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C\u00e2nd am deschis ochii \u00een spital, primul lucru pe care l-am auzit a fost c\u0103 so\u021bul meu nu m\u0103 c\u0103utase nic\u0103ieri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Unde este Mauricio? am \u00eentrebat, \u00eencerc\u00e2nd s\u0103 m\u0103 ridic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Asistenta mi-a ap\u0103sat u\u0219or um\u0103rul. Mirosul de dezinfectant \u00eemi \u00een\u021bepa g\u00e2tul, iar branula \u00eemi tr\u0103gea pielea de pe dosul m\u00e2inii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Nu \u0219tim. Fratele dumneavoastr\u0103 a venit imediat ce l-am sunat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am privit tavanul alb. Pentru c\u00e2teva secunde, nu mi-am amintit nimic. Apoi durerea a revenit, \u00eempreun\u0103 cu drumul dintre pini, cu p\u0103m\u00e2ntul rece sub genunchi \u0219i cu fa\u021ba lui Mauricio disp\u0103r\u00e2nd printre copaci.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2014 Bebelu\u0219ul? am \u0219optit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asistenta \u0219i-a cobor\u00e2t privirea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00cen clipa aceea am \u00een\u021beles c\u0103 pierdusem \u0219i al patrulea copil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dar nu \u0219i via\u021ba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cu c\u00e2teva ore \u00eenainte, eram \u00een apartamentul nostru din Guadalajara, sprijinit\u0103 de masa din buc\u0103t\u0103rie. S\u00e2ngele \u00eemi p\u0103ta halatul crem, iar degetele \u00eemi tremurau at\u00e2t de tare \u00eenc\u00e2t nu puteam apuca telefonul de l\u00e2ng\u0103 zaharni\u021b\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Mauricio, du-m\u0103 la spital. Te rog. S\u00e2ngerez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
El st\u0103tea l\u00e2ng\u0103 frigider \u0219i privea ecranul telefonului s\u0103u.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2014 Iar \u00eencepi?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Pierd copilul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Spitale, analize, lacrimi\u2026 Nu mai pot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am \u00eentins m\u00e2na dup\u0103 telefon, dar el l-a luat \u00eenaintea mea \u0219i l-a b\u0103gat \u00een buzunar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Sun la ambulan\u021b\u0103, am spus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Te duc eu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Atunci plec\u0103m acum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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A deschis u\u0219a apartamentului f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 m\u0103 ajute. Pe hol mirosea a cear\u0103 \u0219i a cafea ars\u0103 de la vecini. Am cobor\u00e2t \u00eencet, \u021bin\u00e2ndu-m\u0103 de balustrad\u0103, \u00een timp ce el mergea \u00eenaintea mea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00cen parcare, c\u00e2nd am \u00eent\u00e2rziat c\u00e2teva secunde p\u00e2n\u0103 s\u0103 m\u0103 a\u0219ez, m-a \u00eempins \u00een ma\u0219in\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 M-ai lovit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Mi\u0219c\u0103-te mai repede.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am \u00eencercat s\u0103-mi conving mintea c\u0103 era doar furios, nu periculos. Cu ani \u00een urm\u0103, fratele meu, Sergio, \u00eemi spusese acela\u0219i lucru \u00een alt\u0103 form\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Mauricio decide prea multe pentru tine, Ana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Eu r\u00e2sesem atunci.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Credeam c\u0103 protec\u021bia arat\u0103 ca o m\u00e2n\u0103 care \u00ee\u021bi ia telefonul, \u00ee\u021bi alege hainele \u0219i \u00ee\u021bi spune unde trebuie s\u0103 fii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dup\u0103 nunt\u0103, m\u0103 convinsese s\u0103 renun\u021b la munca de corectoare editorial\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Eu c\u00e2\u0219tig suficient. Tu ocup\u0103-te de cas\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apoi veniser\u0103 sarcinile pierdute. La prima, m\u0103 str\u00e2nsese \u00een bra\u021be. La a doua, devenise rece. Dup\u0103 a treia, \u00eencepuse s\u0103 m\u0103 priveasc\u0103 de parc\u0103 eu eram vinovat\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Acum conducea cu maxilarul \u00eencle\u0219tat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 D\u0103-mi telefonul, vreau s\u0103-l sun pe Sergio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Nu trebuie s\u0103-i poveste\u0219ti tot fratelui t\u0103u.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dup\u0103 cinci minute, am observat c\u0103 trecuse de drumul spre spital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2014 Mauricio, ai gre\u0219it strada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Nu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Spitalul este \u00een partea cealalt\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 \u0218tiu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cl\u0103dirile s-au r\u0103rit. Au ap\u0103rut ateliere, rezervoare, depozite. Apoi drumul s-a \u00eengustat \u0219i au ap\u0103rut copacii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Unde m\u0103 duci?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 \u00centr-un loc \u00een care termin\u0103m cu toate astea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Am \u00eencercat m\u00e2nerul portierei. Era blocat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Opre\u0219te ma\u0219ina!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Nu face scandal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Am nevoie de medic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mi-a aruncat o privire scurt\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Tu ai nevoie mereu de ceva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pe un drum de p\u0103m\u00e2nt, a fr\u00e2nat brusc. Centura mi-a t\u0103iat abdomenul. C\u00e2nd a deschis portiera, aerul p\u0103durii mi-a umplut pl\u0103m\u00e2nii cu miros de r\u0103\u0219in\u0103 \u0219i noroi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2014 Coboar\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Pot s\u0103 mor aici.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 P\u00e2n\u0103 m\u00e2ine nu te g\u0103se\u0219te nimeni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A \u00eenchis portiera \u0219i s-a urcat la volan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am b\u0103tut \u00een geam p\u00e2n\u0103 mi s-au rupt unghiile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Mauricio, nu m\u0103 l\u0103sa!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
El nu s-a \u00eentors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ma\u0219ina a disp\u0103rut printre pini, iar eu am r\u0103mas f\u0103r\u0103 telefon, f\u0103r\u0103 acte \u0219i f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 \u0219tiu unde eram. Totu\u0219i, \u00eenainte ca durerea s\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eengenuncheze, am observat un detaliu: pe bord, lumina verde a sistemului de naviga\u021bie \u00eenc\u0103 pulsa, \u00eenregistr\u00e2nd drumul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Nu \u0219tiam atunci c\u0103 acel aparat avea s\u0103 p\u0103streze singura urm\u0103 pe care Mauricio nu o putea \u0219terge\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Lumina verde a sistemului de naviga\u021bie continua s\u0103 pulseze, de\u0219i ma\u0219ina disp\u0103ruse deja printre copaci. M-am ag\u0103\u021bat de ideea aceea ca de o sfoar\u0103 sub\u021bire, dar \u00een c\u00e2teva clipe picioarele mi-au cedat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n C\u00e2nd mi-am revenit, era \u00eentuneric. P\u0103m\u00e2ntul rece \u00eemi lipise frunzele de obraz, iar durerea din abdomen se transformase \u00eentr-o ap\u0103sare grea, aproape amor\u021bit\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mi-am amintit vocea lui Sergio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eDac\u0103 vreodat\u0103 ai nevoie s\u0103 ie\u0219i de acolo, sun\u0103-m\u0103. Chiar dac\u0103 au trecut dou\u0103zeci de ani.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nu aveam telefon. Aveam doar rochia p\u0103tat\u0103, o br\u0103\u021bar\u0103 rupt\u0103 \u0219i un drum necunoscut \u00een fa\u021b\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n M-am ridicat sprijinindu-m\u0103 de un pin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Trebuie s\u0103 merg, mi-am spus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Primii pa\u0219i au fost at\u00e2t de grei \u00eenc\u00e2t fiecare r\u0103d\u0103cin\u0103 mi se p\u0103rea un zid. M\u0103 \u021bineam cu palma de trunchiuri, iar scoar\u021ba \u00eemi zg\u00e2ria pielea. Nu \u0219tiam dac\u0103 mersesem zece minute sau o or\u0103 c\u00e2nd am auzit un l\u0103trat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Am urmat sunetul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Printre crengi a ap\u0103rut o lumin\u0103 galben\u0103. Era o cas\u0103 mic\u0103, folosit\u0103 de muncitorii forestieri. Am urcat cele trei trepte ale prispei \u0219i am b\u0103tut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Este cineva aici?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nimic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Am b\u0103tut din nou, apoi am sim\u021bit c\u0103 genunchii mi se \u00eenmoaie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n U\u0219a s-a deschis. O femeie b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103, cu un \u0219al maro prins sub b\u0103rbie, m-a privit \u0219i a dus m\u00e2na la gur\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Doamne, fat\u0103 drag\u0103!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 So\u021bul meu\u2026 m-a l\u0103sat aici.<\/p>\n\n\n\n M-a prins \u00eenainte s\u0103 cad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Rafael! a strigat ea. Adu lanterna!<\/p>\n\n\n\n B\u0103tr\u00e2na se numea Elena. Fiul ei, Rafael, supraveghea zona p\u0103durii \u0219i a ajuns dup\u0103 dou\u0103zeci de minute, cu pantalonii plini de noroi \u0219i cu o lantern\u0103 mare \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Trebuie s\u0103 chem\u0103m salvarea, a spus el.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Nu-l suna\u021bi pe Mauricio, am murmurat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rafael s-a uitat la mama lui.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Pe cine s\u0103 sun\u0103m?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Pe oricine, numai pe el nu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ambulan\u021ba nu putea intra pe drumul \u00eengust, a\u0219a c\u0103 Rafael m-a dus p\u00e2n\u0103 la locul unde paramedicii a\u0219teptau. \u00cen ma\u0219in\u0103, mirosul de benzin\u0103 \u0219i p\u0103tura aspr\u0103 de pe banchet\u0103 m-au f\u0103cut s\u0103 tremur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 R\u0103m\u00e2i cu mine, doamn\u0103, mi-a spus el.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Nu vreau s\u0103 mor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Nu vei muri. Uit\u0103-te la mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n La spital, doctori\u021ba Mariana Ortiz mi-a vorbit cu o bl\u00e2nde\u021be care m-a speriat mai mult dec\u00e2t \u021bipetele lui Mauricio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Ana, am f\u0103cut tot ce am putut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Am \u00eentors fa\u021ba spre perete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Copilul?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mariana a respirat \u00eencet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Nu am reu\u0219it s\u0103-l salv\u0103m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n De data aceea nu am pl\u00e2ns. Lacrimile se terminaser\u0103 \u00eenaintea mea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Dac\u0103 mai r\u0103m\u00e2neam acolo?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Pierderea de s\u00e2nge era sever\u0103. Puteai s\u0103 mori \u00eenainte s\u0103 te g\u0103seasc\u0103 cineva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Am cerut un telefon \u0219i am format num\u0103rul lui Sergio din memorie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Alo?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Sergio, sunt eu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n La cel\u0103lalt cap\u0103t s-a f\u0103cut o t\u0103cere grea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Ana? Unde e\u0219ti?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 \u00centr-un spital. Vino singur. Nu-i spune lui Mauricio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A ajuns \u00eenainte de miezul nop\u021bii. P\u0103rul \u00eei era ud de ploaie, iar \u00een m\u00e2na dreapt\u0103 \u021binea o geant\u0103 de piele pe care o folosea la birou.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Spune-mi exact ce s-a \u00eent\u00e2mplat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 M-a dus \u00een p\u0103dure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 De ce?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 A spus c\u0103 nimeni nu m\u0103 va g\u0103si p\u00e2n\u0103 diminea\u021b\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sergio a str\u00e2ns at\u00e2t de tare geanta, \u00eenc\u00e2t \u00eencheieturile i s-au albit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 A vrut s\u0103 te omoare?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Nu \u0219tiu ce a vrut. Dar \u0219tia c\u0103 puteam muri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00cen zilele urm\u0103toare, Sergio m-a ajutat s\u0103-mi schimb num\u0103rul, s\u0103-mi refac actele \u0219i s\u0103 notez fiecare am\u0103nunt. Nu m-a gr\u0103bit s\u0103 depun pl\u00e2ngere. \u0218tia c\u0103 la fiecare miros de pin \u00eemi amor\u021beau degetele.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mauricio nu a sunat la spitale. Nu a venit la casa Elenei. Nu a anun\u021bat dispari\u021bia mea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dup\u0103 dou\u0103 s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2ni, i-a trimis lui Sergio un mesaj: \u201eAna este la tine?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apoi \u00eenc\u0103 unul: \u201eA plecat dup\u0103 o ceart\u0103. Nu mai suport teatrul ei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Am citit mesajele cu stomacul str\u00e2ns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 \u00ce\u0219i construie\u0219te povestea, am spus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n