2 Call of destiny

The phone at her side becomes a temptation, and she reaches for it impulsively. Rafael's number, already recorded in memory, is dialed without hesitation. However, when the call is answered, a different voice rings out on the other end of the line.

"Hello?" Says the person on the other line, surprised by the unexpected call.

Marilena, already out of her mind from the wine and the overwhelming emotions, does not notice the exchange. "Rafa, how could you do this to me? Five years together and you just throw it all away! I loved you, and you rejected me without mercy."

Christian, hearing the words full of pain and anger, decides to remain silent. He doesn't want to interrupt Marilena's outburst, even if she doesn't know who she's talking to.

Marilena's tears mix with the hurt words she says over the phone. "You are selfish, insensitive. I would give everything for us, and you simply discard me. How could you, Rafael?"

Christian hears every word, a silent witness to Marilena's emotional torment. He feels a pang of discomfort at being inadvertently involved in this personal drama, but remains silent, respecting her need to express her pain.

"Rafael, how could you do this to me?" Marilena vents, her voice conveying anger and sadness.

The silence on the other side persists, while Christian, surprised by the unexpected call, decides to listen in silence, without revealing his identity.

"You destroyed everything, ripped out my heart. I loved you so much, and you threw it all away!" Marilena's words fall like daggers in the silence of the call.

Christian, even without knowing the full context, notices the pain in her voice. Confusion is mixed with discomfort when hearing words filled with emotion and suffering.

Marilena continues her outburst, alternating between insults and tears. Her voice shakes, but the pain is palpable through the phone.

"I didn't deserve this, Rafael. You made me feel like I was nothing. Like all our time together meant nothing!"

Christian, still silent, hears every word, capturing the intensity of Marilena's pain. The weight of her position as the boss of her once-boyfriend becomes more evident, but he chooses to remain silent, letting her vent.

The connection continues, and Marilena loses herself in the tumultuous emotions that push her into an abyss of vulnerability. Christian, upon listening to the outburst, witnesses a narrative that does not directly belong to him, but that connects him to a situation that he was completely unaware of.

When the torrent of words and tears finally subsides, Marilena notices the lack of response from the other side. In a moment of clarity, she hears herself breathing heavily, already regretting for drunk calling somebody.

When Marilena notices the lack of response on the other end of the line, a feeling of emptiness sets in. "Rafa?" She calls, her voice now choked with crying. "Aren't you going to say anything? Say this is all a mistake?"

Christian, still silent, ponders how to reveal his identity and face the unexpected consequences of a call that revealed more than he ever imagined.

"Why are you quiet?" She asks, her voice now containing confusion and surprise.

Silence remains on the other end of the line, leaving Marilena in suspense. She shakes her head, trying to clear her alcohol-fogged mind. "Who are you?" She repeats, now with a touch of urgency in her voice.

On the other line, Christian hesitated for a moment. He chooses silence as his response, leaving a hidden identity as Marilena frantically searches for answers. The tears continue to fall, and Marilena, now more desperate, begs for answers that her interlocutor cannot give. Christian, even without saying a word, feels the pain in Marilena's words, understanding that she is lost in a whirlwind of emotions.

Marilena, confused and emotionally exhausted, decides to end the call, feeling the need to escape the storm of emotions. "Forget it. I don't know why I'm doing this. Sorry to bother you, bye." Devastated, Marilena ends the call abruptly. The cell phone slips from her shaking hands as she sinks onto the couch, lost in a sea of emotions. Wine no longer offers solace; instead, it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, reflecting the painful reality of rejection.

The call ends with a final sob from Marilena, who finds herself alone in her home, surrounded by the shadows of the past. Christian, still silent, closes his eyes for a moment, taking with him the unspoken words and the tears he couldn't wipe away.

The momentary, accidental connection has revealed a painful fragment of another person's life, and he finds himself at an ethical crossroads.

He contemplates the weight of knowledge he now carries. Marilena, in turn, faces the consequences of the impulsive connection, wrapped in a mess of confusion and regret.

Why didn't I hang up? I'm such a dumpster!

The silence in Marilena's apartment is only interrupted by the constant sound of rain outside. She stares at the phone in her hands, the echo of the words she spoke still hanging in the air. The empty wine bottle is a silent testimony to the tumultuous night.

Tears continue to stream down Marilena's face as she tries to process what just happened. The mix of emotions, wine and vulnerability creates an internal storm that seems to have no end.

Meanwhile, Christian, on the other end of the line, carefully places his cell phone on the table. He knows the call wasn't meant for him, but now, somehow, he's become part of Marilena's emotional turmoil.

Marilena drags herself to the couch, hugging herself as if she can contain the pain that consumes her. She feels lost, ungrounded, as the thoughtless words reverberate in her mind. The reality of the situation begins to take its toll, and she wonders if she will be able to face the dawn with the dignity she lost tonight.

As the rain persists outside, Marilena decides she needs a moment to breathe. She walks to the porch, leaving the door ajar to hear the soft sound of falling water. The night is dark, and the reflection of the city lights in the puddles of water creates a melancholic scene.

Sitting there, Marilena tries to organise her thoughts. The words she blurted out, the confusion of feelings, the reality of the impending separation — it all forms a complex tangle of emotions that she has to face.

Outside, the rain seems to calm her racing heart. The cold of the night envelops her, and Marilena closes her eyes for a moment, seeking some form of clarity in the storm that surrounds her.

Meanwhile, Christian remains in his silence, reflecting on the unusual situation. He understands Marilena's pain, even if she doesn't know who she is talking to. The silent responsibility of being an unwitting witness weighs on her thoughts.

Marilena goes back inside, determined to face what lies ahead. She watches the phone for a moment as if she can find answers on the blank screen. Yet she knows the answers lie within her, in the emotional journey that now unfolds.

Marilena takes her cell phone, hesitantly, and looks at the screen. The temptation to call Rafael again hangs in the air, but she holds back. Instead, she decides to send a message, expressing the emotions that revealed themselves on the rainy night.

As she types, she reflects on the words she will choose to communicate with the man she has shared five years of her life with. She wonders if, in the silence of the typed words, she will find some form of closure or if this chapter will remain open.

The message is sent, and Marilena feels a mixture of relief and apprehension. The sound of rain outside continues, like a constant reminder that life persists, even in the face of emotional storms.

The night continues, the rain persists, and both Marilena and Christian are deep in thought, each facing their internal battles. Fate, unpredictable and complex, weaved an unexpected encounter between two destinies that, for now, remain separated by the tumultuous circumstances of the rainy night.

Marilena's message hangs in the air, a digital echo of raw and unfiltered emotions. She watches her cell phone screen, waiting for an answer that could perhaps alleviate the storm that has settled in her heart. Meanwhile, Christian, on his reflective journey, contemplates the complexity of what he witnessed on a rainy night.

In Marilena's apartment, the soft sound of music fills the void left by unspoken words. She loses herself in the melody, allowing the melancholy notes to guide her emotions. The bottle of wine, now a bitter memory, remains on the table as a symbol of a celebration that gave way to a sad farewell.

The cell phone vibrates, interrupting the musical lament. Marilena, with her heart racing, looks at the screen. Rafael's answer is there, a simple line of words that carries the weight of an irrevocable decision. The impact of the words reverberates, a painful confirmation of the rejection she had already faced.

While Marilena processes the message, Christian remains immersed in his thoughts. The inadvertent call, the words not directed at him, now turn into a silent charge. He wonders about the meaning of this meeting, about how the choices of one night can shape the course of several lives.

On Marilena's side, the tears begin to flow again. The music, now a soundtrack to her sadness, accompanies the flow of overflowing emotions. She finds herself facing an emotional precipice, trying to assimilate the reality of an end that seemed unimaginable.

Christian, physically far away but connected by the invisible threads of shared emotions, decides to take a different path. He decides to send a message, an attempt to diffuse the situation, even though he knows she does not know who was on the other end of the line. He starts typing a message, a silent offer of support to the woman he poured out on a rainy night.

Christian: I know that call wasn't for me, but I'm here if you need someone to talk to. Sometimes, a friendly ear can make all the difference. I'm so sorry for the confusion. Take care of yourself.

Once the message has been sent, Christian waits, aware that, in some way, their lives are intertwined at that moment. He feels hopeless.

Christian, in turn, reflects on the whirlwind of feelings that surrounded him. She's going through a difficult time, and I've inadvertently become part of it. I hope she accepts the message as a gesture of understanding, even if it is vague.

Meanwhile, Marilena is already asleep, a temporary refuge from the emotional storms that have plagued her. The rain outside continues its soft melody, creating a serene atmosphere in the silence of the room.

The phone vibrates gently on the bedside table, but Marilena remains oblivious to the message. Her dreams, likely marked by the intense emotions of the night, become temporary escapism from the painful reality that awaits her the next morning.

While Christian waits for a possible response from Marilena, his thoughts become intertwined in a tangle of reflections. The night, initially intended to be routine, turned into an emotional maze he didn't anticipate.

"What did I do?" Christian questions himself, concern marking his internal expressions. Marilena's kindness on the phone, despite being directed at Rafael, revealed vulnerabilities that he never imagined witnessing.

I wanted to help, but now I wonder if my inadvertent intervention only made things worse for her. She didn't even know who she was talking to. And I, who barely knew her, unwittingly became a witness to her pain.

Uncertainty looms in his mind. Christian knew his intentions were compassionate, but now he finds himself on the periphery of a personal drama, a spectator without a ticket to the full experience.

Will she get the message? Or will she wake up tomorrow with even more confusion because of me? If only I could erase the words she spoke, ease the weight she must be carrying right now.

"What if I had introduced myself?" Christian asks himself, aware that the truth could have offered Marilena some comfort. However, the decision to remain silent was guided by silent respect, an attempt to be a comforting presence without imposing further complexity on the situation.

Christian contemplates the paradox of his role in the tumultuous night. Her empathy led him to offer comfort, but now, in light of the silence of the response, he wonders if the words typed in the message can truly dispel the emotional storm Marilena faces.