Chapter 3 ONE DAY AFTER TOMORROW 03

“I'm glad you're there” said Carolina when she saw Vagner come in with the group that accompanied him”.

“What are you doing out front alone ?” he asked trying to figure out why she was behind the fountain.

“I was just doing some laundry,” she said, pointing to the basin.

Vagner knew that Carolina was a lonely woman, but unlike her, he didn't think that loneliness was freedom, but a deep depression, he believed that she knew that, but that touching the wound he had in his soul would be something painful and suffering, that she didn't want to do it, even at the risk of never being able to socialize with anyone and not even be able to start a family, knowing that that was the price she carried in her heart for avoiding the momentary pain of healing her soul. But I thought that the most she could do was pray asking the Holy Spirit to convince her to allow herself to be healed by him. “We brought plenty of water,” he said, pointing to the full buckets, exposing his injured arm. That wound didn't seem to have been caused by a tree or an accident, but a cut from a knife, Vagner hid it with a dull smile and went in with the rest of the men warning Carolina not to stay late in front of the house alone. She didn't want to comment on the wound, but followed the men to see if there were any more injured, thinking that maybe they had fought each other, noting that everyone was fine and smiling with the water, except Vagner who went into his room and didn't come out until dusk. Carolina felt that something had happened to Vagner, something beyond a wound on his arm, looking at all the people, everything seemed normal, a day like any other, but deep inside she felt that something was wrong and that Vagner knew what was wrong. that was. Everyone was gathered in the huge room, every night before dinner a word from the bible was given on which everyone there based their lives, every night everyone sat and listened with joy to what Vagner said about the bible and the faith in which they believed, but that night he took his turn, letting another man lead the meeting, standing in the doorway until all had listened to what the man was saying, and then retreating outside. The night wasn't as hot as the day, but its stuffy air was suffocating, just like everything Vagner had been experiencing, so he decided to go outside to get some air in front of the house, taking advantage of the fact that people were busy to surround him. as usual, wanting to be alone for a while and even walk a little, even though it was forbidden at that time, he had been having difficult days, he had chosen that place to bring everyone to live because of the vegetation around, but the trees had been dying because of Because of the scarcity of water and the sun, the crops they managed to grow were also dying, besides the river was drying up and without the trees around, the house was becoming visible. Vagner knew the risks that the place offered when he took everyone there, it was difficult to access there and you almost didn't see groups of troublemakers because of the stories that circulated about another thinking species, but not human that according to rumors, dominated and guarded that area for her. He was not reckless before suggesting that location, he did searches over the whole area, he knew the place and the type of life that existed there, the risk that humans offered to them, greater than that of any other species; so, living under those legends, they would be free from robberies and even home invasion, which was common in places where there were several people, believing that the only prisoner they would pay for living there was to be constantly observed, since they were a peaceful and organized group, who did not walk, did not mistreat the plants or the animals and always left in small groups, these being almost always the same. Vagner had a hunting group and a planting group, they were made up only by men, because nobody knew what to expect on an outing and if necessary, men had more physical strength than women, in case it was necessary in a battle or flight , they weren't a noisy group either and as they didn't drink anything with alcohol it was very difficult for them to have fights with each other with aggression or attempted murder, of course disagreements arose within the community, but nothing that was not contained, so Vagner even believed that they could end their days there, but saw their plans changing. “I always thought you should give yourself a break” said Carolina getting close to him “it's the first time I've seen you in silence, is everything okay?” .

“Yes, just a little tired, I am a little noisy, but how are you?” .

Vagner could smell the perfume of Carolina's hair from a distance, these being one of the benefits of there being almost no cosmetics in the world, her scent was wonderful and enveloping, he felt like hugging her and closely inhaling the perfume that came out of her, knowing that this was also the desire of several men who lived in the house and the reason that scandalized the women. He also liked to look at her, Carolina was a person and the most beautiful thing he had seen since everything had been destroyed and looking at it made him feel good. His heart rejoiced when he managed to get a smile out of her, because her smile lit up everything around her. Hoping that one day she could look at him and desire him as a man, so whenever he could, he presented her with what he found, wanting her to have the best of that time, just as he wished with all his soul that she would find herself close to Jesus Christ. Everyone who noticed Vagner's interest in Carolina was against it, they believed that he could be with a woman still a virgin who professed the same faith as him and not an unbeliever who had had several men, these being the most perverse as the old media had publicized, always being on the side of the richest and cruelest, filling Vagner's mind with discouragement. But he wanted Carolina and it wasn't just because of her beauty, but she was a different woman, Vagner knew she was an unbeliever of his faith, but the baggage she brought also seduced him . Carolina spoke differently, walked differently, thought differently, lived differently, even trapped in a house where everyone wanted to be the same, it was as if she were a light of reason in the midst of sameness, she had a lot of content and experience in her and he wanted to access everything here at the same time. over the years of his life as her husband, but even though he was the most coveted man in that group, he didn't think Carolina looked at him with the same eyes. That woman was special and he knew it, investing with the resources he had to win her heart, Vagner would do anything to make her fall in love with him, but Carolina, even if she talked a little and only with him, was still as closed off as the day before. who met him. “How has the search been ?” she asked trying to figure out what was wrong.

“It is increasingly difficult out there, what brought us here was the vegetation of the place, but we will have to leave, starting tomorrow we will start looking for a new home, perhaps in a city that is not suffering so much from the heat".

“But without a car, it will take you a long time to go back and forth, where will you eat and take shelter, isn’t it too risky?” .

“I don't know if it's more risky than staying here without supplies, soon we'll be out in sight and we don't have weapons or the intention to kill, here we are like lambs among wolves”. Carolina carefully observed the signs of uneasiness and fear that Vagner was showing without noticing as he tried to show that he was calm, she had a vast knowledge of psychology and psychoanalysis and analyzed him without him noticing, that being the first time she had seen him so insecure, becoming also worried. It was clear he wanted to be left alone and she was getting in the way of his plans, but Carolina wanted to ask about the wound she'd seen earlier. “Today I'm feeling a little like you” said Vagner breaking the silence, “I feel a need to be alone”.

"And I'm here disturbing you, isn't it"?

“You never disturb me at all, your company makes me calmer”.

"I know" she replied dully "But I think I'd better let you enjoy this solitude a little".