The rain was falling heavily outside, but Mariane didn't feel the drops or the cold wind blowing through the window. Her eyes were fixed on the misted glass, while her hands trembled, clenching into fists. Maria Clara had disappeared into the darkness of the hallway, and the emptiness that remained in her chest seemed heavier with each passing second. She was alone in her thoughts, alone with her doubts.
The future felt like an invisible monster, with sharp claws ready to drag her into something she didn't understand. What awaited her outside? A new home? A new life? Or would it be loneliness, the loss of everything she knew? She didn't know how to imagine what was coming, but one thing was certain: she didn't want to leave the only place she'd ever called home. She didn't want to leave the people who cared for her, even though the decision had already been made, just as the man had said. *"She can't stay here forever."*
Mariane moved away from the window, her footsteps echoing solitary down the hallway. The sound of the rain, now muffled by the thick walls, seemed to follow her rhythm, like an incessant reminder that time was moving on. She passed the rooms of the other boys and girls, all submerged in the quiet of the night. Some, she knew, were just as worried as she was. Others, older, already seemed resigned to the idea of leaving. But Mariane couldn't come to terms with it.
She stopped in front of Dona Helena's room. There was no light coming from inside, but she knew the caretaker was there, probably reflecting on the difficult decision they'd made. Mariane hesitated for a moment, but something pushed her to knock gently. The door opened almost immediately, and Dona Helena appeared, her eyes tired, yet still wearing the familiar, reassuring smile that always calmed the anxious hearts of the children.
"Mariane," she said softly, opening the door wider. "Shouldn't you be asleep?"
Mariane looked down for a moment, trying to gather her courage. When she finally raised her eyes, her voice came out stronger than she had imagined. "I know what's going on."
Dona Helena fell silent for a moment, and Mariane felt the weight of her presence, as if she were waiting for her to say more. Mariane swallowed. "I overheard you talking with Maria Clara... about me having to leave."
The caretaker sighed deeply, making her shoulders drop slightly as though the weight of the situation was finally pressing on her. She stepped closer and gestured for Mariane to come in. Mariane hesitated but entered, sitting on the bed where a rumpled blanket was tossed aside.
"It's true, Mariane. The situation isn't easy," Dona Helena began, her voice heavy with sadness. "We all know how much you're a part of this house, and it's not an easy thing to accept. But it's a decision that's been made... and we have no control over it."
"I don't want to go," Mariane said, her voice breaking. "I don't know what will happen to me. What will become of me?"
Dona Helena sat beside her, looking at Mariane's hands. "Sometimes things change, Mariane. Not because we choose it, but because it's necessary. The world outside, outside, is a different place, and you... you are strong enough to face it. I know that."
"But what about you? What about the house? And everything I know? I… I can't just leave like nothing is changing."
Dona Helena looked at her with tenderness, her tired gaze filled with love. "I know, dear. I know it's not easy. But you have something inside of you that many don't have: courage. You're not alone. You never have been. And even though it feels like everything is falling apart, you still have the power to decide who you will be. That's the most important thing."
Mariane felt a lump in her throat, but said nothing more. The future seemed distant, yet inevitable. Dona Helena's words echoed in her mind, but they didn't bring comfort. How could she be strong in the face of something so big, so unknown?
Before she could say anything else, the door to the room opened again, and Maria Clara appeared in the doorway, her face grave. She looked at Mariane, who was still sitting on the bed, and smiled softly, but the sadness was clear in her expression. She walked over to the bed and sat down next to Mariane, taking her hand.
"You don't have to make it so difficult, Mariane. Life is full of new beginnings. What has happened until now will always be part of you, but the future... the future can also be beautiful, if you let it."
Mariane didn't respond immediately. She looked at the two of them, their familiar and comforting figures, and felt a deep pain in her chest. *How could she leave everything behind?* *How could she move forward without these people, without the security of her home, even if it wasn't perfect?*
"I don't know if I can, Maria Clara," she whispered. "I... I really don't know what to do."
Maria Clara squeezed her hand. "You don't have to do it alone. I'll always be with you, no matter where you are. And so will Dona Helena. And everyone here. Even though life changes, you'll see, there's always something good to discover. And it will be easier than you think."
The words of Maria Clara were filled with hope, but Mariane wasn't so sure. The future felt like a tangle of uncertainties, and the idea of walking it alone made it even more frightening.
The rain outside continued, tapping against the window like a constant reminder of what couldn't be controlled. Mariane closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm herself. The sound of the falling water surrounded her, and for a moment, she almost believed everything would be fine, that she would manage whatever was to come.
But when she opened her eyes again, something inside her had already changed. She knew she couldn't go back. Tomorrow was standing before her, and as difficult as it was, she would have to face it.
With a deep sigh, Mariane stood up from the bed and looked at Dona Helena and Maria Clara. "I... I'll try to be strong. I'll try to understand what's to come."
Dona Helena and Maria Clara exchanged a silent glance, and both smiled, though sadly. There were no more words to be said. The future was already in motion, and Mariane, in some way, knew the real journey was about to begin.
The following days passed slowly. The clock seemed to mark every second with unbearable weight, as if the universe was waiting for her to make a decision that would change the course of her life. Mariane found herself constantly lost in her thoughts, wandering around the orphanage and observing everything with new eyes. The house, which had once felt full of life, now seemed like a place of silent farewells.
During meals, the smiles of some children were more forced, and the laughter that once rang out like music in the air was now muffled by the tension. Mariane felt as though everyone was waiting for something, waiting for the final decision that was coming her way. But no one spoke about it directly. The silence seemed to surround everyone, heavier than any conversation could be.
One grey morning, while helping in the kitchen preparing breakfast, Dona Helena approached Mariane with a serious expression. "Mariane, I know you have many questions. Perhaps it's time you know more about what's to come."
Mariane looked at her, her heart beating faster. It was as if she had been waiting for this moment, but at the same time, she feared it.
"You will be placed with a new family," Dona Helena continued. "A family has already been selected. They are waiting for you, and soon... soon you will be a part of them."
The knot in Mariane's stomach tightened. "What if I don't want to?" she dared to ask. "What if I don't want to leave?"
Dona Helena looked at her with an expression of understanding and sorrow. "I know, dear. I know it's not easy. But you are not being rejected. You're just... being prepared for something new. Something better."
Mariane shook her head, unable to articulate more words. What she wanted was to stay here, with the people who knew her, with the only life she had ever known. But the future seemed more like a shadow than a promise. The feeling of helplessness overwhelmed her.
That afternoon, as she walked through the garden, trying to push away her dark thoughts, she saw Maria Clara again. She was sitting on their usual bench, her eyes turned toward the horizon, as if waiting for something. Mariane silently approached and sat beside her.
"I know what's going to happen, Maria Clara. I know I'm leaving."
Maria Clara looked at her, the sad smile fading from her face. "I wish things were different. I wish you could stay."
"Me too," Mariane replied softly. "But maybe this is for the best, right?"
Maria Clara didn't answer immediately, as if carefully choosing her words. "I know you will grow and become much stronger than you realise, Mariane. But don't forget about us. Don't forget who you are."
Mariane felt a tightness in her chest. "I'll never forget you. Never."
And with that, they both fell silent, watching the rain begin to fall again, as if the whole world were washing away its sorrows. Mariane didn't know what the future held, but she knew she couldn't avoid it. Something was coming, and she could no longer escape.