Chapter 149 - They See Me Like Crazy - Fedds
Verónica
I wasn't crazy, I wasn't. "My whole body was still trembling, I needed to go home." That man was identical to Roland, except for his hair and that three-day beard; he was also a bit tanner, I guess from the sun... Why did my husband buy land in this place? He must have found his mother and wanted to get closer. My heart tightened. Tears started to flow, and my hands kept shaking.
I was consumed by the sadness of my husband's frustrated desires. Now I understood the change you went through, my love. I began to hyperventilate, everything started to spin. In the distance, I saw a horse galloping, but I was no longer myself. I couldn't handle it all; Roland couldn't live with his mother, he couldn't know why he was left, and he went to the grave without that reconciliation. I heard someone calling me as I fainted.
"Mrs. Verónica!" That was Miguel.
I heard voices. Was it a dream? No, no, no, I met my husband's brother... I was very sure of that.
"She still isn't responding," said Inés.
"How did you know where she was?" That was Diana.
"Luisa called to say hello and asked about the lady. She said she had called her, but she didn't answer. I told her she had gone out to explore the surroundings. By chance, I was passing by the room and saw the door open, I saw her phone on the bed, and decided to pick it up.
"I glanced at the bathroom and saw the rings, she had left them. I panicked, I thought she was going to try to kill herself again."
Tears came out. God, they were traumatized, panicking because of my stupid mistake.
"I went out to look for her. I arrived just as she was fainting. I have no idea what happened to her!"
"She keeps crying and trembling, even while unconscious." Inés was stroking my hair.
"If she doesn't respond, I'll take her to a doctor!" Miguel's worry was noticeable.
"Are you going to inform Simón?" Inés was now stroking my cheek, wiping away my tears.
"I'll tell him tomorrow, today is the operation in Montería, I don't want him to worry. At least she didn't have the rings, so he won't be alerted. When I got to her side, I found her very pale, cold, and distraught, she looked like she had seen a ghost. The rest you know, Jacinto picked me up in the truck and Francisco brought the horses. Why isn't she responding?"
I opened my eyes, and the three of them were looking at me. I couldn't take it and, as if something pushed me, I sought Miguel's protection. I took him by surprise, but he still returned the hug. My pulse quickened, and his watch started to beep, the phone rang, and Diana took Simón's call.
"Hello, she's with us, it's true, she's upset." Silence. "We don't know."
My body kept trembling as every second with that man replayed in my head; he was the spitting image of my husband. How was I going to continue if someone would remind me of my husband's body? Just seeing him and having him close made me want to kiss him, it was crazy, but that was how I felt, that man made me feel terrible.
"Simón, calm down, she's clinging to Miguel's arms, she's afraid of something we don't know, she hasn't spoken." Silence. "I'll pass her to you."
"Rata."
I looked at Diana, not wanting her to think anything bad. I didn't want her husband as a man, she smiled and approached, stroking my hair.
"Relax, I understood the connection between you two a long time ago. They care for you like a little sister." I couldn't speak, I squeezed her hand while still in Miguel's arms.
"I have no idea, I must thank Luisa's call, it was timely, otherwise, she would still be fainted in that place, exposing herself to who knows what danger." Silence. "Rata... she seems very upset since she woke up. This is not the time to scold her." Silence again.
"It's different! I swear, it's like she saw a ghost."
When she said that, the pulse monitor beeped again, and Miguel's scrutinizing gaze met mine, I started to shake.
"Rata, take care of the operation, I'll take care of the lady, don't worry. If you get pushy..." Miguel took the rings off me and gestured for silence. "Focus, if she stays upset, I'll take her to a clinic." Silence.
"Rata, I'm not leaving her alone, I won't move from her side, and I don't think she'll let me, she's clinging like a tick! Inés will sleep beside her in bed, I'll stay on the couch, don't worry. She won't do it again. Her distress is about something different! When she calms down, stops crying and trembling, she'll tell me what happened, or tomorrow. Don't push it!" He looked at me. "He wants to talk to you." I nodded. If I didn't, he wouldn't be focused on the operation. I took a deep breath.
"Hello." It was a whisper.
"Just promise me you won't try to take your life." The tears returned with sobs.
"I won't, don't worry."
"I trust you, Mrs. Veronica."
"Simon, promise me you'll take care of yourself, don't die and look after Luisa."
"I promise, and I will."
"Thank you."
"Will you tell me what happened tomorrow?"
"I will. God bless you."
"Amen, ma'am."
I handed the phone to Miguel, and Carmela arrived with a valerian tea. I pulled away slightly from the hug I had forced on him.
"You don't need to sleep with me. I won't do anything, I swear."
"What happened, daughter?" The look of concern in Ines's eyes broke my heart.
"It's just that I talked and argued with a man identical to Roland, his horse... I swear it was Amon."
"What madness are you talking about?"
"You asked, Ines, and that's what happened." I looked at them, saw on their faces that they didn't believe me. "I'm not crazy!"
"I didn't see anyone with you."
"He had already left." I looked at them. "I'm not crazy! I pulled his hair! It must be his twin brother." I noticed Miguel and Ines exchanged glances, then she left the room. "It might sound crazy, but I talked to him. He warned me, said it was dangerous to go into that ravine because it was swollen." I saw the concern in Diana's eyes.
"Ma'am." Ines returned with a syringe. I started to shake my head.
"Mrs. Veronica," said Miguel. "I swear it's just for today, understand, you're saying nonsense and you know it, right?"
"I don't want to be drugged." I started to pout. "I'm not crazy, he must be my husband's brother. He's identical to him, Miguel, he's identical. I swear, he was with his beloved horse."
"Roland didn't have brothers," said Ines. "I'm going to inject you."
I started to shake my head, but I didn't resist. It was understandable that they didn't believe my words. Tomorrow, I'll look for proof. I understand them now. I continued crying, and once they administered the dose, I clung tighter to my friend's waist.
"You don't believe me either?"
I asked, looking into Miguel's eyes. A response wasn't necessary; his eyes said it all. He just kissed my forehead, and I started crying harder. He carried me and laid me on the bed. Diana sat beside me, stroking my hair, and little by little, I fell asleep.
……
Roland
Lord God, help me control my impulses. Everything I meditated on, planned, and ranted about my wife was a misunderstanding. My mom insisted on going to find her. Now I'm torn between running to her side, but the nerves of facing her held me back. I must do it through my friends, and now I left her worse off.
I was in the room. In a few hours, the operation would take place. I hope Luisa can let me see it. I had Galaxia on the bed; my dog hadn't left my side since we reunited. I sent Lara to buy what was needed for my dogs. The phone rang; it was my sister.
"Freckles."
"I don't know how to tell you this." My heart skipped a beat; she spoke in a whisper. "Listen to me, I locked myself in the bathroom. They had to sedate Veronica. Simon looks desperate; he was about to abandon the operation to go back to her." I felt a twinge of jealousy.
"There are two things I don't understand..."
"Look, Crazy, I know one of the two things you're thinking, and I'm telling you, something happened with the three of them. The bond between Simon, Miguel, and Veronica can be misinterpreted, but there's no attraction between them. It's more like an obsessive bond created by something strong they experienced."
"What are you talking about?"
"I don't know why they overprotect her. At first, it was strange to see them put her before anything else."
"Are you trying to tell me my friends fell in love with my wife?"
"No! I just told you that's not the feeling between them. I haven't been able to figure out why they're so attached. It's worth noting that since your 'death,' they want to take care of her, but... there's a but. In any case, the subject is delicate to discuss with you. Look, the problem is that both Miguel and Simon think she'll go crazy again."
"Again? What do you mean by that?"
"Brother, I just heard what they said on the phone, the little said by Simon, and the two times your friend's watch beeped. Miguel took off her rings. You left her in a bad state! She only says incoherences, like 'you're a ghost.'
"Other times, she says something like he must be Roland's brother, who has a horse just like Amon. Simon isn't dumb; it's only a matter of time. Once he focuses on investigating the fire, he'll connect the dots. I don't want to argue with him. Fix this mess! You left my poor sister-in-law on the verge of a nervous breakdown."