Viviane
Although the situation of each of us was extremely different, what led us to do so was the same reason: Felipe's egoism. In short, that was it. He wanted to move forward with his goals and plans and nothing should stand in the way of his longed-for professional fulfillment.
I was sure that, although I did not consider her son an egoist, she knew that talking about some disease she was facing would make him postpone his plans at that moment and that, despite loving his mother above all else, he would not be happy here in Brazil, without putting into practice everything he wanted for himself.
He was an ambitious man who wanted to increase the family's wealth through his efforts. To further grow the name of the Mendes. I knew of his plans and I could never understand all that ambition.
"I received today my definitive conclusion, Viviane. I've been a bit debilitated lately, but it was due to inappropriate eating, since, as you may know, I'm always on crazy diets to keep my weight under control. Lúcia should comment to you.
"Not really. She never commented on it. I'm truly surprised by this fact. The lady always kept so well physically, did not know that it was dieting without the accompaniment of a professional, at least I understood that it did not. "
"You're right. I was not satisfied with the diets passed them and kept following what I saw in magazines or even on the internet. But this problem is being treated properly now and I am feeding myself as my nutritionist has prescribed. I've even gained weight, something I'm not happy about at all," she said in the last part with a grimace of utter disgust.
"And then, if that's not what this diagnosis that made her so sad is all about, what was it about? "
She looked at me and her expression was now one of extreme sadness and unhappiness. It made me even more apprehensive, and in those few seconds, I felt my heart throb in an uncoordinated way.
"I have breast cancer, Viviane. "
She said that and the tears quickly returned to her eyes, and this time, she came towards me, in search of a hug, which I promptly answered.
"What am I going to do, Vivi?" she kept repeating that question, over and over again and I could only hug her harder.
It was a disease that tremendously shook any woman's psyche and so I was able to understand all her fragility at that moment. And that the fact that I was a woman, made her able to open up to me, even before she told her family.
I waited for her to cry at will, for she needed it. It was good for her to put out the emotions that had probably been holding her all this time, from the moment she was suspicious to today, which received the certainty of her painting. Only then, when I felt that the flow of tears was already stopping, did I pull away from her, to look into her eyes and speak in a way that conveyed all the serenity I wasn't feeling at that moment, for that was what she was needing.
"First, you will explain to me more about this result you received, which I believe was from an examination, so that we understand a little, with a cool head, what your picture is. And second, if you don't want to tell everyone, for now, I'll understand. I can accompany her to the appointment, let's hear what the doctor has to say, what the treatment is if she needs surgery... "
The mention of the word "surgery" to Marta cringed all over, which was quite understandable, given her constant quest to remain impeccable.
"I don't want my family to know, Viviane. Please, I'm trusting you," she spoke desolately.
"No need to count yet. I think it will be better when we already know exactly all the information. The way Mr. Rodolfo is, he's going to end up making her even more anxious. This is no time for speculation. Would you like me to accompany you to this consultation? " I asked.
"I'd like you to go with me, Viviane. She will soon be my daughter-in-law, and she has been living with us since she was born. That I should have been treated by like a daughter since God never gave me one. But I've been thinking about so many things, and this is one of them. I see how petty I've been over the years. "
"Let's not think about it, Mrs. Marta. As I've said, regardless of anything, what matters is the now. Before it's too late, that's later, isn't it? " I said smiling to relax the mood a little.
She didn't need to cling to those things now. I can't even imagine everything she's been going through in the last few days, afraid of this diagnosis that came to fruition today.
"Alright. "
"When is your appointment scheduled? "
The appointment was already scheduled for the next day, in a large hospital and with a renowned doctor. The best money could afford, though, were many cases where even with all the money in the world, still, nothing could be done. Even before all the patrimony of his family, because Mrs. Marta had a considerable fortune of her own, since as an only child, she inherited all the assets of her parents and had still married Mr. Rodolfo, who owned his assets, which meant, owner of a spectacular fortune, that is, money would not be a problem.
I would pray a lot that I would be just at the beginning and that treatment would be possible. For as my parents always made a point of saying, she was not a bad person and was a young lady, still in her fifties, with much to live on. She didn't know it yet, but soon a grandson would come into her life and I hoped with all my heart that she would love him, just as she loved her children.
The days passed with impressive rapidity, given all that was happening in the Mendes de Albuquerque family. I went to the appointment with Mrs. Marta the day after our conversation and we were fully aware of everything that would happen from that day on.
She had stage II breast cancer, which meant that the lumps were already of a size that it would not be possible to just remove them, without affecting the breasts. Which meant that she would have to remove the entire breast and do the reconstruction later, as soon as possible. This news left her even more shaken than she already was and it was very difficult to follow her suffering in the face of such a fact.