Love At A Distance

Besides the cookie package, she had brought, also on impulse – despite having promised herself she wouldn't post anything while she was away —, the tripod and the LED ring she used to record videos. They were tools that were part of her daily life and she was afraid of not bringing them and ending up needing them for whatever reason.

Finally, she saw the wall of the condominium and smiled. That was her home. The place that had left her heart and kept the best memories of her life. Just being a few feet from her real home, she could already feel her heart beating a little less fast.

She looked at the clock on the car's dashboard. Almost ten P.M. She preferred to drive at night, because the roads were clearer, and now, during the pandemic, they were painfully silent. She passed the condominium's security cabin and after the guard checked her car, she drove to the street where her house was.

She parked in front of it, turned off the engine and looked up to the sky. Everything here was different from the place where she lived in Rio. The sky was bluer and without the pollution, it was possible to see thousands of stars sparkling. Breathing in, still inside the car, she was able to feel the scent of nature, provided by the infinity of trees around. She picked a surgical mask from the small box that was on the seat and placed it carefully on her face. On TV, they always said it wasn't necessary to use it. The doormen even laughed when they saw her using the mask on her way to the garage, but she didn't care. Fear was bigger than embarrassment. And if they thought she was overdoing it, so be it. That wouldn't be the first or the last time.

She took a deep breath and let out the air slowly. Easy, it's all good. You're safe here. From paranoia. From fear. from loneliness. From the virus… am I?

– Social isolation is the best form of prevention – she spoke aloud while disconnecting her phone from the charger, as if she wanted to convince herself.

She picked the black leather bag and put it on her lap. She searched it until she found her Charlie Brown Funko keychain. It was old, the paint was already fading, worn out by the time of use, but it kept thousands of memories of a life that was left behind. One that wouldn't return.

 Don't go that way, she warned herself. Shaking her head, she pushed away the thoughts and memories that threatened to return. This wasn't the time to open that Pandora's box.

She opened the door, hung her purse on her shoulder and got out of the car. Facing the garden, she looked at the house. It was modest for her current living standards. She lived in a large flat, decorated by a professional so that every room was carefully planned to look good in videos. But not here. The house was white, colonial style and had a small balcony in the front. The tilted roof gave it a special charm and the welcoming atmosphere she loved so much. It had been decorated by the family and each furniture, each object, had an emotional connection with them. As expected, it was dark and… wait. Why was one of the rooms lit?

She frowned and approached. She saw a man's outline, hidden by the curtains, pass in front of her brother's bedroom window. She knew it wasn't Leandro. He was in Belo Horizonte with their mother. She was so surprised by the unexpected presence that she didn't even think of the danger. She decided to go around the house. She'd go in from the back and confront the intruder. Deep down she knew that she should've gone back to the condo's entrance and talked to a security guard or called the police, but impulsiveness got the best of her. She was just like that. Impulsive. As always, her blood boiled, and she decided to kick out whoever was there. She went stealthily around the side of the house to the backyard, being careful to avoid rustling the plants. She crossed the yard and finally reached the porch in the back. She placed the key in the lock carefully and opened it slowly. She pushed the dark wooden door and went in, stepping firmly. The light was off. She blinked a couple times so her eyes would get used to the darkness. After barely passing through the door, she was thrown to the ground, knocked down by the impact of a strong, muscular, heavy and warm body.