B\u0103tr\u00e2na a r\u0103mas nemi\u0219cat\u0103 c\u00e2teva secunde.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apoi a oftat ad\u00e2nc, de parc\u0103 \u00een pieptul ei se str\u00e2nseser\u0103 ani \u00eentregi de t\u0103ceri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Hai, vino \u00eencoace, \u2014 i-a spus \u00eencet. \u2014 \u00cent\u00e2i mergem la baie, apoi \u00ee\u021bi fac un ceai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Viorica a ezitat o clip\u0103, dar tonul bl\u00e2nd a \u00eenvins frica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00cen timp ce feti\u021ba \u00ee\u0219i sp\u0103la m\u00e2inile, Anastasia o privea pe furi\u0219. Era slab\u0103, palid\u0103, cu ochi obosi\u021bi. Prea obosi\u021bi pentru un copil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2014 Ai m\u00e2ncat azi? \u2014 a \u00eentrebat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Biscui\u021bi\u2026 \u2014 a murmurat Viorica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
B\u0103tr\u00e2na a str\u00e2ns buzele.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00cen buc\u0103t\u0103ria mic\u0103, a pus repede pe mas\u0103 o farfurie cu sup\u0103 cald\u0103, r\u0103mas\u0103 de la pr\u00e2nz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2014 Ia, m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Viorica s-a uitat speriat\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Mama a zis s\u0103 nu\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Mama ta e obosit\u0103 \u0219i speriat\u0103, \u2014 a spus Anastasia ferm, dar cald. \u2014 Dar eu nu sunt bau-bau. M\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feti\u021ba a \u00eenceput s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nce cu poft\u0103, de parc\u0103 nu mai v\u0103zuse m\u00e2ncare cald\u0103 de zile \u00eentregi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Exact atunci, u\u0219a de la intrare s-a deschis brusc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cati a intrat g\u00e2f\u00e2ind, cu p\u0103rul ud de transpira\u021bie, cu ochii mari de panic\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Viorica!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A r\u0103mas blocat\u0103 c\u00e2nd a v\u0103zut-o la mas\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u0218i pe Anastasia l\u00e2ng\u0103 ea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 \u00cemi pare r\u0103u! \u2014 a \u00eenceput Cati, aproape pl\u00e2ng\u00e2nd. \u2014 N-am vrut s\u0103 deranjez, eu doar\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2014 Taci, \u2014 a spus b\u0103tr\u00e2na scurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cati s-a oprit, speriat\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anastasia s-a ridicat \u00eencet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Ai l\u0103sat un copil bolnav singur \u00een cas\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cuvintele au lovit greu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cati a sim\u021bit cum \u00eei fuge p\u0103m\u00e2ntul de sub picioare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 N-am avut de ales\u2026 \u2014 a \u0219optit. \u2014 Dac\u0103 pierdeam jobul\u2026 nu mai aveam nimic\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Vocea i s-a rupt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Nu mai puteam\u2026 \u00eenc\u0103 o dat\u0103 pe drumuri\u2026 cu ea\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lacrimile au \u00eenceput s\u0103 curg\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 oprire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pentru prima dat\u0103, nu mai \u00eencerca s\u0103 par\u0103 puternic\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anastasia a privit-o lung.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apoi s-a apropiat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 \u0218i de ce ai crezut c\u0103 te dau afar\u0103?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cati a ridicat ochii, surprins\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 To\u021bi\u2026 ne-au dat afar\u0103, \u2014 a spus \u00eencet. \u2014 Mereu\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
B\u0103tr\u00e2na a dat din cap, ca \u0219i cum \u00een\u021belegea mai mult dec\u00e2t spunea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Eu am avut o fat\u0103, \u2014 a zis dup\u0103 o pauz\u0103. \u2014 A murit. Acum mul\u021bi ani. \u0218i un nepot\u2026 n-am apucat s\u0103-l v\u0103d cresc\u00e2nd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Camera a devenit brusc lini\u0219tit\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 De atunci\u2026 e gol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A privit spre Viorica, care st\u0103tea cuminte, cu lingura \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Nu v\u0103 dau afar\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cati a clipit, ne\u00eencrez\u0103toare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Ba mai mult, \u2014 a continuat Anastasia. \u2014 De m\u00e2ine, c\u00e2nd mergi la munc\u0103, o la\u0219i la mine. O iau de la gr\u0103dini\u021b\u0103, \u00eei dau de m\u00e2ncare. Nu mai faci prostii din astea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cati a izbucnit \u00een pl\u00e2ns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nu un pl\u00e2ns de disperare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ci unul care elibera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Nu \u0219tiu cum s\u0103 v\u0103 mul\u021bumesc\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Nu trebuie, \u2014 a spus b\u0103tr\u00e2na simplu. \u2014 Doar s\u0103 nu mai fugi de oameni. Nu to\u021bi sunt r\u0103i.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Viorica s-a ridicat \u0219i a \u00eembr\u0103\u021bi\u0219at-o pe Anastasia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cati a privit scena \u0219i, pentru prima dat\u0103 dup\u0103 mult timp, nu s-a mai sim\u021bit singur\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00cen acea sear\u0103, \u00een apartamentul vechi, ceva s-a schimbat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nu mai era doar un loc de stat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Devenise, \u00eencet, un \u00eenceput de acas\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n