Chapter 5 - I AM NOT CRAZY
Andrés stepped into the room,
closing the door softly behind him to preserve the secret.
He felt a wave of intense nausea hit him,
seeing his proud mother reduced to this state.
Mrs. Teresa raised her head,
her eyes locking onto his.
Despite her physical state,
her gaze was fierce and sharp,
burning with an undeniable intelligence.
I am not crazy,
she whispered,
her voice raspy but steady.
Andrés walked over and knelt before her on the cold floor,
taking her bruised hands in his.
I know,
Mother,
he replied,
his voice cracking with emotion.
I know you are sane,
and I am here now.
She opened her mouth to explain the nightmare,
to tell him about the betrayal.
Suddenly,
the sound of soft footsteps echoed from the hallway outside.
Renata was moving downstairs,
or perhaps she was approaching the door to listen.
Instantly,
Mrs. Teresa’s face changed,
the fierce look vanishing into pure terror.
It was not the reaction of a madwoman,
but the trained fear of a captive.
She had learned over days of isolation exactly what triggered punishment,
and she froze completely.
Not yet,
she whispered frantically,
leaning close to his ear.
Do not confront her yet,
my son,
because she controls everything.
She checked everything before you arrived,
searching my space.
She took my phone,
she went through your belongings in the closet.
She even installed a hidden camera somewhere in the house,
watching my every move.
Andrés felt a burning anger ignite in his chest,
but he forced it down.
He stood up,
knowing he had to play the part a little longer.
He closed the door and locked it from the outside,
hating himself for leaving her there.
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But he knew that to defeat an enemy,
one must first let them believe they have won.
