The Beginning of Freedom
After those words from the caregiver, all my spirits came back to the fore, and again my fuse of hope was lit and the main thing, I had learned a life lesson. The gym instructor's smile betrayed her good mood as she uncrossed her strong, chiseled arms.
- But of course! So I'll wait for you in two years boy! Remember, bring an amazing body so we can work you to the extreme! Said the instructor in a smile that even showed her teeth.
On the way out, we said goodbye to everyone and went back to the orphanage, of course, without saying a word about what happened to the other children and caregivers. The next day, I started my physical training to have a better body, and the caregiver was the one who helped me improve my performance in several areas. Even what he didn't know he would ask Miller he readily helped us without batting an eye.
Time passed and even at the age of twelve, I still wasn't adopted and neither did my mom and dad come back for me. And this had already left my mind, the chance of one day seeing my blood mother and father. One day the caregivers were more strange than usual. They weren't happy and bouncy as usual. They were again in the same mood as when I was going to do my routine exams. Sad and downcast, this was the prevailing climate.
One day, they called me into a room far away from the other children to talk to me. There were all the caregivers in it, including the caregiver Luiz who sneakily introduced me to the gym. Even he who always had a sparkle in his eyes and smile, there was no more. And that scared the shit out of me at the time.
- Jean... One of the caregivers I saw routinely began to say with difficulty.
- Your exams have been very altered lately. We even have news to tell you. The caregiver sounded and was panting to say the words.
Caregiver Luiz, seeing his companion's difficulty, took the lead in his words and explained to me to ease the situation.
- Young Jean, you have a rare disease. A very peculiar condition. Something that not even doctors have been able to help us solve yet. Caregiver Luiz tried to keep a small smile to ease the situation and I was already understanding but I couldn't control my legs while answering.
- I- Am I sick? Since the doctors can't cure me, so just wait for time to pass... I tried to speak more firmly, but it was impossible. I was just a twelve-year-old discovering something even adults couldn't handle so well. I tried to smile as I spoke and handle the situation as best I could, but I really was just a kid.
All caregivers seeing the situation at the time softened the situation and hid parts of the subject about my illness and left it to tell me a few years ahead. Caretaker Luiz, who until then had tried to keep a happy face and only sadness was visible on his face, was now really in his normal state. He lifted me onto one of his shoulders and ushered me out of the room with that smile I would never forget.
- Cheer up little Jean, life is still long. We still have a long Jordana in life. Caretaker Luiz said happily and bouncy. One of his hands held my legs and his other hand he hid it because he was shaking so he couldn't control it.
Listening to these words, I tried to cheer myself up. My eyes were filled with tears, just a step away from descending on my face, but I didn't cry. I moved on and forced a wide smile and got into the subject of caretaker Luiz.
- We still have a long way to go for your debut in a professional boxing fight, young man... Mr. Luiz said whispering so that he and the other caregivers would not hear us.
Days, months and years passed, and even with my curiosity about the symptoms of my illness asking, in the beginning, I was often told nothing but the obvious. I didn't have any symptoms. He was as healthy as any other child in the orphanage. Even with all these adversities my resilience was still unshakable. I trained every day, ate nothing at the right time and slept the right way and over time my height, body weight and width became very voluminous and I had achieved my goal. I had turned fourteen.
After a party prepared for me by all the caretakers in the morning, I received some instructions and all the parts of what not to do outside the orphanage, in the streets. At first glance I didn't listen, I was just counting the seconds to leave without anyone's guardianship and so it was. After all the celebrations, I got up and before leaving the orphanage, I looked for the caregiver Luiz, who I hadn't seen for a few days and this had never happened. After looking for dust for a few minutes and not finding it, I put it aside and ran to the gym.
Arriving there, I already saw Miller who was at the bottom punching a punching bag with some techniques. She moved cleanly and with simply spectacular footwork.
- Hello little Jean! Did you come just this once? Or where is Mr. Luiz? Said the coach after seeing me in the corner of the gym while still punching the punching bag.
- From today I can leave the orphanage alone. I can now enroll in practical classes. I said while sketching a smile that buried my extreme stasis.
The coach after hearing this, stopped punching the punching bag and grabbed a towel beside her as she wiped her sweat saying:
- Clear! You have four years of tuition paid by Mr. Luiz! Let's take this body to the extreme! I see it did its job over time this stronger apparently. Said the trainer as she drank a bottle of orange liquid.
After listening to his words, I could only think of thanking the caregiver Luiz for having given me this gift, but I didn't even have time to think about thanking him because the trainer had already been complementing:
- Here, look! In that bag are all your equipment, another gift left by Mr. Luiz. Said the trainer with a very large black rectangular bag, almost the same size as me at that moment. I could only think of thanking you again.