What a surprise. Why are you here so early? Mom and I were waiting for you for dinner. If he hadn’t heard what she’d said a moment ago, he surely would have believed her. But now, seeing Veronica’s flawless smile, all Adrián saw was a mask perfectly glued to her face, a mask that was already beginning to crack. He didn’t answer right away. His gaze shifted to the beige sofa in the living room where Doña Mercedes was sitting. The woman was startled to see her son.
She was still holding the bowl of broth with both hands, as if she feared that something terrible might happen if she let go. On her face, Adrián saw a mixture of confusion and fear that was hard to describe. Even so, she gave him a gentle smile, the same humble smile she’d always had. The smile of a mother who had always hidden her wounds. “You’re here, son. I made you some broth. It didn’t turn out very good.” “Of course it turned out good,” Verónica interjected immediately in a sweet tone.
What your mom cooks leaves such a lovely smell in the house. I even told her she cooks in such a traditional and beautiful way. Hearing that, Adrián felt like someone had stabbed him in the chest. The words from a few minutes ago were still echoing in his mind. It smells like a cheap diner. That smell clings to the walls. And now she was saying the aroma was pleasant. Adrián sat down next to his mother carefully so as not to startle her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
That’s when he noticed how thin she was. She didn’t say anything, only shrank slightly, the reflex of someone who’s been used to silence for far too long. “Mom, have you eaten yet?” Adrián asked, though he already suspected the answer. Doña Mercedes pressed her lips together. “Yes, I ate a little.” Adrián glanced at the bowl on the table. It was almost untouched. It was clear she was lying just to avoid upsetting anyone. Seeing that, Adrián’s heart sank.
That little boy, who as a baby had been carried in his mother’s arms, who had cried against her breast when other children mocked him, now saw that same elderly and frail mother, forced to live in fear inside her own son’s house. Holding back her emotion, she asked gently, “Did you open the window a little while ago when you were cooking?” It was a common question, but Doña Mercedes became visibly nervous. Yes. At that moment, she looked at Verónica as if seeking approval before answering.
That gesture felt like a knife to Adrián’s heart. “Yes, yes, I opened it, and I didn’t mean to upset you.” Verónica smiled and bowed her head. “Oh, Mother-in-law, you always worry too much. I’m not that delicate, am I, Adrián?” Adrián felt a chill run down his spine. The air in the house grew suffocating. He realized he was sitting between the two most important women in his life, but one was acting out of self-preservation, and the other was acting to hide her cruelty.
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