Chapter Text
When Sara got back from Carlota’s house Miguel was in an armchair, smoking. She saw his pallid, almost grey, face and they both knew he didn’t look good.
“Really, Miguel? Drugs?”
“Not now, Sara. Please.”
“Carlota would not want you acting this way, Miguel. What happened to being strong in the face of adversity?” Sara probed, trying not to sound judgemental.
“You cannot say that to me Sara, you do not know me, nor I you.” His voice was low, and Sara wondered if it was just Carlota’s absence that was making him act out or something else. And suddenly he was out of the armchair and walking towards her, eyes red. “Yes, we shared a night of passion, and it was amazing. But that does not automatically mean that I trust you yet. You do not know what Carlota and I have been through, you’ve only been here for two seconds and you’ve wrapped her around your finger, and suddenly she can drop everything – including me – for your freedom. She hasn’t done what’s best for all of us, she’s done what’s best for you!”
Sara was frozen in place. How was she meant to respond to that? She already felt guilty for the situation but now was not the time for the two of them to fight when Carlota needed them both to be a united pair.
Miguel took another drag of his cigarette, and blew the smoke in Sara’s face, perhaps in provocation. Sara didn’t react. She just stood her ground.
“What do you have that I don’t?” he asked staring at her eyes.
She sadly stared right back. “She doesn’t love you any less than she loves me, Miguel.”
Miguel chuckled darkly. “Doesn’t she?” With that said, he stepped back and stumbled out of the apartment picking up his coat on the way.
“Where are you going?” Sara called after him.
It was a few seconds before she heard a reply.
“Away.”
The woman stared around the room, feeling like it was forever ago since they had all been happy … since they were all together. She felt that it was unfair – almost selfish – of Miguel to act out this way when their trapped lover needed their combined help, especially without proof.
She wondered where he got the idea from, because she certainly felt it was the other way around – that Carlota loved him more, or rather that she showed it more. With social biases and prejudices, Carlota was always watching over her shoulder whenever the two women were together intimately. Secret stolen kisses were exciting for a while but there comes a point when you want to tell the whole world of your love. But, how could they? It was easy for Miguel and Carlota because he was the ‘official’ boyfriend and there was nothing to be frowned upon. Sara considered him to be very lucky to be able to show his love so publicly. It was a man’s world unfortunately.
A quick rap on the door shook Sara out of her inner ramblings and she went to open it. She didn’t expect Analisa Rodrigues de Senillosa to be on the other side.