Real.Doc - Part 2 - Joe (English Version)

You shouldn't have gone back to the stone.

When I finally made my way downstairs for breakfast, everyone was already gathered around the table. The air was thick with the kind of tension that only comes after a fight, but I ignored it, heading straight for Joe. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him close, and kissed his cheek softly. He seemed to appreciate the gesture, though his smile was faint.

The day passed in a haze. We moved through the house like ghosts, each of us lost in our thoughts, avoiding each other with the kind of practiced ease that comes from years of knowing someone too well. Words were few, and the silence between us was heavy.

That evening, memories of the desert came flooding back. The quiet, the solitude, the way I used to sit alone and let the vastness of it swallow me whole. I needed that peace now more than ever. Slipping out of the house, I made my way to the field, finding solace in the open space. I sat down in the middle of it, staring at the trees in front of me, but my mind wouldn't still. Thoughts raced, a chaotic mess of emotions and doubts.

Talking with Joe earlier had stirred something deep within me, a reflection of my life and the choices I had made. His words had a way of burrowing into my mind, taking root and growing heavy. The most painful was when he had called me a "baby maker." It echoed in my head, a cruel reminder of the path we had chosen. Tears came, unbidden and unwelcome, as I struggled to find some sense of calm. I wondered if we had gone too far, if there was any way back.

"You shouldn't have gone back to the stone, Li."

The voice was familiar, pulling me out of my thoughts. I hadn't even noticed him approach. Cesar sat down beside me, just like he used to in the desert. His presence was both comforting and unsettling.

"What's up?" he asked.

"You're not beating the guys to death now, are you?"

"No, I'm not," I replied.

"Good."

We sat in silence for a moment before I spoke again.

"So you knew, huh?"

"It's the main reason we stayed away in those last few years," Cesar admitted, his voice heavy with regret. "I didn't agree with what was going on, but it wasn't my place to tell you." 

"Plus, you had Veronica to worry about back then." I said.

"Yeah," he agreed. Another pause, and then Cesar asked, "So, what happened? Rony said you had an argument last night."

"We did," I said, my voice low. "I've never seen him so angry."

"He was angry?" Cesar's surprise was genuine.

"It's complicated."

"I guess I'm too far away now to really understand what went on."

"Yeah," I agreed, feeling the distance between us, both physical and emotional.

"But I recognize the Li that's sitting next to me... from many moons ago."

"That's nice," I said, the memory of how much Cesar had helped me back then bringing fresh tears to my eyes. He had been my rock, my sweet Cesar. I wiped away the tears quickly, but they kept coming.

"You shouldn't crying, ballerina," he said softly.

That broke me. Those were the same words he used to say back then, and despite everything, I had such fond memories of our time together. I couldn't hold back the flood of emotions any longer. I said a silent prayer, asking for strength, for clarity, for the heavens to help me in this moment. I wanted that Cesar back, the one who had always been there for me. But I knew there was only one thing to do. I stood up, drying my tears, and said, "I'm going inside now. Thank you for checking up on me."

I turned and walked back to the house, feeling his eyes on me. Rony was sitting on the grass a few meters behind us, and though I didn't see it, I knew Cesar had gone over to speak with him. 

I went straight to our assistant, asking her to find me a jacuzzi. She led me to one of the rooms, and together we cleaned and prepared the bath. I sank into the warm water, deciding I would stay there for as long as it took to figure things out. It's strange how sadness can make even the simplest things unbearable. The light was too harsh, so I lit a few candles, letting their soft glow soothe me. I thought I might fall asleep there, but my thoughts were interrupted when Joe walked in, fully clothed, and joined me in the tub.

We sat in silence for a long while before he finally spoke.

"You're right," he said, his voice heavy with something I couldn't quite place. I looked at him, waiting for him to continue. "She was a fullygrown woman. There was nothing you or I could have done to prevent the events that unfolded." I didn't respond, still lost in my own thoughts. "Do you think we could ever forgive each other?"

"I honestly don't," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

His face fell, mirroring the sadness I felt deep in my bones. In that moment, he seemed as lost as I was.

"Can we condemn each other mutually then? You being a heartless bi..."

"Dammit, stop saying that! Please," I begged. "You've hurt me enough."

"I'm sorry I gave you a funeral."

"I'm talking about yesterday," I clarified, his previous words still stinging.

His comments only confirmed what Jase had been saying all along: Joe wasn't well.

"Why are you here?" I asked, needing to understand.

"Placeholder."

That's when I knew for certain—he wasn't well.

"You sound like a madman."

"I feel like one," he confessed. And suddenly, it all made sense. Cesar had gone mad, and then Shannon had offered him drugs to cope. I realized I was at a crossroads—I could either sink with Joe or fight for him. This was the pivotal moment. I could leave him, or I could join him in the madness.

"So... how can we have fun with all this madness?" I asked, deciding to take the plunge.

He studied me, trying to gauge my intentions, then spoke.

"You were just outside with him."

"He wanted to know if his plan of letting me know about Amy was successful."

"And?"

"I told him to fuck off." His first reaction was a smile, and I knew I had struck the right chord.

"Jase got anxious, biting his nails and everything."

"He can eat all ten fingers for all I care." Another smile. Score.

"I got anxious too."

"You better find something to bite on then," I said, his smile lingering this time. He lifted my foot and bit my leg playfully, once, twice, then again.

"You're right. This does make me feel better," he admitted, pulling me in for a kiss. The kiss was cut short when he pulled my head back.

"Are you still going to fuck every guy in sight?"

"Only if they drop to their knees and beeeeeeeeg." Ironically, Jase had begged. But I saw Joe's smile again.

"Do I have to beg?"

"Oh, you're the worst of them all." Smile. Score. "If I catch you kneeling, I'm gonna kick you to the ground and hold your face down..." He laughed out loud. "...under my soft, cushy feet..."

He laughed even harder.

"With your cushy toes and everything?"

"Oh, I'm gonna fold every fat one of them into your mouth..."

Joe couldn't hold it in any longer. He let go of me and burst into laughter. I smiled, knowing I had found a way to lift his spirits.

Our assistant brought us clothes, and we finished our bath before heading to bed.

The next day, Joe discovered a trail in the forest around the house and went for a run. It seemed to do him a world of good.