Hatred and outrage leave my body suddenly and when I look up, I see a small smile formed on my lips in the mirror that hangs above the sink. I look back down at the small piece of paper that I still have in my possession and release my foot from the steel pedal, causing the lid of the garbage can to lower, closing. I fold the paper in half and leave the bathroom, not before looking at myself in the mirror and trying to arrange my hair, even if it's a little bit. Although I wear boots, what accompanies them is not just a winter pants, but a black shorts due to the hot atmosphere of the interior of this place. I change quickly, replacing the previous garment with jeans of the same tone and I add a long jacket of ash gray fabric that I take from the wardrobe.
I approach one of the windows and draw the curtain in order to look outside. The garden is not so big after all, but it is spacious and cozy. From where I see it it has a somewhat square shape, surrounded by the same semi-walls of shrubs that I noticed around the small path that led to the entrance to the house. I try to find Samuel with my eyes, but the only thing that can be seen is snow, snow and more snow, a couple of leafless trees on the sides, a swing with frozen seats and a black aluminum table that in summer must be used more frequently than now.
I close the curtain and turn off the light, leaving the room and heading to the opposite side of the one I went a few minutes ago in search of Oliver. Just when I can see the handrail of the staircase a few meters away, a door opens in front of me and someone comes out of that room, stopping my step.
- Where would you go?
He asks somewhat surprised, looking at me with a frown.
May: Outside.
- To?
Question by raising your eyebrows.
May: I wanted to get some air.
- At this time?
May: Yes, dad, at this time, what does he have?
I answer, indignant, ignoring him and getting ahead of myself.
Tomás: Nothing, now I am sending someone to accompany you.
May (I jerk around): NO!
He looks at me in amazement.
May: Can you not be so over the top? Who is going to kill me in the garden?
Thomas: But ...
May (I interrupt): At least here let me breathe.
Tomás (sighs): Well ... but don't delay. If something happens ...
May (I interrupt him again): Nothing is going to happen. Good night.
I finally add to turn around and descend the spiral stairs. When I get to the first floor, I find myself alone with the maid, who does not even notice my presence and continues with her work. The living room consists of a spacious room, the central point of which is a hazelnut colored three-section sofa typical of the Italian style. Behind this there is a small table full of photographs and at its sides two floor lamps, which are the only ones in charge of lighting the place, since the lights are off.
I stop looking around and head toward the back door, which I can see at the other end of the room. As soon as I open it, the freezing air outside attacks me, reaching to my bones and I think I have completely frozen. I button the buttons of my jacket and pull up the hood, hiding my face inside the soft fabric. My eyes wander around every corner, trying to visualize Samuel somewhere. Any. It is inevitable for me not to imagine that, seeing that he did not come and after waiting a long time, he could have left thinking that he would not come. I curse Oliver inside myself and myself for not having read the second letter a few minutes before and I take a few steps forward, hugging myself from the intolerable cold.
I get to the swings and clean the seat of one of them, freeing it of accumulated snow and sitting on it. The chains that support it quickly creak. I guess they must not have used it a long time ago because of the weather, which I don't care, since I only need it as a chair right now. If I sat on one of the marble ones in front of me, I have no doubt that I would freeze to death.
- Psst.
I hear something similar to a whisper from somewhere and look both ways. I sigh, assuming it was just part of my imagination or maybe the cold is already getting to me a bit and I roll back the hood that just fell on my back. Suddenly something collides with my shoulder and bounces, ending up in the snow. I look up, looking in the direction where I think it could have come from and I see a few meters away the smiling face of the person who a few minutes ago slipped messages under the door.