sides, as if he didn't know what to do with them.
Our eyes met for a second — not enough to say anything.
Just enough to feel.
I turned away and went inside.
I sat on the sofa; the air felt heavier there.Or maybe it was just my chest, tight since the moment on the stairs.It was strange…I should have been happy.I was better, free from crutches, about to return to the university.
But not having Rafael caring for me left everything feeling a little hollow.
I ran a hand over my leg, trying to focus on anything that wasn't him.
Then the phone rang.
I looked at the screen… Evelyn.
I answered.
"HELENA! For the love of God, are you ALIVE? We're already at the end of the first week and you didn't show up even once. I thought you had fled the city. Say something!"
I let out a small laugh, unable to help it.
"I fell down the stairs," I said, with the tone of someone commenting on the weather. "Twisted my knee. I've been stuck at home for a few days. But I'm better now. I'll be back next week."
There was a short silence — then a dramatic gasp.
"Alone?! You went through all of that alone?! Helena, you live far from your parents, you should've called me! I could've come over, I could've helped, I—"
I smiled, looking at the window where the garden below glowed in the sun.
"I had help," I said simply. "I was in good hands."
"Hm."A tiny pause."I have something to tell you…"
"What's the gossip this time?" I asked, pretending to care.
"I'm just going to mention — just lightly — that someone at the university has been anxiously asking about you."
My heart didn't move.Not even a twitch.
"Who?" I asked, more out of politeness than curiosity.
"Daniel."
I kept breathing.Exactly the same.No impact, no flutter.
Evelyn, of course, interpreted my silence differently.
"He asked several times! If you were okay, when you were coming back, if something happened. I swear, I think the break made him miss you."
I let out a small laugh — one too light to be mistaken for enthusiasm.
"Oh, Evelyn…" I murmured.
"No?" she pressed. "You didn't miss him? Not even a little?"
"He's sweet," I said honestly. "But it's fine."
How could I explain that my whole world already had one name?That my thoughts, my laughter, my breathing — everything, absolutely everything — already leaned toward someone else?
How could I explain that even when Rafael was far away, he was the one my heart called for?
I didn't say any of that.
"Okay, okay…" Evelyn sighed, giving up — for now. "See you Monday then."
"See you Monday."
The call ended.