Albina’s eyes hurt and tears came to her eyes the moment her mother took her hand.
She smiled and looked at her mother, comforting her:
-Mom, it’s okay. It doesn’t hurt. It really doesn’t hurt at all.
Mrs. Espina looked at her daughter’s quivering lips and wiped away her tears. How could it not hurt when she had just been hit so hard? It was all her fault that her body wasn’t up to the task and she had caught the disease.
She looked at the suitcase at Albina’s feet and looked behind her:
-Albina, what are you doing with the suitcase? Where is Umberto, why didn’t he come with you?
Albina froze for a moment. She didn’t dare tell her mother that she and Umberto had divorced.
-I’ve missed you and I wanted to come and see you. Umberto… Umberto is busy with work. He left me downstairs and went away.
Mrs. Espina saw her with the bad expression and pulled her to let her into the room. Albina hurried two steps back:
-Mom, there’s no need. I’m already satisfied that I can hear your voice. Umberto hasn’t gone far. I’ll call him downstairs and ask him to pick me up and take me home.
So saying, she ignored Mrs. Espina’s resistance. He took out his suitcase and ran off in a hurry.
Mrs. Espina looked behind her, her face full of guilt. Her condition was unstable. If she stayed in the same room with Albina, her daughter wouldn’t know where to hide out of sight in case she got sick.
It would be good for her to leave.
Albina walked with her suitcase out of the door of the residence and stood mute by the side of the road. She no longer had a home or a place to go.
The world was big, but there was no place for her.
-Move it, girl in front. You’ll affect traffic here.
Behind her, the shout of the security guard was heard. Albina hurried to move aside to yield the way, apologizing in a low voice.
The cold wind howled and Albina shivered. Cautiously she moved to a small corner of the security booth and squatted down, burying her head in her knees, trying to warm herself a little.
Miguel sat in the car, watching her huddled in the corner, like a little girl who lost her way. Her heart was stung hard. She sighed helplessly and got out of the car.
When he had asked her where she was going, Albina had been hesitating. He had known that she had something hidden, so he was waiting for her at the entrance of the residence.
Undoubtedly, she was seen her helpless and miserable situation by him.
-Albina!
The man was holding an umbrella to protect her from the snowflakes falling on her.
When Albina raised her head, Miguel saw that her pretty eyes were full of tears and her little face was red and teary.
She sniffled, wiped the tears from her face and asked him in surprise:
-Dr. Aguila, didn’t you leave?
Miguel squatted down and looked at her with compassionate eyes:
-Albina, if you don’t have a place to stay, you can live in my home.
Albina shook her head hastily:
-How can I do that? We’re not related. I can’t bother you. Dr. Eagle, you don’t have to worry about me. I have somewhere to go. I’m just tired and I want to take a break…
Noticing that she was acting brave, Miguel stopped for a moment and suddenly said:
-Albina. You know how to play the piano, don’t you? I have a friend who owns a restaurant and he is looking for a pianist. Do you want to try it? Food and lodging are included.
-Really? -Albina’s face was happy, but then she hesitated a little bit, “But I’m blind. I’ll give your friend trouble.
-Don’t worry. You’ll be able to do the job.
At the hospital, Umberto waited at the entrance to the ward. In his mind kept coming back the image of Michael and Albina together a moment ago. His heart was filled with irritation.
Mrs. Santangel was wandering beside him, looking at his cold face. Her eyes were twinkling.
-Umberto, it must have been Yolanda who saw you chasing Albina and got irritated until she fainted. She’s been in a coma for three years. It’s hard for her to wake up. You can’t let her down.
Umberto’s eyes twitched, and after a long moment he said:
-I don’t disappoint her!