“Then?
Martin smiled.
I was released a new life.
They all let go of laughs.
“This one has already become a poet.
Before, those taunts would have made him burn.
Not that time.
Because now I knew that there were shames that one carries because one looks good with people who do not pay your bills, does not dry your tears and does not sleep with you under a dripping ceiling.
When he left, he bought a rose at the traffic light.
It cost 25 pesos.
It was not fine.
He had a broken spine and the petals a little abused.
But Martin wore it like it was a jewel.
When she gave it to Maribel, she received her without saying anything.
Then she looked at the flower, looked at her husband and asked:
Did you come out of the budget?
Martin was 1 second serious.
Then the 2 laughed.
Not because poverty was funny.
But because, for the first time in years, they were facing it on the same side.
Weeks later, they left the house rented.
The wall with moisture was left behind.
There were also the fights for 100 pesos, long silences and suspicions that almost rot love.
The new house was still just 2 rooms, a bathroom without tile and a kitchen with cement floor.
But I had something the other one never had.
Peace.
Martin learned that not all “no” are lack of love.
Sometimes a “no” is a woman swallowing her own desire to save a dream.
Sometimes the person who seems tougher is the one who is breaking the most inside.
And sometimes, before calling someone stingy, it is advisable to look closely if you are not silently keeping the future that you asked for and then forgot.
