I shouldn't have come back

The weekend had arrived and finally Ana had some free time since she started working with Carlos.

Learning to run a hotel was not easy, but he taught her very calmly and patiently. Sometimes she felt a certain look coming from him, but she always thought it might just be an impression of his.

"Is today the day you are going to visit your mother?"

Ana was talking to Claire on the phone.

"I guess I avoided what I had to avoid."

It had been ten years since Ana had had contact with her mother, as she had refused to speak to her since Sara's death.

Perhaps this is the biggest reason that makes Ana still feel guilty, even though she knows that she tried to do the best she could in the face of this situation.

"No matter what you see or hear, know that it is not your fault and that I will be here for whatever you need, I love you".

"I love you too!"

Ana knew that it would not be an easy task to meet with her mother, but she could not avoid it forever.

"Courage, Ana!"

She tried to cheer herself up.

Arriving at the old house that used to be her home, she found only Joana, the housekeeper.

"Miss, Ana!"

Joana started working for the family when Ana was born, so she kept a special affection for her.

"Joana, it's been a long time!"

Ana hugged her and after so long felt what it was like to be home again.

"Your father is not here."

"I didn't come to see him, but my mother, is she here?"

"Your mother?"

Ana noticed that Joana started acting strange after asking about her mother.

"Has something happened that I don't know about, Joana?"

Seeing that Joana was not answering, Ana went upstairs and found Sara's room open.

"Nothing has changed!"

On the desk was a portrait of the two of them, and Ana picked it up.

"She was so beautiful!"

Ana couldn't help but get emotional seeing them in that picture.

"Who is it?"

When she heard that voice, her heartbeat quickened and her whole body shook.

Ana turned to see the owner of that voice that for so many years she longed to hear, even if only by phone call, but that at no time did that wish come true.

"Who is it? What are you doing in my daughter's room?"

Even though she was face to face with her mother, she didn't recognize her, on the other hand, Ana didn't forget any trace of her face.

"I don't like people coming into my daughter's room uninvited, and I don't like them going through her things.

Marta took the picture frame from her hands and put it back in its place.

Before Ana could say anything, her father entered the room.

"Ana!"

Her father's face showed surprise and concern.

"Ana? Are you Ana?"

"Yes, mother! It's me, your daughter."

Without realizing it, Ana only felt it when her mother slapped her.

"How dare you come back here? How dare you come into my daughter's room after what you've done? Get out of here! Get out of my Sara's room!"

Marta just screamed non-stop, leaving Ana surprised and frightened at that situation.

Her father pulled her by the hand and asked Joana to calm Marta down.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

"I thought that...what's going on? Why is Mom like this? She doesn't look well."

Again she went toward her mother, but her father stopped her and all she could hear was her mother calling for Sara.

"Don't go...your mother doesn't want to see her."

"What should I do then? Ten years I haven't seen her and all I get is a slap in the face. What's going on, Dad?"

"Since your sister's death, your mother hasn't been the same.... Some days she has these attacks, and other days she lives in a world she created herself."

"Have you taken her to a professional?"

"Yes, and they indicated to me to leave her hospitalized, but I can't do that to her mother, I can't do that to the woman in my life. So I take care of her at home in the hope that one day she can be the one she once was."

"Why didn't you tell me that before?"

"And you were going to do what? Look at how your mother got just seeing her."

"You're right, I shouldn't have come... I don't even think I should be alive."

She just ran out of the place that was once her home and where she had so many good times. Her father wanted to catch up with her, but because of her age and her condition, he couldn't.

Ana walked the streets all afternoon until the evening she decided to return to the hotel where she found Carlos waiting for her.

"Ana!"

Seeing that she seemed to be distracted, he grabbed her arm, startling her.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, but it's just that I called you and since you didn't hear me." He let go of her arm.

"Is something wrong at work?"

Carlos realized that something was going on and took advantage of that to call her out.

"No, it's just that since it's been a while since you've been in the country, I thought I'd call you for a drink.

"Thanks, but I don't drink."

"From the look on your face, I think a beer would help."

"Is it that noticeable?"

"Yes, but we all have our good and bad days, the important thing is not to let the bad ones spoil the good ones. Come on, I'm buying."

Ana didn't drink because of the medications she used to take, but that day all she needed was a shoulder and maybe a lot of alcohol.

"Why not, right?"

Carlos took her to a little bar he used to frequent.

"I hope you like it, it's one of my favorite places."

"I don't usually hang out in bars.

"And what do you do for fun?"

"I work, go to the movies, to the restaurant, and talk to my best friend."

"And since when is working a fun time?"

"As long as it makes you forget a little about your life."

Carlos was curious to know what had happened, but he didn't want to ask in case she decided to leave, but not because he was worried, but because he wanted to take advantage of the situation to get a little closer to her.

"Then let's drink! Waiter, two of the strongest drinks you have."

"Your order is my command, Mr. Carlos."

While the drinks were being prepared, he watched her.

"I feel that something serious has happened, but I don't know if I should ask about it."

"I'd rather not talk."

"All right! Tell me, do you have a boyfriend?"

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Since my last involvement, I prefer to be alone."

"Are you that disappointed?"

"Here are your drinks, boss.

"Thank you. Here, take it in one gulp."

Ana just did as he said, and immediately her expression changed.

"That burns! My God, it burns! It's very strong."

Carlos just laughed at her reaction.

"What are you laughing at? Waiter, bring another one just like this.

"Are you drunk? You're kidding, right?"

Carlos couldn't believe that she could be drunk in such a short time and with so little alcohol.

"A woman can't get drunk? Only a man can? I thought you were like everyone else, no man is good!

"Yes, you are really drunk!"

Ana drank one, two, three, four... six... seven and when she was about to take the eighth drink, Carlos stopped her.

"Stop being a pain in the ass!"

"You can't, that's enough!"

Carlos took the glass from her hand, but Ana took it.

"I said you can't!"

He shouted, and her eyes filled with tears.

"Did you yell at me?"

"I'm sorry, okay?"

"Don't yell at me!"

She shouted at him, drawing the attention of everyone in the place.

"Come on!"

"I'm not going until I finish my drink."

"Just this one!

Seeing that it would do no good to stop her from drinking, he just handed her the glass.

"Now we can go."

Ana lost her balance, but before she could fall, Carlos held her up.

"Where did this handsome man come from? I wonder if he has a girlfriend? If not, I might be."

Everyone looked at them strangely, causing Carlos to get out of there as quickly as possible.

He took her to his car and asked the driver to take them to the hotel where she was staying, but he gave up halfway and took her to his apartment.

Unconscious, Ana was taken to the living room of Carlos' apartment, where he laid her down on the living room couch.

"What should I do with you?"

He wondered as he watched her sleep.

Carlos didn't know if he could sleep with her, so he took advantage of the fact that she was drunk and took her to his bedroom and laid her on his bed.

"Where am I?"

For a moment, Ana opened her eyes and stared at him. At that moment, Carlos felt his whole body goose bumps.

"Elijah!"

Ana mistook him for her ex-boyfriend and kissed him.

Feeling her lips on his, he pushed her away and with the back of his right hand wiped her lips.

"It's getting hot!"

At the same moment, Ana began to undress, being left with only her panties and bra.

It was at that moment that Carlos had the brilliant idea to pretend to spend the night with her.

Lying down next to her, he pulled her closer to him, placing her head on his chest.

That night seemed endless and never, while he was with a woman, had he wished for the night to pass as quickly as it did at that moment.

He was almost falling asleep when he felt her move and say a few words.

He couldn't understand what she was saying, but he could see some tears in her eyes.

Carlos moved closer to hear better what she was trying to say, but was startled when she opened her eyes again.

"Carlos!"

He thought she would scream when she saw him, but was taken aback when she hugged him.

"I shouldn't have come back, should I?".

She closed her eyes and fell asleep again, leaving him bewildered by that hug.