1 I have nowhere to go

My whole life had been dedicated to him, but I suddenly knew he wanted a divorce.

In fact, I kind of understand why he did it. My whole life I had thought I was smart, but I ignored an important part: I was just being used as a money-making machine. When he saw no further use in me, he discarded me.

The worst thing was not even that, but discovering that before the divorce he had somehow transferred the company and all of our assets to his brother, Juliano.

"What to do?"

I had nowhere to go; because of him I had pushed everyone out of my life. My family hadn't seen them for years. Friends, one by one, he had managed to push away, always saying it was better this way, that it was him for me and I for him, that we didn't need anyone else.

"No! I'm still going to get back on top!" I tried to act strong, but deep down, I felt sad and lost.

It was already past 10 pm and I was walking along Mauro Ramos street, trying to find a safe place to spend the night. It was not very safe at that time of the evening, it divides the center of Floripa from the hills. I notice the movement of addicts coming up the streets in search of drugs.

"I hope none of them notice me."

It was a Thursday night in mid-June and the cold was freezing me.

"What am I going to do? Where am I going to go?"

At that moment a car stopped a little further ahead. I froze and thought about running away, but I looked around me and had nowhere to go. That's when the car backed up and stopped beside me. The window rolled down, and to my surprise it was a familiar face.

"Marina?"

"Marcelo?"

Marcelo was from my high school class, a skinny and very nice guy.

"What are you doing on the street, alone at this hour?"

"Me? Well..."

"Get in the car, there's ice out there."

Half reluctantly, I got in. After all, what could happen? As soon as I entered, I saw how Marcelo had changed. That skinny boy had turned into a very handsome man with a fit and strong body.

" Well then? Are you going to tell me why you are alone at this hour on this very dangerous street?"

"Well, my husband dumped me, carried off all the goods we had worked together to get and gave it all to his brother and left me with nothing," I said through tears.

"What a cad," Marcelo said, looking at me with pity.

"I don't understand how he could just do this after 7 years together, 7 years working side by side to build a successful company... and him doing this!" I broke down crying and sobbing.

Marcelo hugged me, trying to calm me down.

"So do you have somewhere to go? A friend's house where I can take you?" he asked helpfully.

"I don't have any friends anymore. Little by little he had pushed me away from all of them… Now I see how stupid I was! My family never liked him, and that's why I walked away from them all. I have no one left!" Only then did I realize what a sorry tale my life had become.

"I'll take you to my house. It's humble, but you can have my sofa," he said sympathetically.

"But why would you do this for me? We haven't seen each other in years!" I asked suspiciously.

"In the past you were always a good friend to me, so now it's my turn to give back."

"Thank you," I said as tears rolled down my face.

On the way he let me sit quietly. I was looking out the window and noticed that we were moving away from the center of the island, towards the north end. I didn't remember the last time I had come to these parts, well, I didn't remember the last time I had left the central part. My life those past few years had been based on work and home.

We arrived at Marcelo's house. It was simple, but very beautiful. The house had a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom.

"As I said, the house is humble," he said, embarrassed.

"It is very beautiful."

"I'll give you some of my clothes and you can take a shower to warm up while I prepare something for us to eat," he said, handing me a pair of shorts, shirt, and a towel.

"Thanks, but I'm not hungry."

"Ok, don't be in a hurry."

I got into the bath and relived what had happened to me earlier that day...

It had been a day like any other. I worked all day, took an Uber, and went home. Arriving home, Fernando, blonde, 1.60m, broad shoulders, and skinny, had already arrived, and he looked nervous.

"Marina, I need to talk to you!"

"Could it wait until after my shower? I'm dead tired, and after we can order Japanese food at that restaurant you like and we'll talk, ok?"

"It can't wait! We have to speak now!"

"Okay, go ahead," I said, dropping onto the couch.

"I want a divorce!"

"Divorce?!" This I had not expected.

"Yes Marina, I don't love you, and I don't want to be with you! And I want you out of this house now!!" he said cruelly.

"I'm not leaving here, it's my house!" I got up, disgusted.

"It's not yours, not anymore. Now all this and the company are under the name of my brother, Juliano," he said with cruelty in his eyes.

"Brother? But which brother? What is this joke? Why are you doing this?" I started to cry; what a boring joke.

"I never introduced you to him, right? Well, I always kept you away from all of my family. Now, leave my apartment since I can't stand to look at you anymore. I've put up with you too much these last 7 years," and he gave me a smirk. He then picked me up by the arms and pulled me out of the room, stark naked!

Just remembering what had happened earlier felt like a bad dream. I finished the shower, dried myself, and left the bathroom.

"I fixed the sofa for you. It's not very comfortable, but..." said Marcelo with embarrassment.

"It's great! Much better than sleeping on the street." I tried to smile, but to no avail.

"Well, I'll let you sleep. Tomorrow I have a busy day. Good night!"

"Good night!"

I laid down on the couch and went back to reliving the day. How could anyone be so cruel? Someone who, until the day before, had sworn his love for me, who promised me the world, and then the next day took me off my feet and threw me out naked!

Tears seemed inevitable. I wondered how long he'd been planning this coup? He seemed to be so sure of his feelings... I finally fell asleep around 3 in the morning or so.