CHAPTER 50
FREEDOM
Three weeks later, Blanca strolled with Carlos through the favela, dodging a cyclist as they made their way to a house. A woman with bright, blue eyes stood outside, grinding some kind of root into a pestle. She looked up with a warm smile, her eyes expressing sadness and fatigue. She wore a tattered t-shirt and long flowing skirt. Her unwashed, tangled hair was tied. This must be Juliana, whom Carlos told her about.
“Carlos, this is a surprise,” Juliana said.
He walked towards her. “Hi Juliana.” He turned. “This is Blanca. We work together at the magazine.”
“Hi, Juliana. Nice to meet you.” Blanca felt uneasy. She didn’t enjoy giving bad news.
Juliana put down the mortar and pestle on a nearby table, and tilted her head. She rested her hands on the back of a ricket
