It was a rainy Friday morning, July 13th. Candado was in his guild, sitting in a chair, reading El Ocaso newspaper. There was nothing but bad news: Chile had lost two guilds the previous night in a mysterious fire. Paraguay reported five missing guild members, with families demanding that Raúl lead the search. Argentina had suffered attacks on traffic lights in Mendoza, Catamarca, Corrientes, and Santa Cruz. In Brazil, Antonio Da Silva, the renowned and famous guild member, was found dead on the roof of a school in Brasília.

Candado had never seen news like this before, but his face showed no sign of shock or surprise. He remained calm, though deep inside, he was worried. He remembered what Tínbari had told him three days earlier.

Three days ago.

“Relax, I just came to tell you something,” said Tínbari.

“Something?” Candado asked, while picking up a book and dusting it off.

“Yes, it's... very serious.”

Candado understood the gravity of the situation and placed the book on the table.

“I see. I suppose it’s quite important, right?”

“You can call it whatever you like.”

“Alright,” Candado snapped the fingers of his left hand, and a chair slid over to him, where he sat down. “I guess this will be long.”

“I found my brothers.”

“Oh, the Bari. And?”

“Five of them live in this province.”

“I already know one, I think his name is Slonbari.”

“But he’s not the only one. I told you there are five, and I haven’t been able to contact them. They won’t let me, except for one: Arrábari, the father of the trees. He told me something about Pullbarey.”

“And what’s that?”

“We know what Pullbarey is like.”

Candado’s eyes lit up.

“What’s he like? I know he possessed a human, but I don’t know his appearance.”

“He looks like a boy your age, wears a mask, and is always accompanied by an elderly man dressed elegantly.”

“All of this is interesting, but I don’t see why it's so serious.”

“During the last encounter with Desza, all the Bari who were present saw you. Many of them hate you; they detest the thought that the blood of the mighty Keplant runs through the body of a human. Violet blood is sacred to the Cotorian people.”

“Violet blood?”

“It’s said that when Keplant disappeared, he gave his heart to his son Roobóleo, who hid it in a rune that turned violet. The water, the land, the plants, the trees, the animals… all the wildlife, except for most of its inhabitants, carries that color.”

Candado looked at his hand.

“I see,” he then enveloped it in his flames. “Violet blood. Desza slashed me with a machete, but the blood that flowed from my wounds that day was red.”

“They call it violet blood because it’s the essence of magic. In your case, it’s your ‘segalma’ (second soul).”

“What are they planning to do to me?”

“Kill you. Arrábari warned me that five Bari are coming for you. I’m sorry, Candado, but your plan to remain unnoticed by my brothers is no longer an option.”

Present

Candado felt a hand on his shoulder but didn’t move. He kept reading the newspaper.

“Are you alright?”

“Do I look like I’m not?”

“No.”

“Then there’s your answer.”

“Oh, well...” Hammya walked around him and sat down across from him.

Candado continued reading intently while Hammya stared at him. It was 8:11 AM on Friday, and there was no one else in the guild. Candado had gotten up early to pick up the newspaper and read it (though it was likely he hadn’t slept at all). Hammya had met him on the way. At first, Candado wanted to go to the cabin alone, but Hammya insisted and followed him there.

“Candado,” Hammya interrupted.

“Hm.”

“You’ve changed a lot.”

Candado glanced up and then back down.

“You think I’ve changed?” he asked, without taking his eyes off the paper.

“Yes,” Hammya replied. “The first few months I stayed at your house, you were very strict. You didn’t want anyone entering your room.”

“No. I didn’t want you entering my room,” he corrected her, finally lowering the newspaper and looking at her seriously. “And I still feel the same way. I just got tired of telling you. Just because you’re there doesn’t mean I like it.”

“Oh, well,” she said with a playful smile, continuing, “You’ve also changed the way you treat me. Now you’re more chivalrous.”

Candado sighed, resting the newspaper on his lap.

“It’s a way of thanking you for bringing my parents back to my side,” his gaze wandered to the ceiling as he smiled. “Yesterday, I played soccer with my dad until two in the morning. When was the last time we did that?” His voice was nostalgic.

Suddenly, Candado brought a hand to his mouth and began coughing.

“Candado!” Hammya shouted, immediately standing up.

Candado raised his hand, signaling for her to calm down as he continued coughing. When he finally managed to stop, he lowered his hand. Fortunately, there was no blood.

“Thank God,” murmured Hammya, letting out a relieved sigh before sitting down again.

“This will get worse over time,” Candado said flatly, focusing once more on the newspaper.

“Yes,” Hammya nodded sadly.

“You don’t have to make that face. I’m the one dying, not you.”

“But I don’t want you to die,” she said in a soft voice, almost choked with emotion.

Candado slowly lowered the newspaper and looked her directly in the eyes.

“Why? You don’t know me well enough to say that.”

“You’re my friend,” Hammya replied, her voice now firmer. “And it’s not just me. Everyone else would feel bad too.”

“I see,” Candado said, returning to his reading as silence filled the space they shared.

Several minutes passed in which Hammya remained silent, watching Candado’s chest. On the left side of his jacket, the insignia of W.O.G.A.B. gleamed.

“Candado,” she finally said, breaking the silence.

“Go on.”

“Why are you a guild member?” she asked, with a curious expression on her face.

“I’ve told you before, haven’t I?”

“Yes, but you said it in a very general way, like everyone would. I just want to know why you did it. Knowing you, I’m sure you could have chosen the Circuit’s path to end that cold war they’re living.”

Candado looked surprised for a moment but then cracked a small smile.

“You’re not entirely wrong,” he admitted. “It’s true I took the Circuit’s path with the intention of ending the war, but... unfortunately, I couldn’t live with that decision.”

“Incredible,” Candado murmured as he listened.

“You see,” the voice in front of him continued, “when they kicked me out of the Circuits, I learned many things... many things.”

Candado leaned forward, paying close attention to every word.

“I hate human society,” he affirmed. “There’s no other reason. Society judges man, and that’s what bothers me the most. Society dictates your rules: it tells you what clothes to wear, what to eat, how to speak, what you can watch, what you can ask, and how you should live. Human society is damaged, and it keeps getting worse. Often, it’s society itself that creates its villain, just as it creates its hero. In this society, you can’t be different.”

He paused, as if the words carried a weight that Candado could feel in the air.

"There was a girl, he continued, who wanted to be part of a group of girls, but they didn’t accept her because she was different. She spoke differently, dressed differently, behaved differently. She was bullied and harassed by her classmates, yet the teachers punished her, believing the lies of the others. It was easier to believe someone well-dressed than her.

Candado felt the words beginning to weigh on him.

"And not only that. She lost her parents because a police officer killed them. Her mother was injured, but she ended up dying because they didn’t have money for medical attention. The officer was exonerated, facing no punishment. The girl was left homeless, and the little she had was stolen by a businessman. Still, trusting in justice, she asked another police officer who happened to be passing by for help. But he ignored her. She begged, cried, pleaded, but no one listened. No one lifted her, no one gave her food, no one gave her water.

A deep silence followed the tale, before the voice rose again with a bitter note.

"It was then that she understood the harsh reality. The girl got up, began to steal, to manipulate, to kill. In the end, one is what they make of what was done to them. There was no reason to forgive those who had turned her life into a hell. Her name was Laila, and she ended up becoming part of the circle of Tánatos. Society trampled her, spat on her, and Laila had no choice but to take revenge. She took revenge on the officer, on the doctors, on the boys and girls who mistreated her, on all the faces she could remember in her moments of agony. She became the worst genocider in history, destroyed an entire country, and showed no mercy to any adult. She left countless orphans in her wake. Society destroyed her, and Tánatos welcomed her, provided her sustenance, a home, and a family.

Candado remained silent, feeling the weight of the story on his shoulders.

"Tánatos was clever, the voice continued. He took the outcasts of society, and that’s why it was so easy for him to conquer the world in a year. It’s sad, but Tánatos helped the homeless and trained them for his ranks. It may seem strange, but he truly wanted a better world. However, his way of thinking and the execution of his plan were not right. He believed that to achieve it, one had to destroy the current society, and that meant murdering everyone who disagreed with his vision: women, children, even newborns.

Candado felt a pressure in his chest. The following words seemed darker with each passing moment.

"When Harambee defeated Tánatos, he understood all of this. Then he decided to do something similar to what Tánatos wanted, but with a crucial difference: instead of creating chaos, Harambee built a separate society. A society where everyone would be free, where the different would be accepted. That’s why he created the guilds and chose the children. Children are the purest beings in the world, those who lack malice, the easiest to guide down the right path. Harambee didn’t form an army, he didn’t create acolytes. He formed a society. A society by and for the children. The third option.

Candado tilted his head, trying to grasp the magnitude of what was being narrated.

"And why am I on this side? the voice became firmer. Because the guilds provided health, justice, peace, solidarity, security, hope, education, communication... and also a home. Harambee took Tánatos's ideas and perfected them. He fought for a better world, alongside his friends, including my great-grandfather. They fought for those who had nothing. That was Harambee, and that is what the guilds are: a family."

Candado stood up, placed his hand on his badge, and looked at the sky.

"That’s why I am guild-bound. That’s why I follow Harambee. She gave hope and a home to those who had none, she gave them a family, and that family, for which parents like the representatives of the W.O.G.A.B. fought, is our responsibility and obligation to defend. That’s what we are, the guilds, a family."

He lowered his gaze and saw that Hammya was watching him intently, listening to every word with attention. Candado, feeling uncomfortable, flushed and sat back down.

"I think I spoke, once again, with too much passion on this topic."

Hammya was taken aback to see him in such a state. She had never seen him like this before, but, as expected, Candado quickly regained his composure and fixed his eyes on her.

"Well, that’s why I am guild-bound, he repeated, in a calmer tone."

"What happened to that girl you mentioned?" Hammya asked.

Candado stood up again and turned his back to her.

"Jack Barret didn’t have the courage to kill her. He saved her life and erased her memories. She was reborn as a new person and lived the rest of her days on the island of Kanghar. He and Rosa gave her a home and took care to spread word of her supposed death so she could live in peace."

"But... isn’t that wrong?" Hammya questioned.

"Why would it be wrong?"

"That woman killed countless innocents."

Candado turned slowly, his hands behind his back.

"What do you think they should have done with her?"

"Punish her."

"How?"

"Uh, well..."

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

Candado stepped closer, his eyes fixed on Hammya.

"Hammya, what is the correct answer in this world? Society treated her like a cockroach; the collective destroyed her life, and she only returned what she received. Why is she the villain and not society? Did she just wake up one day and decide to destroy a population? Is her evil any different from that of society?"

Hammya countered.

"Despite all the harm they did to her, the punishment was disproportionate."

"Those were harsh words, but they did what they believed was right."

"But..."

"In this world, good and evil do not exist," Candado continued. "They are just words that men created and gave meaning to. Here, I'm good for letting you dress however you want, but in the Muslim world, it would be a sin to let you dress like that."

"Of course good and evil exist," Hammya replied, her tone defiant.

Candado closed his eyes and walked toward a bookshelf, his hands crossed behind his back. He stopped a few inches from it and spoke.

"Do you know anything about history?"

"History?"

"Yes, the kind teachers teach," Candado answered, running his finger along the spines of the books.

"Oh, sure. I was quite good at that," Hammya said with a smile.

"Really?" Candado paused his finger on a crimson book, pulled it out, and, with the book open between his hands, looked at her. "What happened on October 12, 1492?"

Hammya leaned back in her chair, thoughtful.

"I know! Christopher Columbus discovered America."

"If I were a teacher, I’d say, 'Very good, a ten for Hammya.'"

"And what would you say to me?"

"I'd give you a zero," Candado said, closing the book with a sharp snap and sliding it between his hands.

"Why? That’s what the history book said."

Candado sat down again, crossing his legs.

"What does 'discover' mean?"

"To find something new or create something that didn’t exist before."

"And did America just appear out of nowhere when Columbus arrived?"

"No."

"Exactly. America had been inhabited for over 14,000 years before Columbus even set foot here. That Italian only brought three ships, planted a flag, plundered treasures, and took some natives to Europe. After that, the Spaniards came back, destroyed Tenochtitlan, killed, looted, and raped. To us, they were cruel invaders; to them, they brought their language, customs, and religion."

"And what does that have to do with what we’re talking about?"

"That America was 'discovered,' but in reality, it was invaded. They brought civilization, culture, and God. Tell me, do you really think that was a good thing?"

"I don’t know; I don’t fully understand."

"The thing is, good and evil do not exist as absolute concepts, Hammya. They are human ideas. If good truly existed objectively, Tenochtitlan would still be standing and not in ruins. Evil itself doesn’t exist either. Humans act according to what suits us. Look, if a man tries to assault you and I have a gun, I would kill him without hesitation to save you. But does that make me a bad person for taking a life? I did something wrong to achieve something good."

Hammya looked at him with her mouth slightly open, unsure of what to say.

"You don’t have to agree with me. It’s just my way of seeing things. Good and evil are constructs of morality and religion. For example, some believe life is sacred. But if someone they love is in danger and they have a gun in their hand, they will have to choose between their morals and their family."

"And what do you call that?"

"It’s a dilemma, a conflict between what we consider right and what we’re willing to do."

Candado stood up and walked to the shelf to return the book. Hammya interrupted him.

"Candado..."

“Eme,” he replied as he placed the book back on the shelf.

“Would you really do something like that in my situation?”

Candado turned and looked at her intently.

“Of course. You’re my friend; you live in my house. It’s my duty to take care of everything in my home.”

Before Hammya could respond, the living room door opened, accompanied by approaching voices. She abruptly closed her mouth, picked up a diary, and pretended to read it, even though it was upside down. Candado covered his mouth, trying not to laugh, amused by Hammya's clumsiness. Just then, Héctor entered with a folder under his arm.

“Good morning! Guess who’s here?” Héctor said.

“Who are you?” Candado asked sarcastically.

“You're cruel,” Héctor replied.

Declan entered behind him, along with German, placing a hand on Héctor's shoulder.

“Not even the storm can wipe out your mood,” Declan said, smiling.

“A real butterfly,” German added.

Héctor smiled and gave both of them a pat on the back before turning to Candado and extending his hand.

“Hey, buddy.”

Candado shook his hand, but Héctor pulled him in for a hug.

“Come here, don’t be shy.”

“You’re cutting off my circulation, Héctor.”

Héctor let him go, laughing, then looked at Hammya, who was still pretending to read the diary upside down.

“Well, well, well... the girl with the green hair. How have you been treating Candado?” he asked mischievously.

“Excuse me?” Hammya replied, confused.

“Clementina told me all about the ‘gift’ you gave to Candado.”

“The gossip of the day,” German teased.

“You’re quite the comedic charmer,” Declan said wearily.

“Jealous?”

Declan sighed, and Candado appeared.

“Seriously? A gift?” Candado interrupted, adjusting his wrinkled clothes after the hug.

Hammya’s cheeks flushed, her mouth went dry, and she began to sweat from embarrassment. Unable to bear it any longer, she covered her face with the diary.

“Leave me alone,” she said, embarrassed.

“But she just gave me a book. Is it really that big of a deal?” Candado thought.

“You’re the only girl who shows such a noticeable blush.”

“Erika does the same, Héctor,” Candado retorted.

“She doesn’t count.”

Héctor chuckled and looked at Candado.

“Is something going on?” Candado asked immediately.

“Nothing, or maybe yes. Did you do what I asked?”

“About your sister?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Perfect, because I won’t be able to be there.”

“So you came back just to tell me you won’t be here, even though you made it clear in the letter you sent me?”

Héctor looked away.

“Something like that.”

“Idiot.”

“It doesn’t matter; I just wanted to see how you were.”

“The meeting didn’t go well for you, did it?”

“Let’s just say no.”

Candado sighed, bringing his right hand to his forehead.

“What did you ask for it to go so badly?”

Héctor gestured for Candado to come closer. Candado leaned in, and Héctor whispered something in his ear.

“It’s a sensitive topic. Can we talk about it somewhere else?”

Candado stepped back a bit, looked at him suspiciously, then glanced at the others.

“Okay.”

Candado moved toward a bookshelf, placed both hands on it, and slid it aside, revealing a door. He opened it to reveal a staircase descending into darkness.

“Héctor and I are going down. Please, don’t interrupt us.”

“Sure, take your time,” Declan replied.

Declan nodded as Candado turned on the lights and gestured for Héctor to follow. When Héctor started down the stairs, he stopped smiling and adopted a serious expression. German noticed and frowned.

“Is something wrong?” Lucas asked, concerned.

German quickly smiled again.

“No, nothing’s wrong.”

Candado and Héctor disappeared into the darkness as they carefully descended the stairs. Upon reaching the bottom, they found themselves in front of a red door. Candado adjusted his beret and took out a white key to unlock it.

“I thought...”

“No one has beaten me yet,” Candado said as he turned the key and opened the door.

They entered, and Candado turned on the lights. Inside was a vast room filled with shelves brimming with books and piles of handwritten papers. The most surprising thing was that the place was immaculate, showing no signs of dust or cobwebs. The lights came from a large chandelier that had once been designed for candles but was modified for electric bulbs. The old wooden floor was perfectly preserved, and the walls were made of stone and concrete.

Candado sat at a round table with five chairs. Héctor closed the door behind him and approached.

“Tell me, what’s going on?” Candado asked.

Héctor smiled and placed his hands on his back.

“Are you crazy, Candado? Sick? Or have you lost your mind?”

Candado leaned on his left fist and, disinterested, asked, “What do you mean by that?”

Héctor slammed his fists on the table, displaying his anger.

“DON’T PLAY DUMB WITH ME!”

Candado closed his eyes and continued.

“I should have guessed it; the only reason you called me to this place is to yell at me.”

“Seriously, Candado? Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

Candado opened his right eye.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“YOU HID RUCCIMÉNKAGRI!”

Candado opened both eyes.

“And what about that?”

Héctor slammed the table again.

“WHAT ABOUT THAT?!”

“Héctor Ramírez Bonamico Mateo, stop shouting! I’m not a dog or a cat; I’m a human being, and we speak with dignity.”

“Dignity?” Héctor started pacing around the room. “Dignity... dignity.”

“You need to calm down.”

“Calm down? Candado, you know who she is, you know what she did, but why?”

Candado stared at his fingers for a moment, then looked him in the eyes.

“She told me everything. She didn’t know who she was or what she was, but if she had the courage to share her past with me, then why deny her my help?”

“She has killed thousands of us in the past! Thousands! THOUSANDS!” Héctor shouted, slamming the table once more.

Candado stood up and walked toward him.

“Tell me, my friend, did you really think we would come out unscathed after our abuses against nature? Mass hunts, extinction of countless species, millions of trees felled, contaminated rivers. Tell me, do you really believe nature would allow that?”

“No, no, no, that doesn’t work with me, Barret,” he said, starting to bang on the table. “She’s wanted for capture; you’re literally breaking the law. Your eloquent talk doesn’t affect me, friend.”

Héctor began to walk in circles, showing frustration and worry.

“Should we assume she is evil? Why should she be benevolent?”

“Are you justifying her actions?”

Candado placed his index finger on Héctor’s chest.

“Héctor, would you stand by and do nothing while a mob destroys your house? We think only of our needs, and to satisfy them, we’re willing to trample anyone who stands in our way, regardless of the harm. If you’re hungry, you grab a weapon and hunt; if you’re cold, you chop down a tree and make a fire. She might accept that, but humankind created capitalism and commerce, and for that, they needed more than what nature could provide.”

Héctor arrogantly brushed Candado’s hand off his chest.

“That doesn’t justify the blood of innocents. Rucciménkagri is the most dangerous criminal in the world. We must judge her; she may have her reasons, whatever you want, but with that reasoning, we would forgive all criminals everywhere. She must be punished.”

“She has already been punished. Humanity triumphed. Every year, a forest is lost; population growth leads to the disappearance of thousands of trees, plants, and animals. She can do nothing more than protect the place where she takes refuge.”

Héctor fell silent.

“If she is evil, then what are we?”

Héctor smiled and loosened his tie.

“You always find a way to win arguments... and you always win. But other people won’t think that way when they find out about this.”

“What will you do?”

“I won’t say anything. I don’t share your view at all, my friend. But I’ll act as if I didn’t see anything. Don’t forget: someday they will find out, and when that happens, you’ll be expelled.”

“I’m not afraid of expulsion.”

“You might not be, but I wouldn’t like my friend to be thrown out of the O.M.G.A.B.”

Candado walked back to his seat and rested his temple on his left fist.

“But I’m afraid of other things, Héctor.”

“Is it about the witnesses?”

“It’s about Pullbarey.”

“Oh, the guy you told me about.”

“He’s been kidnapping children.”

“I suppose he’s the one handling the rucrenia spell.”

“I guess, but doesn’t it seem strange to you?”

“What thing?”

“Nothing, forget it.”

Héctor approached Candado.

“You haven't been sleeping, have you?”

Candado didn’t respond.

“You know, I think you should rest a little for your health.”

“My health?”

“Do you think I forgot? That day, outside the old man's house, I saw blood.”

Candado's astonishment was fleeting; his eyes widened, but he tried to remain calm.

“I don't know what's going on with you, but it's serious enough for you to keep it to yourself.”

“Forget that.”

“As you say,” he replied, then knelt down, forcing Candado to look at him. “But remember, if I see blood in your cough again, I will be forced to act.”

“Forget that,” he repeated coldly.

Héctor laughed and stood up.

“Alright, it’s time to go up; I’d like to have a little fun.”

Candado got up, putting his hands in his pockets.

“Has your scolding ended?”

Héctor chuckled and moved closer to Candado, like colleagues at work.

“No, of course not; I’m just taking a break.”

Candado and Héctor climbed the stairs, where the others were waiting.

In the distance from the house, Clementina, the robot who took care of Candado, was not present. She had stayed home to help the Barret family now that Candado’s parents had returned. Clementina busied herself with a little of everything, from washing dishes to cooking, but most of the time she cared for little Karen, now three years old. Her birthday was on July 10, and that day, Candado had been by her side the entire time, playing and singing with her, of course, in the company of her parents. It was the first time Candado hadn’t appeared frivolous or empty; he was completely happy.

However, Clementina had noticed something about Miss Barret. Europa was sitting in the armchair, dejected, staring at her photo album. As she passed by, Clementina decided to approach and look over her shoulder.

“I remember that photograph.”

Europa jumped in fright and quickly turned around.

“Clementina, when...?”

“Just a moment ago.”

Clementina circled the armchair and sat down next to her.

“Is something wrong, Miss Barret?”

Europa swallowed hard.

“I was just looking at how miserable I’ve been.”

“You shouldn’t say that; you are the voice of this house.”

“Maybe...”

Europa gazed at the album and looked at a picture of Candado in her arms. She placed her hand over it.

“I remember that day too. Candado was crying because he had dropped his candy in the water.”

“It was terrible.”

Europa laughed.

“Of course, but that was him.”

Clementina showed a pained expression.

“She took the picture.”

“She was an angel. Her death broke my heart.”

“Yes, not just yours.”

Europa hugged the album and, without looking at Clementina, asked:

“Tell me everything about Candado.”

Clementina hesitated and looked at her face.

“What? About what?”

“What happened after the funeral?” Europa asked as she tightened her grip on the album.

Clementina hesitated, lowered her gaze, and began to recount.

“After the funeral, Candado headed straight to the cabin. We followed him in silence. Héctor and Erika tried to speak, but in the end, they said nothing. No one said anything. What could be said? He had lost an irreplaceable being. None of our words would help him.”

Europa sobbed but remained steadfast. Clementina started to doubt but continued.

“The young master had trembling hands; he couldn’t open the door to the house. However, he managed to do it. When he entered the living room, he inexplicably knelt down. No one dared approach him.”

Clementina paused.

“Continue.”

Clementina looked at her. Tears were starting to well up in Europa's eyes, but she dried them with her wrist.

“Continue, please.”

Clementina took a deep breath and continued.

“Finally, it was Héctor who intervened. Then, Candado exploded. The anger burst from his body, destroying everything around him: tables, chairs, paintings, objects... We all remained silent, watching as Candado unleashed all the pain he had bottled up inside. Time and again, he begged for her to return to her family, but nothing changed.

Clementina paused again, glancing at Europa, who seemed on the verge of breaking down.

“Keep going, don’t stop,” Europa urged, her voice trembling.

“Candado lost his balance and fell to the ground. He cursed God’s name and himself over and over again. As he began to lose consciousness, he repeated her name time and time again: Gabriela...

Europa broke into tears, dropping the album and covering her face. She couldn’t bear it, yet still insisted:

“Don’t stop,” she said with effort.

“Candado didn’t sleep, didn’t speak, nor did he eat for three days and three nights. The next morning, when I tried to get him out of his room, I found him on the floor, exhausted. We took advantage of the moment when he passed out and gave him all the vitamins through injections. He was so weak and didn’t wake up until the next day. We all took turns watching over him.

Europa was slowly crumbling.

“Candado searched for his parents, but you were no longer the same. He couldn’t bear the loneliness; he didn’t want his friends; he wanted his parents by his side. He wanted to cry in his mother’s arms, but he was alone. His mother and father were gone. He cried and cried, but no, his parents weren’t there for him. That was when he decided to shut himself in his room. He didn’t want anyone else, just his parents, but they never knocked on the door.

Europa burst into tears. Every word that came from Clementina was more painful than the last.

“Where were you?” Europa asked, cursing herself.

“He woke up the next morning, but he was no longer the cheerful and sweet Candado. He had awakened a different Candado, empty and cold-hearted. ‘Gabriela,’ was all he said. In his eyes was the reflection of pain itself; he was no longer human, just an empty shell. ‘My parents hate me,’ that’s what he told me.

“What have I done? I made my son suffer. What kind of mother am I? Where was I when he needed me the most?

Europa wept inconsolably. She knew she had ignored her son and his pain, a pain that had changed him forever. Nothing could stop her tears.

“That day we cried for Rueda, and we forgot our son. I can’t imagine the pain he felt thinking he was forgotten.

“Hammya understood,” said Clementina.

Europa calmed down a bit and looked at Clementina.

“That day, maybe I didn’t realize it because I was happy to have a new resident, but Hammya understood Candado’s pain. She was the only one who could sense it. That day, she asked about the horse and also wanted to see him. But not just that; she wanted to be by his side, to make him laugh, to make him angry, to sadden him... Hammya found Candado’s balance.

Europa fell silent, but the tears kept flowing.

“I wish I knew what she did to bring them back to their son.”

“Oh, that...” Europa wiped her tears. “It was a long phone call, almost four hours. She told me everything that happened to my son: the pain, the disdain, how he risked his life regardless of how dangerous it was,” she let out a chuckle. “I’m such a fool... realizing my duty as a mother through a girl.

“The important thing is that now she’s here with him, and since then, Candado has been very happy. That girl has achieved something we couldn’t at the time: making him laugh and keeping that smile for longer.

“If she hadn’t called me…”

“I wish we could go to Resistencia again one of these days. Don’t you think, Candado?” a voice came from outside.

“Forget it, you can go, Hammya. There’s no need for me to be there.”

Europa stood up upon hearing her son’s voice at the door.

“Don’t be like that; it must be nice. It’s like the first time you had fun and want to remember it.”

“I remember the first time I had fun.”

“Really? What happened?”

“It was horrible.”

“Fuuu…”

The door opened, and Candado stepped inside. As soon as he put a foot in, he saw his mother standing in front of him, still with tears in her eyes.

“Mom?” Candado asked.

“Yes?”

“Were you crying or chopping onions?”

Europa started to laugh, but at the same time, she began to cry again.

“What’s wrong?” Hammya asked.

“Mom,” Candado stepped closer and extended his hand, “whatever it is, I’m sorry.”

Europa knelt down and hugged Candado tightly, causing his hat to fall to the ground, rolling to Hammya’s feet.

“Mom?”

She kept crying. Her embrace trapped Candado, who could barely move beyond her arms. His cold and usual expression changed to one of concern.

“Is something wrong, Mommy?”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you and for Karen. I’m sorry for not knocking on the door earlier.” Europa hugged her son tighter. “I hurt you; I wasn’t by your side. I should have knocked on the door, I should have come in, I should have listened to your pain.”

Candado hugged her back.

“I love you.”

Europa cried and cried and cried. That was all she could do. She had missed two years of her son’s life due to her pain. She and her husband had remained trapped in the past, while Candado walked alone into the future. What she had done seemed irreparable. But Candado didn’t hate her; he never did; in reality, he thought she didn’t love him.

Europa felt foolish, but she couldn’t stop crying, holding her son and apologizing again and again until she lost her voice. Clementina watched the scene with a smile, while Hammya, holding Candado’s hat in her hand, shed a few tears. Candado simply held his mother; she was in so much pain, but he listened to her apology over and over again. At one moment, Clementina noticed something unusual on Candado’s face: he was also crying. Tears filled his eyes and ran down his cheeks, almost imperceptible. Although he barely showed it, he felt that pain too. Suffering strengthens the bond of family. Europa would never leave her son alone again. Never again.