Chapter 31
Sofia Bliss
I blacked out.
After the shower, after that damn pill… my body just shut down.
I wanted to pretend none of it had happened.
Wanted to erase the images, the sounds, the taste, the heat.
But it was useless.
Because even now, standing in front of the mirror with a cup of coffee in hand, I could still feel it.
It was like he had soaked into my skin.
Like he was clinging to my pores, my tongue, my thighs.
I closed my eyes for a second and took a deep breath.
I had to focus.
I had to move forward.
A call from my aunt Marta was supposed to come any minute now.
The rehab clinic — the place where my father would finally be admitted — that was all that mattered right now.
That… and getting a decent job.
I had promised myself I’d find a way.
Even if it meant going back to that bar at night.
Even if it meant dealing with men who lurked in the dark, watching with those hungry eyes.
I opened my eyes slowly, still staring at my reflection in the mirror.
Something felt… different.
'I' looked different.
I couldn’t tell if it was the way I held my chin higher, or how my eyes looked brighter… bolder.
But something had shifted.
Maybe it was last night.
His touch.
Or maybe it was that voice.
That damn voice inside my head.
“You’re ready.”
“It’s time to awaken.”
It was still there.
Whispering in the back of my mind.
Like something inside me had opened its eyes… or was about to.
I shook my head, trying to snap out of it.
It was just stress.
Just adrenaline.
I couldn't afford to go crazy.
I already had enough problems.
I downed the coffee in one gulp, buttoned up my blouse, and checked the résumé I’d tucked into my folder.
Today had to be different.
I was going to land something.
And even if the world said no, even if no company wanted to hire me…
I already knew where to go at night.
I’d slip back into that tight dress, pretend I was strong, pretend I didn’t care, pretend I could take whatever came.
Because I could.
Letícia was still asleep when I left.
She’d told me she wanted to talk about the bar again before going to bed…
but for some reason, she kept putting it off.
I let it go.
If it was serious, she’d say it.
She’d be direct. Right?
I walked down the stairs of the apartment building without looking back.
And the sun was already too damn bright for my taste.
The pavement was heating up my worn-out shoes as I walked, and the city noise was getting under my skin.
After hours of walking, I had already dropped off my résumé at five places.
Nothing confirmed.
No encouraging responses.
Just the same tired line: “We’ll take a look and give you a call.”
But I wasn’t giving up.
I walked into a little corner shop and bought a cheap lunch box — rice, ground beef, and a few vegetables. Small, basic, and enough to keep me going.
I sat down in one of the plazas downtown, under the shade of a tree, trying to convince myself everything was going to be okay.
That’s when my phone buzzed.
The screen lit up: Aunt Marta.
My heart skipped. I wiped my mouth with the disposable napkin and answered right away.
“Hello?”
“Sofia, sweetheart!” Her voice was light, almost cheerful. “Just calling real quick, I hope I’m not interrupting anything at work...”
“Not at all, auntie. I’m on my break,” I lied, smiling as if she could see it. “You can talk.”
“That’s great… so, I managed to get in touch with the psychiatric hospital. Remember the clinic I mentioned? The one near your city that looked really promising?”
“Yes… What did they say? Did they give you the prices?”
“They did!” she said, excited. “They were so kind, and explained everything. They talked about the treatment plans, the accommodations, the staff... it sounds like a luxury hotel, but for intensive care. A really great place, with modern protocols, you know?”
I smiled.
For the first time all day, I smiled for real.
But it died the next second.
“They said the cost ranges between ten and fifteen thousand dollars a month, Sofia. The cheaper plans cover just the basics... but the full ones include complete medical care, psychological support, physical rehabilitation, special meals, 24/7 monitoring—”
I nearly choked on my rice.
“T-ten to...?”
“Ten to fifteen thousand. I know it’s expensive, sweetheart, but it’s the best option. The good news is that he still has a few days covered at the current hospital, so we have until the end of the week to sort everything out calmly.”
“Calmly,” she said.
I took a deep breath, trying to match the calm she thought I had.
“Of course, Aunt Marta. I get it. I’ll see what I can do on my end. Maybe a loan. I’ve got some options at the company, I’ll try to reach out to a few contacts.”
Another lie.
I didn’t know a single person who could lend me a thousand dollars, let alone fifteen.
But I had to keep my aunt safe. Hopeful.
She couldn’t know about my “new profession.”
No one could.
“I hope it works out, Sofia. You’ve always found a way, honey. But if you need anything—anything at all—you call me, okay?”
“I will, Auntie. And thank you. Really.”
“How’s Letícia? And you, are you eating properly? Sleeping?”
I laughed.
“I’m fine. Sleeping when I can. Letícia’s great too. Just... her usual restless self.”
We talked a little more about nonsense — family, the nosy neighbor, the weather — and then hung up.
I stayed there, phone in hand, stomach tight.
Ten thousand a month. At least.
I’d have to sell my soul. Or worse...
I got up from the bench, feeling that familiar weight on my shoulders, and eyes staring at nothing.
The only thing I knew for sure...
was that I would do whatever it took.
My dad needed me.
And I… I couldn’t fail him.