Episode 2

Safira.

I leave work and get on the bus. At first, the bus is empty, but as it makes more stops, more people get on, and a man stops next to me. I know it's my paranoia, but I can't stay there any longer, so I get off at the next stop. I know I'm still far from home, but that was suffocating me. I can't explain what I feel, an endless phobia. I start to tremble and break out in a cold sweat, then it feels like the air is getting scarcer and scarcer, and I have to run.

It's late afternoon, and as I walk, I breathe a sigh of relief. It took a while, and I arrived home. I hear my mother talking to Samira.

Luciene: And now Samira, what are we going to do?

Samira: Calm down, Mom, we'll sort this out.

Luciene: You don't understand, he wants revenge.

I reach the door, and she stops talking. She looks at me and says.

Luciene: It's going to be you.

I say in sign language.

Safira: Me.

Luciene: You, you're going to take your sister's place.

I make signs.

Safira: My sister's place for what?

Luciene: You're going to get married, get married to him.

I make signs.

Safira: Marry? I'm not marrying anyone.

She comes close to me and slaps my face.

Luciene: Yes, you will.

I shake my head no. I'm not marrying anyone; she really wants to see me die. Before that, I'd throw myself from anywhere, but marry, no. She pushes me, and I fall sitting on the sofa. There's a pair of scissors on the lamp table, so she grabs the scissors and uses the tip to cut me.

Luciene: Yes, you will marry. You'll take your sister's place. You'll be Samira, and you won't say a word, or I'll cut your tongue out myself since it's good for nothing. Did you hear? You'll be the substitute bride. You're twins; he won't even remember. And woe to you if you write anything, I'll kill you myself, and you won't have to do it yourself.

At that moment, tears roll down my eyes. Besides the pain I'm feeling in the palm of my hand from her cutting it, my heart is shattered.

The doorbell rings.

Luciene: We've talked. Not a word... oh, I forgot, you don't speak.

I hide my hand, pressing it against my sweater to stop the blood, and she goes to open the door.

Pablo: Good evening.

Luciene: Good evening, Mr. Torreto.

Pablo: No formalities, Luciene.

Luciene: Come in.

The man enters with two more large, strong men behind him, and I shiver all over.

Pablo: It's been a while.

Luciene: These are my daughters.

She points to me.

Luciene: Samira and Safira.

Pablo: I see Samira has grown.

He looks at me.

Luciene: Please leave my daughter in peace.

I look at her, astonished.

Pablo: We have an agreement. Your husband gave her life to me.

Luciene: My daughters are everything to me. You can't take her.

He takes a step forward, and I immediately move from where I was, standing behind the sofa.

Pablo: You think I'm a man who doesn't keep his word? I'm taking her whether you like it or not.

I shake my head, tears in my eyes. This is all an act. She doesn't like me. She's passed me off as Samira, and what does she want with this?

Luciene: Please don't hurt her, I beg you.

Meanwhile, Samira watches everything without saying a word.

Pablo: What I do with her from now on is my business. Get her.

They come to get me, and I try to run, which is futile. I try to break free and bite one of the men.

Pablo: Don't do that, girl.

My mother comes and steps in front of the man.

Luciene: Don't do anything to her.

Pablo: Get your filthy hands off me.

I see my mother with tears in her eyes. What does she intend with all this? My panic starts to set in. I'm sweating cold, my heart is racing, two men holding me, one on each side. I struggle, trying to make them let me go.

Pablo: Knock her out.

Luciene: No.

My breath is already trapped in my chest, my hand is bleeding, my eyes are welled up with tears. How could she do this to me, handing me over to this man as Samira? Why? I feel them place a cloth over my mouth with a strong smell. I no longer have the strength to fight. The urge to scream is so strong, but no sound comes from my mouth. I go limp, and the last thing I see, thrown over this man's shoulder, is my mother's happy smile.

Pablo.

That woman still tried to stop me from taking her precious daughter. I had to knock the girl out. I confess, she's quite brave and fought fiercely, but she's no match for me. They grab a suitcase, which probably contains her clothes. My lawyer called and informed them we were coming to get her.

We get into the car, and they lay her down on the seat. I notice her hand is bleeding from a cut. Did she hurt herself when she was trying to escape?

I see her sleeping and move a strand of hair that was covering her face. The little devil is as beautiful as her mother. And what are these clothes?

We leave there and go straight home. My security guards carry her to the guest room, and I ask a maid to take care of her hand. I don't want it to get infected, and so the maid does, she takes care of her hand.

I ask for the room to be locked and go to have a drink.

Alejandro: Father.

Pablo: Hi son, have a drink with your old father.

I offer him a drink.

Pablo: She's already here.

Alejandro: Who?

Pablo: Your wife. She's in the guest room.

Alejandro: I don't want to see her. Give her the contract and ask her to sign it. I don't want to see that woman's face.

Pablo: Are you sure, son? She's a beautiful woman.

Alejandro: She's probably worthless like her mother, so spare me, Father.

Pablo: It's up to you.

And we stayed there, father and son, drinking that drink in silence.