Dear M

Chapter 3: February 1st

The days of January passed quietly, almost the same as the year before. But in the midst of that monotony, Mauro would return home every afternoon with a special gleam in his eyes, an eager desire to plan his birthday party. With a huge house at his disposal, he imagined it filled with people, a DJ blasting music against the walls, lights illuminating the pool and garden. Fifty people, at least, and all the freedom his parents gave him under one condition: that he remove anything valuable or fragile. That freedom was a rare gift, one more reason to love the day he'd turn another year older. Without telling anyone, he'd come back from school only to immerse himself in the details and preparations, building something he still didn't want to share with anyone.Everything went smoothly until the last day of the month. Eric, one of his best friends, decided to organize a surprise in his honor with the entire group, including Mary, who recently had gone from being a mere acquaintance to a constant presence in the circle. When Eric explained the plan to her, Mary felt overwhelmed but excited. She knew that, being younger and having the morning off on the day of the birthday, she was the only one who could handle the decorations. She was assigned balloons, helium, photos... details that would turn Mauro's room into a reflection of him. She accepted without hesitation, and spent January 31st immersed in preparations, making sure everything would be perfect for the big day.

00:00, February 1, 2019

text

—Happy birthday, Mauro. Thank you for everything you've done for me. You're a great friend, and I hope someday I can repay you. 

Mary's words reached his phone like a whisper in the middle of the night, filled with warmth and sincerity.

—Thank you, Mary,—he replied, his message brief but with a closeness she felt even through the screen. —Hope to see you at the party tonight.

As the day progressed, the thought of showing up at Mauro's house began to fill Mary with an anxiety she hadn't anticipated. As she walked towards the entrance, she took a deep breath and rang the bell, feeling her heartbeat quicken. The door opened slowly, and behind it appeared a woman who looked at her with an intensity that made her feel small in an instant.It was Mauro's mother. Tall, blonde, with sharp features, she had an innate elegance and a face that seemed expressionless, almost impenetrable. Instead of finding a warm kindness in her gaze, Mary only perceived something cold and distant, as if each feature were carved in marble. The woman scrutinized her for a long second before smiling, though the smile didn't reach her eyes.

—Ah, you must be Mary, —she said in a low, calculated voice—. Welcome. Come in.

Mary nodded quickly, murmuring a nearly inaudible 

—thank you

before crossing the threshold. She could feel Mauro's mother's eyes on her, watching her, weighing each of her movements with a silent evaluation that seemed to seep into her bones.

Mary nodded again, unable to hold her gaze for more than a second. Her throat felt tight, and her only hope was to find someone familiar soon to escape that tension. She had barely taken a few steps when she heard the whisper of laughter and voices coming from inside.

Luckily, that was when she saw Valentina, who approached with a smile and offered to help with the decorations in Mauro's room. Upon entering his private space, Mary felt relieved. The room was a mix of his personality and something indecipherable, as if it hid something in every corner. The walls were covered with posters, and the desk seemed to contain fragments of projects that told stories Mary knew nothing about. She felt a bit more at ease, lost among the details surrounding her.

Hours passed in a blur as Valentina and she hung lights, arranged balloons, and prepared the room to reflect the energy of the upcoming night.

At NightWhen the party started, the house quickly filled with guests, and the atmosphere became electric. Mary immersed herself in the excitement, playing beer pong, karaoke, and flip cup, letting herself be carried away by the euphoria. The music was deafening, and it wasn't until the dizziness forced her to find a seat on a bean bag that she realized how much she had drunk. From there, she watched Mauro, who was chatting and laughing with a group of people, radiating a natural ease that attracted everyone around him.

—How does he do it? —she murmured to herself, admiring the way he moved among the crowd.—Do what? And who? —Eric's voice surprised her by her side, snapping her out of her thoughts.—Ah! —Mary jumped, laughing nervously—. I didn't see you there.—Really? I've been here the whole time, —Eric smiled, his expression amused.

Mary returned the smile but felt a slight dizziness as her body gave in to exhaustion. She leaned back a bit more, and Eric, noticing her weakness, handed her a glass of water and made sure she rested for a moment.

—You're very sweet; thanks for helping me, —Mary said, looking at him sideways, with a mix of sincerity and boldness she hadn't expected.—Oh, you think I'm sweet, huh? —Eric joked, a spark of mischief in his eyes.

Mary felt her cheeks heat up, caught in the intensity of his gaze. The party's voices faded, leaving only a space between them. Eric raised a hand and caressed her cheek, his fingers tracing a soft line that made Mary's heart pound, as if it wanted to escape her chest. Slowly, their faces drew closer, and their lips met in a sweet kiss, a moment that felt destined to happen from the first instant they'd looked at each other.

The kiss deepened, and Mary felt the firmness of Eric's hands on her, a solid presence that anchored her, taking her away from everything else. In that instant, no one else existed, just the two of them and the vertigo of a world reduced to an intimate connection.

When they pulled away, the silence grew heavy. Mary felt warmth in her cheeks, her eyes gleaming in the dim light, reflecting the intensity of what had just happened. Eric smiled, still holding her, savoring the moment that seemed suspended in time.

But something changed. Out of the corner of her eye, Mary noticed a figure on the edge of the room. She turned her head, and as she did, she found Mauro's gaze fixed on her. He was still, his dark eyes staring at her, and on his face was a mixture of surprise, disbelief, and something Mary couldn't decipher. It was as if the entire world had shifted for a second, leaving the air thick with silences and unspoken emotions.