Guido Sardelii

Libertad was acting strange.

It doesn't dry.

Strange.

I'd noticed she was acting differently for about a week, like she was hiding something. She was smiling on her own, constantly on her phone, and giving somewhat mysterious answers.

And every time I asked him what was wrong, he gave me the same answer:

—Nothing, Guido.

He was a terrible liar.

I know her too well.

So when he told me, "Come home early, I want to show you something," I automatically thought all sorts of things.

And clearly none of them were these.

We were in bed, me sitting leaning against the backrest, still half asleep after a very long day.

She was standing in front of me, strangely enough, again.

And only then do I notice something else.

A cell phone leaning to one side.

Recording.

I frown.

"What are you doing recording?" I ask, laughing a little. "Are you going to cancel me or what?"

She doesn't answer. She just smiles nervously.

And that makes me feel worse.

—Freedom, what did you do?

He adjusts himself slightly and lifts his shorts just enough.

First I see an initial.

Dad's.

And I find it endearing.

Until she lifts the other leg higher.

And I remain completely still.

Because there it was.

My initial.

Mine.

Tattooed.

I look at her. Then I look at the tattoo again.

Then to her.

"Are you crazy?" I say immediately, opening my eyes wide. "Are you completely crazy?"

She starts laughing nervously.

And I don't even know what to do.

Because I get a grip on my chest.

Something really intense.

So I do the first thing that comes to mind: I hug her.

Strong.

So strong I almost lifted her up.

—Freedom, you idiot… —I laugh, still unable to believe it—. How could you get my initial tattooed on you?

I look at her again as if I were delirious.

Because it can't be real.

He can't.

I sit back down on the bed and grab her leg.

—Stop… no, no. This is a lie.

I slowly run my finger over the tattoo, looking at it closely.

—Come on, tell me it's one of those temporary ones.

I rub a little.

Nothing.

It doesn't come out.

I look up.

"No..." I laugh to myself, completely devastated. "Is this for real?"

And that's where it hits me.

Because someone