Maria and Leo found themselves stranded in the busy Dorrego Square of Buenos Aires. The realization that they were lost and without secured shelter, weighed heavily on Maria's shoulders. She felt a knot of anxiety tightening in her chest as she tried to come up with a plan to salvage their situation.
Desperation crept into Maria's gaze as she watched Leo improvising a way to make some money by selling his drawings to the few tourists he encountered. Leo's resourcefulness was impressive, but Maria couldn't bring herself to appreciate it in their dire circumstances. Frustration etched lines on her face, her brows furrowed, and she let out exasperated sighs.
As Leo worked on his drawings, Maria's mind raced with thoughts. She clenched her fists, feeling the rough texture of her palms against her skin as she sat on a bench. The scent of street food wafted through the air, mixing with the exhaust fumes of passing trolleys, assaulting her senses and adding to her distress.
Lost in her own world of worry, Maria muttered to herself, the words a mix of anger and resignation. "I hate this situation, don't you?" Her voice held a tinge of desperation, a plea for some semblance of control.
“It is unfortunate, my lady,” a disembodied voice responded to Maria's words. It sounded like an echo as if it came from the depths of the abyss. Maria's heart raced, her breath quickening as she scanned the square. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, a chill running down her spine.
Unnerved but determined not to show weakness, Maria channeled her frustration into a spell, causing a mischievous display of magic that made a couple of teenagers slip and fall into a puddle. A twisted satisfaction flickered in her eyes, a glimpse of the power she held within.
“Great,” she giggled.
“What’s great?” Leo's interruption pulled Maria back from the brink of darkness. She turned to him, her gaze a mix of defiance and vulnerability. "Do not bother me, or I’ll cast a curse on you," she warned.
Leo, undeterred by Maria's threat, reached out to her, his touch gentle yet firm as he patted her head. Maria's eyes widened in surprise, her body tensing at the unexpected gesture. Before she could process the moment, Leo's bold move was met with a swift strike from Maria, her hand connecting with his belly in a burst of anger and frustration. The punch wasn’t particularly strong, but Leo pretended as if it was too powerful.
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Amidst the ruckus of their exchange, a figure approached with laughter bubbling from his lips. The man, tall and blond, exuded a sense of ease and confidence. He was dressed in a sleek black vest and trousers, a street dancer with a swagger that a lot of confidence.
Maria's gaze flickered to the newcomer, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the stranger's presence. The scent of sweat and cologne mingled in the air, adding a layer of complexity to the already-charged atmosphere.
As the street tango dancer drew closer, Maria's heart pounded in her chest with fear.
Maria faced the curious gaze of the Argentinean man. His words, though well-meaning, only added to the weight of doubt pressing down on her.
“What a beautiful couple, you are a spectacle!” The man's words elicited a mixture of discomfort and amusement in Maria.
“My name is Leonardo,” Leo said, speaking rather strung Spanish.
When the man turned his attention to Maria, her guard went up instantly. She felt a surge of defensiveness rising within her as she revealed a piece of herself. “I’m Maria,” she said in her almost perfect Spanish. The few months she spent helping in the Chilean old lady’s bakery had paid off.
"You're not for around here, are you?” the dancer asked.
Maria shifted uncomfortably on the bench. The dancer's question made her feel like an outsider once again. She forced a smile, but Leo's easy grin and mention of his upbringing only served to highlight her own fractured identity.
"I'm Mexican, but I grew up in Italy," Leo smiled.
“Oh, interesting!” the dancer nodded.
"I was born in the Cape Colony, the daughter of a Boer man and a black woman whom I have never met," Maria finally spoke, her voice tinged with bitterness and sorrow.
“The Cape Colony?” the man scratched his chin.
“South of Africa, so South Africa.”
The man’s curiosity prodded her further, and she found herself unraveling more information before this stranger. "I'm wandering the world like a beggar, and now I'm lost with this inept in this city," she confessed, her frustration palpable. It felt as though steam could burst from her ears as she recounted her struggles.
“My name is Roberto. It's a pleasure to meet you.”
“Well, Roberto... we're lost. We don’t have much money, and we don’t know where we’ll spend the night.” Leo sighed.
“Oh, dear!” he said. “Let me help you with that.”
“Thank you so much!” Leo said.
“Leo, Maria… I have a tango presentation in a few minutes. If you want, you can come and see me, then I'll help you find lodging!”
Roberto's invitation to his performance sparked a glimmer of curiosity in Maria's eyes. The thought of losing herself in the music and movement, if only for a fleeting moment, was tempting. She could almost hear the seductive notes of the bandoneon and feel the passion radiating from the dancers.