Wishful Steps

7

After dinner, they had liqueur in the game room. It was there that Tina decided to stay with three more colleagues playing "buraco," drinking liqueur, and sharing the same cigar that one of them had brought.

Demerval began to feel out of place and decided to go down to his room. He bid farewell to his wife with a simple kiss and tried to convince Friga to go with him, but she preferred to stay. As he walked downhill, he observed the lights of the bungalows turned on and imagined how beautiful the view would be from a boat at a distance. The hill speckled with lights adjacent to a huge and imposing mansion that looked more like a palace. The sound of the cold breeze blowing in his ears and the sound of his footsteps were the only audible things besides the sound of the sea crashing against the stone wall.

He entered the warm room and looked at his cellphone again. The old device remained completely without a signal and without internet connectivity. Finally, it emitted a sound, the screen flickered, and then turned off for good. He didn't even bother to charge it. He put the phone in his backpack along with the calculator and papers. He sat on the edge of the bed and brought the clothes his wife had left lying near his nose. He smelled her scent. On the floor, the uncomfortable shoes were thrown. He bent down, picked up one of them, and also deeply smelled it. He lay back and fell asleep without realizing it.

9.

The watch on his wrist beeped, and he opened his drowsy eyes. He yawned and sat on the edge of the bed. He rubbed his eyelids with his fingers to help focus his vision. He went to the bathroom, using one hand to support himself against the wall and the other to relieve himself. He glanced at the watch on his right wrist and was surprised to see that it was already three minutes past three. His wife hadn't returned from the gaming.

He remembered his commitment with Guilherme and briefly thought of giving up. However, he was on vacation on an enchanting island. He had to enjoy it. He knew Tina would want him to enjoy it. He rushed to the bathroom, splashed water on his face, gargled with mouthwash, and went out into the night.

He arrived breathless at the fountain. He thought about the burden that age brought him. If he were younger, he would have climbed that hill running without getting tired. He walked and tucked his shirt into his pants. He hadn't had time to change clothes.

"I thought you had given up," Guilherme said, looking at his watch.

Demerval was surprised by the man's presence. He looked at his watch and realized he was ten minutes late.

"Can I quickly go inside and let Tina know that we're leaving? She might get worried."

"Don't worry," he said with a smile. "I already did that. Let's go?"

"Well... then... let's go," said Demerval, still hesitant about the trail they were about to take in the middle of the night.

After a few minutes of walking, they entered a trail southwest of the mansion. From time to time, Demerval looked back. In a way, he felt safe seeing the lights of the imposing mansion. However, the trees closed in behind them as they headed further into the forest.

"This isn't the most appropriate outfit for a walk," Guilherme commented, handing a flashlight to his partner.

Demerval was still wearing the pants, shirt, and shoes he had worn during dinner. Guilherme was wearing hiking shoes and thermal clothing. He had a small backpack on his back, a flashlight in one hand, and a walking stick in the other. Demerval looked back again and noticed that the forest had already devoured all the lights from the mansion. The only illumination came from the moon above them and the flashlights.

"Where are we going again?" Demerval asked, pointing into the woods at every strange noise he heard.

"You'll know when we get there."