Chapter 8

When morning came I woke up Charles, I hadn't arrived, I didn't even know I'd left, but in any case that's none of my business and much less my interest. I took advantage of the fact that Yan was sleeping, I even spoke to Lia about what happened.

He still couldn't believe what was happening and, on top of that, he was treating me very badly and I didn't understand why.

Even though I didn't know much about Yan's behavior, I knew that he could be autistic, that's why sometimes he acted aggressively, and sometimes I didn't quite understand what bothered him so much.

"Of course! Yan hardly spoke to me, he only knew how to complain and mistreat people, but you were different.

“How was the rest of Sunday? I did something to you because until now you ignored me and I was talking to myself.

“You want to smile, today I'm not well reading, but you missed it, we went to a big forró, we all drank and Samuel was sad because he wasn't with us.

“Lia doesn’t know what happened here? If she hadn't come, she thinks something much worse could have happened to Yan!

"What happened? It was serious because he's following me like a vulture!

“Here the tough Doctor was having a pool party, the sound was even coming down the other street! Yan was under the bed, very nervous about a crisis that made him sad, the lady who was with him didn't know what she was going to do, but I'm glad I arrived.

"Our! What did he have?

“I'm going to the doctor with him, today I have a suspicion that Yan is autistic and I don't think you ever realized that, right?

“This aggressive way was an expression that had something wrong and no one understood what he wanted to express but now we will know for sure.

“Poor him, what a mother doesn’t make is missing, right? I believe if it was here it would have been resolved!

“I'm waiting for the Doctor to show up, he said he was going to see the doctor with me, but I think he left in the early hours of the morning and hasn't returned yet.

“Friend, do your job and forget about Charles, this one doesn’t care about the boy and never will, and my advice.

I did my things and then I woke up Yan and we went to the appointment without Doctor Charles. He was sad because he promised me that I would go like an idiot, believing that he wanted to participate in Yan's life, only someone who is very innocent like me who thinks that people can change overnight. But I didn't mind, I went alone, even so I had to know for sure so I could deal with the child, at least I could. We waited a little longer for him to arrive and I decided to go without him later if I wanted to know he was coming to see the doctor because I wasn't going to tell him either.

We arrived at the appointment and were seen. Yan underwent some tests until he knew for sure, a few hours had already passed and the Doctor hadn't arrived, I believed he could come even though he was late, but he was going to come, but I was wrong and he didn't come, much less he called to say what why? I think he thinks that money and everything doesn't make a difference whether he's there or not, but as long as I'm taking care of Yan I would always protect him.

We finished and the result came out. Yan did, indeed, have autism but it was Grade 2: the patient needs support and his restrictive and repetitive behaviors are more frequent and evident, showing him to be more inflexible and having difficulty changing the focus of his actions. That's why I often didn't understand the reason for the revolt out of nowhere, now I know when my little one needs someone to be looked after and truly understand him.

We returned home and the Doctor had arrived and was already leaving, he didn't even want to know about the appointment, he absolutely didn't care. Much less did he care, I didn't say anything either and I didn't even beg him to know that I was the one who took care of Yan and that was enough since he was an ogre who would stay with his ignorance and not be around me or Yan. I let him play in the usual place when I prepared our lunch and went to talk to my friend, at least someone cared to know what it really was.

“I read this boss of ours and it's strange that one moment it's sweet and another time it's sour, do you understand?

“Gabriela, he arrived here furious, went upstairs, just had a coffee and left, I think things at the company aren't going very well, he wasn't talking to anyone on the phone and he seemed to be fighting.

“What a thing! I just think once again that the child is not to blame for anything.

“Friend, from what I know of the company and Yan, when he met his wife, he was just a shitty lawyer, she was the one who made him what he is now.

“What a lot of gossip!

“That's why I tell you, don't get involved, do your job and nothing else because this rich life is very complicated.

“I wanted to see if he was like us back in the country? This ogre would never be like that!

“But what does Yan have? And what about autism?

“Yes, grade 2 but I have already scheduled another appointment, the Doctor wants to monitor him closely.

“Good thing he has you now! Let me work because otherwise I've seen that crazy guy make fun.

Lia pretended to care about Yan's illness, but deep down, she wanted this boy to disappear, so she could have Charles in her arms again, even though she knew he was only being used for her pleasures.

I invited Yan to lunch and watched his behavior when he played. There was a toy that he wouldn't let go of, it must have been very special. What a beautiful boy, how could I not fall in love like that? He always gave me kisses and affection most of his time.

“Yan, let’s have lunch, I made a wonderful porridge!

“Aunt Gabriela, can you live here and never leave?

“I will think about your case if you eat all the food!

“Now, yes, I’m going to eat just so you can stay.

That's something, is not it? God took my mother and gave me a person as special as her, I couldn't say what life could have in store for me, but it was enough to fill my heart where it was wounded with joy again. I know that where my mother is, she was proud of every thing I did, especially taking care of this angel that God reserved for me. There will come a time when we realize that when we hold hands we do not hold our hearts. That whoever stays today can leave tomorrow and that our direction is constantly changing. We will stop trusting so much in promises, as they are not guarantees of anything, but we will learn to make the convictions we have about the people around us prevail.

We will be surprised by people who live next to us. Some friends will prevail over time, they will lend a hand in times of difficulty, while others will simply disappear without us expecting it. We will end up accepting losses and ingratitude, but we will place more value on loyalty and those who remain under any circumstances. There are more things we will learn in life regarding who we all are. We will get to know up close some realities that will become bitter and other truths that will make our existence worthwhile. In the end, and after experiencing everything there is to live, we will only know that everything is part of the essence of the human being.

Acreditar que nossa vida não é melhor nem pior que a de ninguém. Nunca se sinta maior ou menor, mas igual. Fazer o bem sem olhar a quem significa não esperar nada em troca é uma forma de encontrar a felicidade. Tentar sorrir sempre, mesmo diante das dificuldades e não ter vergonha das lágrimas, diante da necessidade, é outra forma de enfrentá-la. Ser humilde, prestar favores sem recompensa, abrir as mãos e oferecer ajuda é uma forma de buscar a felicidade.

Eu estava gostando do que fazia e se não fosse esse trabalho que minha amiga Lia conseguiu, eu nunca teria conhecido essa pessoa maravilhosa, a Yan, que só precisa de atenção e cuidado para ser feliz.

“Tenho que tirar a Gabriela de lá, as coisas estão indo mal nesta casa e o Charles nem me procura mais, acredito que conseguir esse emprego foi um grande erro para mim.

Lia começava a desconfiar que Charles tinha uma queda por sua amiga Gabriela, pois ele estava mudando muito e via como seu chefe não procurava mais seus desejos como antes. Tudo mudou com a chegada de Gabriela.