Always on the same side.
“She’s my sister, Lucia. Don’t overdo it.
“My mom is already big, be patient.
“You are a woman, you should know how to give in.
Give in?
Giving in became my routine.
My way of surviving.
Every time I wanted to say something, I would swallow it. Because I knew what came next: ungrateful, troublesome, bad woman.
So I learned.
To shut up.
To look down.
To make me small.
Until today.
Today was Camila’s birthday.
I got up before dawn. I cooked twelve dishes. Twelve. Because she likes to show off abundance. Because nothing can be missing when there are guests. Because everything has to be perfect… for her.
By noon, my legs were no longer the same. But I went on.
When we sat down at the table, she tried the main saucer.
Bittersweet ribs.
He chewed.
It frowned.
And left the cutlery with a dry blow.
“How bad they were,” he said, without lowering your voice. They’re not even sweet.
I felt like everyone was silent.
I forced a smile.
“The next one I put more sugar.
“The next one?” she repeated, raising an eyebrow. Today is my birthday, and you’re going out with this?
Something in his gaze was no longer simple.
It was attack.
“Did you do it on purpose?” he asked.
I blinked.
What?
My mother-in-law intervened, but not to defend me.
“Camila, don’t make a fuss… surely she didn’t do it with bad intentions.
But his gaze accused me.
Camila let out a short laugh.
“Of course I do. I’ve always fallen wrong.
Then he looked straight at me.
Don’t get confused, Lucia. That you put some money doesn’t make you important.
I felt a pull on my chest.
“That money—I started.
“Money?” he interrupted me. What you gave is nothing. I earn more than that in a month.
And there.
Right there.
Something definitely broke.
I looked up.
It was no longer shaking.
“Then give it back to me,” I said.
Silence.
Heavy.
Dense.
The whole table has frozen.
Camila looked at me. His lips slowly curved.
“Sorry?”
“The two hundred thousand pesos,” I repeated. When are you gonna pay me?
My mother-in-law let out an annoying sigh.
