The Shadows of Monteverde

Chapter 3: Rumors in the Shadows

Days passed in Monteverde with an apparent calm, but for Solange, every moment was imbued with unease that had arisen since her encounter with Lucas. She tried to maintain a normal routine for Luna, attending to daily tasks and participating in community activities as if nothing had changed. However, Lucas's shadow continued to haunt her at every corner of the small town.

One sunny afternoon, while Solange was helping volunteers prepare for Monteverde's annual fair, she overheard whispers among the locals that made her stop in her tracks. Two elderly women, seated on a bench near the cotton candy stand, were speaking quietly but loud enough for Solange to catch snippets of their conversation.

"—they say Lucas has been involved in shady things since he returned..."

"—wouldn't surprise me, he always had a murky look, remember?"

Solange felt a chill run down her spine as the women's words echoed in her mind. "Shady things." What did that exactly mean? Was there more to Lucas's transformation than she had seen or imagined?

She decided to approach them, albeit cautiously. She didn't want to appear too interested or raise suspicions about her concern for Lucas.

"Hello, ladies. How are you today?" Solange greeted with a smile, trying to appear nonchalant.

The women fell momentarily silent, exchanging glances before responding.

"Hello, Solange. We're well, thank you," one of them replied, though her expression was less warm than usual.

Solange decided to directly address the issue that troubled her.

"I've heard something about Lucas... Is it true that he's been in trouble since he returned to Monteverde?" she asked cautiously, hoping for a response that would confirm or dispel the rumors.

The women exchanged looks again before one of them sighed and replied.

"We don't exactly know what he's been up to, but there have been rumors. Some say he's had run-ins with the law, others say he's been involved in shady business. But no one knows for sure what's true and what's not," the woman explained with a heavy voice.

Solange felt a knot in her stomach. She knew rumors could be exaggerated or even false, but something in the way the women spoke made her fear there might be some truth to them. She bid them farewell politely and walked away, letting her thoughts consume her as she continued her duties at the fair.

That night, after putting Luna to bed and ensuring she was deeply asleep, Solange sat at her desk with a steaming cup of tea in her hands. She turned on her laptop and began searching for information about Lucas. There wasn't much in the local online archives, just a few old articles about community events Lucas had participated in years ago.

Frustrated, she decided to search on social media, wondering if Lucas had any profiles that could shed light on what he had been doing in recent years. After a fruitless search for some time, she found a profile that seemed to belong to him. The profile picture showed a serious-looking man with an intense gaze, but it didn't reveal much more.

Solange bit her lower lip, unsure whether to send him a message or not. What could she say that wouldn't seem intrusive or accusatory? Finally, she decided to send a short and direct message.

*"Hello, Lucas. I hope you're well. I'd like to talk to you when you have a free moment. Solange."*

After sending the message, she felt nervous and expectant. She didn't know if she would receive a response, and if she did, she wasn't sure what to expect. Meanwhile, the clock on the wall continued ticking, reminding her that the night was swiftly progressing into darkness.

Days passed before Solange received a response. Every morning, she anxiously checked her inbox, looking for any sign that Lucas had decided to reply. Luna noticed her mother's anxiety and tenderly hugged her whenever she saw her staring intently at her phone or computer screen.

Finally, one sunny afternoon while Luna was playing outside with her neighborhood friends, Solange saw she had a new message in her inbox. Her heart skipped a beat as she opened the message with trembling hands.

*"Hello, Solange. I'm available this afternoon. We can talk at the park near the main square. Lucas."*

Relief washed over her as she read Lucas's words. She would finally have the chance to confront the shadows of the past that had separated their paths years ago. However, she also felt a mix of nervousness about what she might discover and how it might affect her perception of someone who had once been her closest friend.

That afternoon, Solange made her way to the park with hesitant steps. The sun was shining on the green grass as she watched children running and playing with laughter and shouts of joy. She scanned the area for Lucas and finally saw him sitting on a bench under the shade of a tree, staring quietly at the nearby pond.

As she approached, Lucas stood up and greeted her with a nod.

"Hello, Solange. Thank you for coming," Lucas said in a calm voice but laden with emotions that she couldn't immediately identify.

Solange nodded and sat down beside him on the bench. For a few moments, neither of them spoke, as if they were assessing how to start the conversation they had avoided for so long.

"Lucas, what's been happening?" Solange finally asked, bluntly, needing to know the truth that had been hidden between them for years.

Lucas sighed and looked towards the pond, where ducks lazily swam.

"It's complicated, Sol. I've been through a lot since we fell out. Things that... I'd rather forget," he replied softly, his words carrying a weight that made Solange feel a lump in her throat.

"But I can't help but wonder, Lucas. What happened between us? We were friends, we trusted each other. And then... everything changed, we fought and then drifted apart," Solange said, her voice faltering, struggling to hold back tears that threatened to escape.

Lucas looked at her intensely, as if deciding whether to tell her the truth or shield her from what he had discovered about himself in recent years.

"Solange, I made mistakes. Big mistakes that changed my life and others'. I can't ask you to understand them, but I can tell you that I regret every decision that led me down that path," Lucas confessed sincerely, his voice slightly breaking at the end of his words.

Solange looked at him with compassion, feeling the sadness and regret in every word he spoke.

"What kind of mistakes, Lucas? I need to understand..." Solange insisted, knowing she couldn't move forward without facing the whole truth.

Lucas ran a hand over his face, as if exhausted by the burden he carried on his shoulders.

"I was in a dark place, Sol. I made mistakes with the wrong people, I let myself be consumed by bitterness and resentment. I don't want you getting caught up in all of this," he said hoarsely, his eyes desperately searching hers for understanding.

Solange felt a sharp pain in her chest as she absorbed Lucas's words. There was so much pain and regret in his voice that she couldn't help but feel compassion for him, despite the initial shock of discovering the truth.