—She’s not going anywhere until she can stand up without looking like the wind is going to knock her over.
The woman gripped the sheet.
—My name is Noemí Reyes.
It was the first time anyone in that house had heard his name.
Shortly afterwards the twins appeared, peeking out of the door with curiosity shining on their faces.
“Can we come in?” Noelia asked.
Nadia had already taken half a step inside.
—Are you feeling better?
Noemí truly looked at them for the first time, and a strange emotion pierced her chest. It wasn’t exactly pain, nor was it joy. It was a kind of deep, silent, disconcerting pull.
“A little,” he replied in a low voice.
“I told my dad not to wake her up,” Noelia announced proudly. “And Nadia said you looked very tired.”
A tired smile appeared on Noemí’s face.
—Then I have to thank both of you.
The girls smiled as if it were a prize.
Minutes later, Alejandro came in. He was dressed in an impeccable dark shirt and tailored trousers. Everything about him exuded control. Noemí straightened up immediately.
—Thank you for helping me, sir.
Alejandro made a slight gesture with his head.
—I needed help. That’s all.
His tone was correct, but distant. Not cold. More like the tone of a man who had been closing doors from the inside for a long time.
Noemí lowered her gaze.
—I don’t want to be a burden. I can leave today.
“No,” Noelia intervened immediately.
“He must stay until he is strong,” Nadia added.
Alexander looked at his daughters, then at Naomi.
—You can stay a few more days.
Noemí wanted to protest, but the girls’ faces prevented her.
—Thank you —she whispered.
The following days they did something strange with the house.
Noemí gradually regained her strength, but the real change wasn’t physical. It was in the atmosphere. The mansion was beautiful, yes, but too quiet. It wasn’t a peaceful silence, but one of restraint. She sat at the table, shuffled through the hallways, even followed laughter as if joy were only allowed to visit, not to stay.
The twins, on the other hand, seemed determined to include Noemí in their routine. In the mornings they would knock on her door to bring her down for breakfast. In the afternoons they would bring her notebooks, questions, and drawings. Noelia would talk nonstop; Nadia would observe silently and then say the exact phrase that would break down anyone’s defenses.
One morning, during breakfast, Noelia pushed her math homework towards Noemí.
—Problem six is rude.
“Rude?” asked Noemí, holding back a laugh.
—Yes. He has a lot of numbers and no respect.
Even Alejandro had to bite back a smile.
Noemí patiently explained the exercise to her, and Nadia watched her with quiet admiration.
—He explains things very well.
That same night, as she passed by the girls’ room, Naomi heard a whispered prayer.
“Dear God,” Nadia said, “thank you for today.”
