Frozen in time

Chapter three

Eliza.

For most people, the weekend means peace, quiet, or rest. For me it means: Work, homework, and day to do next week's homework. Today is Saturday, which means I don't have class. But it also means more hours in the hospital, time to do schoolwork, and cleaning at home. I don't have the luxury of getting up late, so I wake up at eight, brush my teeth, line my single bed, tidy up my bedroom, and then head into the kitchen to see what I have to do. As I imagine, I will have a lot.

After I make breakfast, a few things, I just make strong coffee like my dad likes, make some toast and grab cereal for myself, and my brother.

- Hmm. That smells good, there is no coffee that smells as good as my daughter's. - My father comments, after giving me a kiss on the forehead and sitting beside me at the kitchen table. - Good morning daughter.

- Good Morning. - I give a proud smile.

- I'll just eat a piece of toast, because today the boss wants everyone to get to work earlier.

I watch my dad for a second, he's wearing his usual gray shirt (the work uniform), he's a car salesman at a company. Mr. Carlos is not the best seller there, and he doesn't even earn a fortune, but everything he has in this house is the result of his work. I think I look like him in this part of wanting to work to support himself. I look like my father only in personality, because in appearance, I look like my mother. Too bad I don't have his beautiful blue eyes...

- Good Morning. - my mother and brother appear by the doorstep, and join us.

Pedrinho is wearing his white karate robe. He's seven years old, and has fought since he was five, he always says he's going to be a professional when he's an adult, which I think is cute, but just last month, he wanted to show me a new move he learned, and ended up breaking my porcelain doll , which I had since I was two years old.

- Good Morning. - My father and I say in chorus.

- Daughter, do you have plans for this morning? - my mother puts some strawberry jam on her toast and looks at me.

- Hmm, I was going to clean up the house, as I always do. Because?

-It's because today I'll have to stay late at the studio, to attend to a client who's getting married, and her brother doesn't have anyone to stay with. And I'm leaving early, so I can't take him karate.

- I'll take him. And I think I can take him to the hospital with me. It's going to be kind of boring for him, but... I think it's quite possible.

By ''kind of boring for him'', I meant: he's going to leave there thanking him for being in good health, or wanting to donate an organ. Everyone in my family is kind of ''sentimental'' way too much.

- Thank you daughter. - my mother opens a huge smile.

- You're welcome.

After I finished washing up for breakfast, taking my brother to karate school, and completely changing the state of mind of the house, making the lunch, and picking up my brother from school, I had to run to get ready for school. work.

I rush through the hospital's double glass doors, hoping no one notices I'm late. My brother is running after me, his golden curls bouncing, and holding the lunch box I made for him.

- Good night Maria Eliza. - a voice says behind me, with irony. And I know very well who it belongs to.

I turn around and see Eduardo, my co-worker. My boss's son to be exact. He also does an internship like me, but the hospital is big enough for us to see each other once or twice a week.

- Don't you tell your father that I was late, please? - beg.

He looks serious for a moment, then smiles. Phew! I breathe in relief.

- You know I haven't told him anything since you came here. - He looks his aqua-green eyes at my brother. - Who is he?

- Ah, it's Pedro, my brother. I had no choice and brought him with me.

- I don't think anyone will bother with that. - he puts his hands in the pockets of his big white coat, and I know he's only a year older than me, but like that, he looks a lot older. Like a trained doctor. - How is it going? - he says, looking at my brother.

- Well.

My brother shakes my hand. Definitely very shy. I blink twice in Edu's direction. My god, he's so cute.

"So..." he says, smiling sweetly. - It's been a while since we've seen each other. Could... could you watch a movie with me, you know, one of these days?

It takes me by surprise. Okay, I haven't told you yet, but... me and Eduardo, we already... hmm, ''dated'' once. Not long ago. It lasted about two months, and we decided to break up because we simply never saw each other. And I am NOT exaggerating! we worked at the same place, but we only saw each other three times a week, and we went out together...well, we hardly went out together. It was fine between the two of us after that. Only I didn't expect him to want to go through with it.

"Hmm," I start, not knowing what to say. - You know... there are new patients and...

- Know. And I also know that this is an Eliza hospital, there will always be new patients. If you don't know how to separate your life from your work, they will eventually become one.

What did he mean with this? - I think, but soon comes one of the reasons why we broke up.

- Eduardo, your father is calling you on the third floor. - MS. G, look at me with that look of ''I don't know what you're doing here, girl much younger and prettier than me.'' - And Maria Eliza, the patient in room number thirty-four wants to talk to you.

Miss Gilda, is the nurse in charge of taking care of the teenage trainees, a woman over forty, who looks fifty because of the hours and hours on call at this hospital. She is one of those sullen women who cannot find a husband because of her strong personality. And she also seems to hate seeing me talking to her boss's son, somehow.

- It's ok. - Eduardo says, and gives me a look that says ''Think about what I proposed, and turns towards the elevator.

I look at Ms. G, and I see she doesn't like my bringing company, but assuming that's not f*******n, she rolls her eyes at me, and leaves. I take another breath of what air I have left, and look at my little brother.

- Pedro, I have to work now, and I'll let you walk around. But please promise me you won't break anything, make trouble, or in any way leave this hospital.

- Promise. - He made a sign of oath, with his hand on his forehead.

I smile, and nod at him too. I kiss him on the forehead, and head upstairs, towards room number three and four.

'Hi,' I say, giving my best smile.

Carol is as before, lying on her bed with her headphones on, distracted.

"Hi." She smiles back, taking off her headphones to pay attention to me. - Glad you arrived, I couldn't take it anymore. Silveria and her pills.

I laughed, and took the opportunity to take a look at her next medication schedule: two hours and twenty-four minutes. Well, just a few minutes to go.

- I wanted to ask you a big favor. - She says, a little lower, looking through the glass windows if there's no one else around.

- Oh, of course. I'm here to help.

'Well...' She pursed her lips, and I know she's afraid to ask me, whatever. - It's just... you know? Today is my anniversary with Chad, and... you're the only person in this hospital that I feel I can count on. I was wondering if you can't help me get away tonight.

- To run away? - I swallow the dry.

My God! What does this girl want to get me into? Why do I have to be such an easy person to befriend?! If I help her, I'll end up losing my dream job, and if I don't help her, I'll lose a friendship with a special patient and ruin the happiness of a happy couple. What do I do? - I wonder.

- Hmm... are you okay? - I say.

What? Did it come out of my mouth? But I barely thought about the consequences. I believe I'm going to do very badly, but even so, seeing the size of the smile she opened made me smile too.

- I feel like we're going to be great friends. - she says.

- Me either.

- And then? How do you intend to put me out without being noticed?

- I... I can tell Nurse Silvária that you're in the cafeteria, and Dr. Marcelo, that you're in the bathroom. And I can say I took care of your medications. But you have to promise that you'll take the medicine, and you'll come back here just as well when you did, okay?

- Of course. - She says, widening her smile even more.

This is the biggest prize a person who likes to help others can win. The smile of who she is helping.

- Is that you?

- What?

- Do you have a boyfriend?

Somehow, I don't know why, I blush.

- Hmm... not anymore.

- No longer? - She arches her eyebrow, and I don't know why, but I feel like she wants to know some more details.

- Yeah... we broke up a week ago.

- I'm very sorry. Why did they break up?

- Because we don't have time for each other. You know, when he had a day off, I didn't, and when I did, he worked all day.

- Our! Carol looks indignant, but she smiles. - You two look like Eclipse. And it's cool.

I half smile, my mom told me that once too. Like Eclipse, the meeting of the moon and the sun, a phenomenon more than rare. But it's quite different when the moon and the sun (which in this case is me and Edu) are lovers, who naturally need to see each other every day.

- IT'S. That sounds really cool. - I finally say, and wanting to change the subject, I look at her headphones. - What are you listening?

- It's called rock'n roll by an Australian band, want to hear it? - she offers me a phone, and I accept.

- My younger brother loves this song.

I remembered that Pedrinho had songs from an unknown rock band on his iPhod, and I used to listen to some from time to time.

- And even? - She looks at me, surprised. - What is his name?

- It's Pedro, and he's here at the hospital. Do you want me to bring him, for you to meet?

- Of course. I love children. - she smile.

- Okay. I'll be back in a minute.

I leave the room, and take a walk around the first floor, hoping that Pedro hadn't gone so far in such a short time. But after doing a full sweep of the first floor, I go to the second floor, and I don't find him in the children's area, nor in the therapy playroom.

My brother disappeared.

After twenty minutes looking for him, I was already worried. The boy barely knows this hospital, what's in my head to leave him alone? I really don't think he left, Pedro never lies or breaks a promise, my father taught him that. I'm already pretty worried when I walk out of the hospital and look around the gardens, I don't see him. But did he leave? I don't want to alarm everyone by saying there's a little seven-year-old boy missing out there, before looking for him properly. Even more so when it comes to a hospital with hundreds of sick patients and super busy doctors. Where has this little boy gone?

I enter the hospital again, and my head starts to hurt. I don't really see him anywhere. All the nurses are moving there, and here with the carts of food, or medicines, or supplies for surgery, some children with advanced cancer, are racing their wheelchairs, a patient is in a argue with the receptionist, stating that today was her city tour day, while the receptionist tries to call her doctor. I decide to ask someone about my brother.

- Hi - I interrupt the discussion of the two, looking at Cassie, the receptionist laughed. - Did you see a little boy walking around here? He has a backpack on his back, and he has curly hair.

- Hmm, I think I saw it. - She says, but with no assurance in her voice. - He got into the elevator.

- Thanks. - I say, and quickly head to the elevator.

The third floor of the building is where the operating rooms are, and where the office of Dr. Marcelo, Eduardo's father, is located. I look again for my brother, discreetly asking one and the other if they haven't seen him, but I can't find him.

I go to the other building, which is right next to it, they are connected by a kind of ''bridge'', covered with glass walls and ceilings, so we can have a good view of the city from up here. I enter the third floor of the second building, which is where the cafeteria, kitchen, and huge ''just for doctors'' wing are located, which has everything from fifty-inch TVs to cocktails and video games. Of course, this idea is preposterous. But this is a private hospital, and the owner, despite being very wealthy, has a certain interest in the ''well-being'' of the doctors.

When I enter the ''anyone'' off-limits zone, I see right away that my little brother is sitting on a big white couch, killing hundreds of zombies, over the Xbox. I take a relieved breath and run toward him, squeezing him by the cheeks, even though I know he's more than fine.

- Why are you here? I told you not to leave that floor.

"No." He pressed pause, for control, and looked at me. - You said I wasn't supposed to leave the hospital, and I didn't.

- How did you know about this place?

- Edu showed me. After you left, he came back to talk to you. But he saw me, and he asked me to play a video game with him.

- I looked for you all over the building boy. Don't ever do that again, you scared the s**t out of me.

My breathing was fast. But knowing he was there and safe, I was able to get back to work.

***

Sophie

Everything is fine. Breathe Sophie. - I say to myself, while waiting my turn to take these blessed pictures soon.

Honestly, when Joe said I would be the poster girl for the most exclusive clothing store in the state, I thought I would take pictures myself. But when I arrived, I was faced with a huge line of ''advertising girls''. I'm wearing one of the looks put together by the store employees, and they decided to dress me in Winter fashion, so I'm dying of heat in this fur coat. I was going to wear Summer fashion, only I ended up scraping all of my legs in my attempt to run away from yesterday's house, and another model, with legs probably a lot prettier than mine, took my place.

I take a look at my cell phone, and see I'm fifteen minutes late for my dress fitting. The messages keep coming on my cell phone, and I'm so stressed because I'm hot, my eyes are itchy with all the makeup and glitter, and there are still four girls in front of me.

- Still much more Catito? - I ask the tall guy next to me, who like me, he is also fanning himself with his hand.

'No, Shopie,' he says in an urgent voice, looking at something on his ''super tablet'', something. - But if we don't finish this soon, I'll fry in this hell!

Catito is my friend from the agency, he is actually friends with all the models, but we have something special. He's openly gay, and wears six-inch heels to teach girls how to parade - and he's far better than many women out there -, he's the agency director's right hand man, and takes care of each model personally, we all trust only in it to cover up our ''dirtiest'' secrets. He doesn't dress like a woman, although he likes it, he has a style of his own, much more to the ''pop-rock'' side that is super killer.

I snort but control myself in my seat until it's my turn to face a new photographer.

Since I ''played myself in this life'', I've met dozens of photographers, some I liked, some I didn't even care, and some I hated. Because they know we role models, we know what our obligations are, and some even insist on telling us what they are. Of course, they understand photography a lot more than we do, but sometimes it gets annoying. I'm super into mine, I prefer to show that I don't get irritated easily. Which is a hell of a lie.

While the photographer sends me to pose with the face of ''super pleased'' to be wearing this brand's clothes, under a pile of fake snow, made with inspore, and in front of a big fan, I do my best to make sure Everything ends fast, and I do my best on the photos. Despite knowing that this is definitely one of my worst days.

- We're done. - he says, and takes the camera away from his face.

My God! I freeze in my place.

This is the CATEST photographer I've ever seen in my life. I hadn't noticed it before because I focus more on the camera and myself when I'm posing for pictures.

He's tall, in great shape, has brown hair that's lightly curled, his skin is tanned, but what fascinated me the most was the shape of his rigid jaw, thick eyebrows, and eyes, which are so blue they almost look like be transparent. And not counting his style, he's wearing pale, slightly ripped jeans with a light brown boot, a black t-shirt tucked into a black leather jacket with faux leopard fur.

My mouth drops in front of this wonderful man, and I am simply speechless.

- Want to see what the photos look like? - He looks at me quickly, giving a huge, bright smile, and the most captivating one I've ever seen, when he sees my reaction.

What a shame! What a shame! What a shame! I say to myself, and take a step towards him.

- Yeah... of course. - My voice comes out a little hoarse, like a man's. What?! Where's my lovely silly little girl voice?

While he clicks the left button on the super professional camera to show me the photos that came out really good, but that's thanks to him, because I didn't do anything different. I wonder how old he must be? twenty? twenty two?

- You did a great job. - He turns his eyes to me, and I melt.

Why the hell did I get like this?

- Thanks. You are... you did a great job. - I smile, a little slow. I'm glad my voice is back to normal, but I want to run from here as fast as possible.

As I go out, I shiver so much that I almost trip over a bit of ''snow'' when he touches my arm.

- I... I don't think I know your name.

- Hmm, yeah... I don't know...

He widens his eyes, and hides a smile. What do you mean I don't know my name?

- Oh, I mean... my name is Sophie. Excuse me. And who are you?

And how old are you? You're too young to be a photographer. You are very hot, and I already have a boyfriend, so... stay away from me! - I want to say. But I don't say.

- Well, nice to meet you, Sophie. I'm Thiago, I'm the photographer. - He raises the camera, and smiles.

Of course he's your silly photographer! - my subconscious tells me, and rolls his eyes at me, as I turn water at this guy's smile.

- It's a pleasure to meet you too... err... But I have to go.

He opens his mouth to say something, but I rush out onto my high-heeled boots.

Catito opens his Saab's door, and when I get in, he speeds up as fast as he can, so I'm on time to try on that damn dress. I'm still breathing fast, and some Styrofoam in my hair. But none of that matters to me, when I have the image of those beautiful eyes looking back at me.

Where in all the EARTH did that Greek god come from?!

***

Alice

I'm SURELY going through the worst days of my life! Yesterday I almost couldn't sleep, and so far I'm hooked on my cell phone, to see hundreds of comments from my devoted readers, complaining, and I end up telling what happened. But ''the people'' doesn't care about that. ''The people'' just want to know when I'm going to post my next chapter.

I'm lost. Without my computer I can't post anything. I wiped out all the nails on my hands as I anxiously wait for my computer to arrive from repair.

- My daughter, are you alright? She looks a little pale.

My mom looks at me from the kitchen counter.

- No, I am not fine. - I say, as I turn around on the sofa, I've sat in every corner of the house, and I've already arranged all the paintings on the walls. It's like I have nothing to do.

- Calm down, I already sent the computer to be repaired, the employee said it will only take two days, and he will recover his memory. Now he goes into the kitchen and makes you something to eat because you haven't eaten since yesterday.

- I don't want food! I want my computer. - I say, controlling myself not to scream.

- You can't put the computer first in your life, daughter, there are other important things. For example, don't you want to go yoga with me?

- Yoga? - I look at my mother, indignant. - Mom, look at our house...

I pointed to the walls of the living room, and to the wide hallway, where there are dozens of pictures painted by my mother. She just loves to paint.

- You love art, right?

She nodded.

- So why is it so hard for you to accept that I love books? That books are my life? I think you're being a little selfish!

- First, don't talk to me like that, girl! And second, I do understand that you love books. - She lowers her tone, and comes towards me. - But sometimes you forget you have a life. You don't go out with your friends, you don't go to art workshops with me like before, you don't give a damn about that friend of yours, what's his name...?

- Gabriel.

- This one.

Gabriel has been my friend for a long time, who occasionally comes here to my house to call me to watch a movie, or play video games. Of course he already told me that he likes me as ''more than a friend''. But I've already told him that it's much safer for both of us if we just stay in the friendship zone. And of course we stopped seeing each other after that.

- Mom, I promise I'll do something... ok? - I stare at Ms. Matilde, for a few seconds. - But only after I get a new computer.

- Let me guess... do you want me to buy it?

- Please? I close my hands, pleading, even though I know it won't do any good.

- All right.

What?! I almost can't believe it.

- Serious? - I widen my eyes.

- Yes but...

- Hmm... it was too good to be true. - I mutter.

- I buy a brand new notebook, if you do one thing before...

- What is mother?

- Promise me that you'll go out with your friends at least once, and that you'll come back to art classes with me?

It was taking so long for her to get back on my feet again. But... anything for my books.

- OK. I promise.

- Excellent. Thanks. - she hugs me. - Now, go to this fridge and get something to eat, girl!

And that's what I do.

As I read the latest book in the saga: Infernal Pieces, by Cassandra Clare, I see my cell phone light up and vibrate, on top of the coffee table in the room. I drop the book on the couch, put my ham and mozzarella cheese sandwich aside, and pull out my cell phone, it's Eliza.

- Hello?

- Hi Alice, can you talk?

- It is clear. He speaks.

- It's just... I was wondering if you could go out tomorrow?

- Go out? Like... where?

- I don't know... cinema, party, any square... what do you think?

- What happened? I'm finding your voice a little strange.

- Hmm... it's just that I had a half full day today. I took my brother to the hospital, and he almost freaked me out. And Edu... he asked me out.

- What?! - I almost scream. - Like this? Explain this absurd story to me right!

I keep pacing the living room rug as I listen to Eliza tell her exactly what her super-hot, busy ex-boyfriend said.

- And then... what do you think?

- I do not know. Maybe he just wants to talk... I don't know... as friends. Still, I don't think you have to take me on this romantic date.

- It's not a romantic date, Alice! - She yells over the phone. - I'm going mom! - She screams, away from her cell phone. - Alice, I have to go make dinner. Meet you tomorrow at the mall at three in the afternoon. Take Gabriel. And please don't let me down, you know how rare it is for me to have time to go out.

- IT'S. - I laugh. - I know friend. It can leave. Now go see your mother before she comes to pick you up with a belt!

- Funny. Bye friend. A kiss.

- Bye, kisses. - I turn off.

I've barely read my book again when three boys run into the room screaming. All dressed in their colorful pajamas, and ready to ''sleep''. And ready! My peace ends now!

My mother is running after Carlinhos, trying to put on his pajama shirt, while he runs with Leandro, after the small plane that Leo is holding. As I start to laugh, seeing the ridiculous scene of them all running around the room, I see that my mom is different. She's wearing that flowery dress with a very absurd neckline that she bought the last time we went to the mall, saying it was to go out with her friends from work, she has her hair down and brushed, she's wearing a high-heeled sandal, and I can smell her rose perfume from where I am. This sounds like trouble to me.

- Mom?

- What? - She gives up running, and looks at me scared. And that's when I notice the SUPER red lipstick she's wearing.

- Where are you going? - I tilt my neck, looking her from head to toe.

- I... - She blushes. My God! My mom has a boyfriend! - I... I'm going out with some friends from work.

- Oh! The Portuguese teacher, Maria, the History teacher, Rosangela, and the Science teacher, Clarisse.

"And the math one, John," she says, almost choking, as she walks towards the remote and turns on the TV. I know she wants to get away from the subject.

- João?

- IT'S. He's new, he joined a few months ago, and we invited him for a drink.

- Mommy? - I call her, smiling.

It changes TV channels, and stops on Disney Channel. Then she looks at me.

- All right, Alice! Let's just the two of us go out. The girls insisted, and I ended up accepting. But stop bugging me, that who is the mother here, is me.

I start to laugh.

- Hu, someone has a new boyfriend!

- He is not my boyfriend! - my mother gets more blush, she walks to my magnets and kisses each one's forehead. - I will not take too long. Put your brothers to bed at nine, and if they're hungry, there's more ham sandwiches in the fridge, and please don't mistreat your brothers Alice. Anything, call me!