Chapter 6

Maria Eduarda

After my sister leaves for work, I stay at home thinking about what she said. I call my brother-in-law.

- Hi, Duda, how are you?

- Fine, Lucas, thank God! Are you busy?

- For my little sister-in-law, never! What can I do for you?

- Lucas, I was thinking about what my sister said.

- What did she say?

- That I have to get out of the house and have fun, and she also said that it is past time for me to get help.

- Duda, your sister is absolutely right, I had already talked to her about it. So, are you willing to help yourself?

I think, and yes, it is time for me to heal, even though it might take a while, but I will soon be fine.

- Hello, Duda?

- Sorry, and in answer to your question, yes, I am wanting to get well.

- Great, I can refer you to a psychologist.

- Thank you!

- I'll call you later - we say goodbye.

I go back to the kitchen and put away what's left of the coffee, cleaning up.

As soon as I finish, I go up to the bedroom and take a quick shower. I rush out, so as not to be late for my course.

I couldn't tell if it was intuition or prevention, but I feel someone sitting next to me, and I don't even have to turn around to see that it's that idiot Pedro.

- Well, well, if it isn't the weirdo!

And there I stood, calm, or rather, trying to be calm with a pest right beside me. It wasn't working. The jerk had been bothering me a lot with his stupid jokes and decided to stay close to me.

- Pedro, leave me alone! - I ask, already losing patience.

- You know, the more you despise me, the more I fall for you! - he says, and I feel the urge to vomit.

- You're disgusting," I say with contempt.

- I'll teach you a good lesson any day! - he says in a threatening tone, and I am sure I turn pale. I gather my things and, without looking at him, end up moving to another table. Just when I think I'm going to be calm, the plague comes back to haunt me.

- What do you want, Pedro?

- You still don't get it, do you? - he provokes.

- No, and I don't want to." I stand up and walk away from him, listening to him laugh. Just when I think the curse is going to come to my side again, the teacher arrives, and I feel a great relief.

- Are you okay, Maria Eduarda? - the professor asks, seeing me standing still.

- Uh... I am, professor! - I answer in a trembling voice, and the teacher begins to pass the subject. I stay there, still in a trance.

The hours go by. Today I certainly didn't pay attention to anything that was taught, and I can't stay like this.

The teacher dismisses everyone and calls me:

- Is there a problem, Maria Eduarda? You are one of the most diligent students in the Administration course, and today you weren't as present as you are in other classes. Are you sure you are okay?

What should I say, "Look, professor, I was raped two years ago, and your asshole student made sexual innuendos implying that he wants to fuck me"? I can't say something like that, because unbelievably it's my word against his.

- Nothing, professor! May I go?

- Yes, you are excused," I thank him and run off, with the feeling that I am being followed, but I look back and see no one. It might just be me.

I go back home as fast as possible. When I arrive, I lock up and run up the stairs. I go to my room and lock it too. It might be paranoia, but I don't want to pay to see it.

I sit down on the floor of the room and start to cry, very hard. I can't go through that again. When I decide that I could finally try to forget, Pedro's asshole decides to let it go.

Since I started the course, I have always avoided any contact with my classmates. If they come too close, I accidentally get stuck and am scared to death.

- Our Lady, help me to overcome this nightmare," I ask, looking at the picture our mother put in my room. - I don't want to suffer anymore, I need to forget - and I burst into tears again. And I stay there for a while, then I dry my tears as I remember that I haven't eaten anything and go downstairs to prepare something. As soon as I finish, I clean up and go back to my room, where I lock myself in again. My cell phone rings, and the only person who calls me is Vanessa.

- Hi, Vane! - I greet her.

- This isn't Vane! - says a muffled voice, and I start shaking like a leaf.

- Who are you? - I ask shakily.

- Oh, I'm the person who's going to make your life hell, bitch! - he hangs up. I block the number and start crying again, imagining that it must be that pest. How did he get my number?

Oh my God, not again! I run to the bathroom and throw all the food I had eaten into the toilet. And I stay there for a long time. When I think that nothing more will come out, I take out my toothbrush and brush my teeth to get rid of the bitter taste of vomit.

As soon as I'm done, I turn on the shower and step in, letting the hot water fall on my body. I wash myself wanting to get rid of the dirt that was not on my body, but on my soul.

Not wanting to worry my sister, I run out of the bathroom, change quickly, grab my purse and run out. Log